The Buffalo Bills are the biggest Kentucky collection in the NFL heading into the 2026 season, but they’re far from alone.
A total of 22 former Wildcats are tied to NFL teams this year, with 16 on 53-man rosters entering Week 1. The group also includes players on injured reserve and practice squads, plus two former Kentucky standouts now working in front-office jobs.
Buffalo has four former Wildcats in the mix. Ray Davis, Maxwell Hairston and Deone Walker are on the active roster, while undrafted free agent wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin is on the practice squad.
Jacksonville is right there with a heavy Kentucky footprint of its own. The Jaguars have five former Cats in some capacity, including head coach Liam Coen, who is entering his second season with the team.
Former Kentucky center Eli Cox is on the practice squad, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Josh Hines-Allen are on the active roster. Corey Peters is also in the organization as a college scout.
There are six teams with multiple Wildcats on the roster: Buffalo, Carolina, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and the New York Giants. Buffalo, Carolina, Green Bay and Jacksonville all reached the playoffs last season.
The Panthers have Zion Childress on the practice squad and Luke Fortner on the roster. The Packers list Jager Burton and Carrington Valentine.
The Colts have Jalen Farmer and Seth McGowan. The Giants have Darian Kinnard on the practice squad and Dru Phillips on the active roster.
Elsewhere, Kendrick Law is on injured reserve with the Detroit Lions. Bud Dupree is with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Alex Wollschlaeger is on the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Trevin Wallace is with the New York Jets.
Brandin Echols is with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wan’Dale Robinson is with the Tennessee Titans.
Two former Wildcats are also in front-office roles: Austin Moss is the vice president of player development and team dynamics with the San Francisco 49ers, and Corey Peters is a college scout with the Jaguars.
In Other News...
Kentucky Just Lost A Guard Target Mark Pope Could Feel Later
Kentucky had been in the mix for Chase Lumpkin, a highly ranked 2027 combo guard out of McEachern in Georgia, after extending him an offer and keeping itself among the schools under consideration. The recruiting race ended with Lumpkin announcing his commitment to Alabama, a notable early miss for a Wildcats staff that has been casting a wide net in the next wave of backcourt talent.
Mark Pope still has plenty of work ahead as Kentucky pushes toward the early signing period, with other top targets such as Nasir Anderson and Lewis Uvwo still on the board. Losing Lumpkin does not close the door on this class, but it does show how competitive the fight already is for elite guards and how quickly one decision can reshape the path forward. [Read more 🡒]
Will Steins First Kentucky Test Comes With A Kalen DeBoer History
Will Steins first big test at Kentucky comes with a familiar face on the other sideline, and not a particularly comforting one from his past. The Wildcats new offensive mind is set to go head-to-head with Kalen DeBoer for the first time as head coaches, adding an extra layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of intrigue for Kentucky as Stein settles into his new role.
Stein knows DeBoers track record well from his time as Oregons offensive coordinator in 2023, when the Ducks ran into Washington twice and came up short both times. He has pointed to the changes in personnel and defense since then, but the respect for DeBoers operation remains clear, especially the creativity and efficiency that have followed him from stop to stop. For Kentucky, it is a first look at how Stein handles one of the games sharper offensive coaches with no shortage of recent history between them. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Gets An Early Opening Against A Banged-Up Alabama Team
The SECs new weekly availability reports are giving Kentucky a clearer early picture of what it may be facing when Alabama comes to town. For the Wildcats, the first report for this matchup points to several players trending back toward action, which could matter as the game plan takes shape and the roster begins to get healthier at the right time.
Alabamas side of the ledger looks shakier, with a cluster of injuries leaving multiple players in question before kickoff. Among the names to watch are wide receiver Noah Rogers and offensive lineman Michael Carroll, two important pieces whose status could affect both how the Crimson Tide attack and how much protection they can provide when the game gets here. [Read more 🡒]