Duke football’s presence in the NFL continues to grow. Thirteen former Blue Devils have earned spots on active 53-man rosters as Week 1 of the 2026 season approaches.
Last season’s ACC championship-winning team had three players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, while eight more signed as undrafted free agents and two received minicamp invitations.
Of that group, Wesley Williams, Chandler Rivers and Aaron Hall earned spots on active 53-man rosters. Brian Parker II (Cincinnati Bengals) and Justin Pickett (Las Vegas Raiders) landed on the reserve/injured list with designations to return, while Anderson Castle joined the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad.
Among Duke’s more established NFL alumni, Daniel Jones remains the biggest name of the bunch.
After multiple injuries cut short what was shaping up to be a career-best year, Jones will look to finish what he started last season with the Colts. Indianapolis opened 8-2 with Jones under center and was the favorite to win the AFC South before injuries derailed its season.
In addition to Jones, three other Duke alumni enter the season in starting roles: Green Bay Packers right guard Jacob Monk, Tampa Bay Buccaneers long snapper Evan Deckers and New York Jets long snapper Thomas Hennessy.
The Cincinnati Bengals have the most former Blue Devils of any NFL organization, with four. Joe Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward and Jordan Moore are on the practice squad, while Parker is on the reserve/injured list.
Below is a complete look at former Blue Devils with NFL organizations entering the 2026 season:
Josh Blackwell, Chicago Bears
Jake Bobo, Seattle Seahawks*
DeWayne Carter, Buffalo Bills
Michael Carter II, Philadelphia Eagles
Anderson Castle, Indianapolis Colts^
Evan Deckers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Victor Dimukeje, San Francisco 49ers*
Joe Giles-Harris, Cincinnati Bengals^
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs
Aaron Hall, Carolina Panthers
Thomas Hennessy, New York Jets
Shaka Heyward, Cincinnati Bengals^
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Jacob Monk, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Moore, Cincinnati Bengals^
Brian Parker II, Cincinnati Bengals*
Justin Pickett, Las Vegas Raiders*
Chandler Rivers, Baltimore Ravens
Chris Rumph II, New Orleans Saints
Wesley Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars
* Indicates reserve/injured list (designated for return)
^ Indicates practice squad
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke football makes its mark across NFL rosters entering Week 1
