The NFL’s 2016 season saw action from 22 former Louisville Cardinals on 15 different teams, with at least one player representing each position in football. The 2016 NFL Draft also felt the Louisville Cardinals’ presence, with the selection of Sheldon Rankins with the 12th overall pick. The Bills, Steelers and Jets feature multiple former Cards on their rosters, with the Steelers having 2 and both the Bills & Jets having 4 (The Bears also had multiple prior to Greg Scruggs being waived). 3 postseason teams have former Cards on their rosters (Steelers, Dolphins, Patriots), as well as the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots (Greg Scruggs).
(Click more for all players)
Gary Barnidge (9th season)
Tight End, Cleveland Browns
55 receptions/81 targets
612 yards
2 touchdowns
Josh Bellamy (4th season)
Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
19 receptions/38 targets
282 yards
1 touchdown
4 rushing attempts/37 yards
Teddy Bridgewater (3rd season)
Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
*Missed entire season due to knee injury*
Preston Brown (3rd season)
Inside Linebacker, Buffalo Bills
79 solo tackles/60 assisted tackles
1 sack
1 forced fumble/2 fumbles recovered
Jamon Brown (2nd season)
Offensive Guard, Los Angeles Rams
Games Played: 11
*Brown missed 2 games with a hand injury*
Gerald Christian (2nd season)
Tight End, Buffalo Bills
1 reception/2 targets
14 yards
Harry Douglas (9th season)
Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans
15 receptions/22 targets
210 yards
Elvis Dumervil (11th season)
Outside Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
9 solo tackles/2 assisted tackles
3 sacks
2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered
*Dumervil missed 8 games with a foot injury*
William Gay (10th season)
Cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
42 solo tackles/16 assisted tackles
1 sack
1 forced fumble
1 interception/7 pass deflections
Postseason: 5 solo tackles/2 assisted tackles, 1 pass deflection
Breno Giacomini (9th season)
Offensive Tackle, New York Jets
Games Played: 5
*Giacomini missed most of the season with a back injury sustained in minicamp, only to aggravate the injury upon return*
Lorenzo Mauldin (2nd season)
Outside Linebacker, New York Jets
7 solo tackles/ 9 combined tackles
2.5 sacks
1 interception/2 pass deflections
John Miller (2nd season)
Offensive Guard, Buffalo Bills
Games Played: 16
1 fumble recovered
Deiontrez Mount (2nd season)
Outside Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
*Mount was signed to Colts from the practice squad in mid December. He played 1 game yet logged no stats*
DeVante Parker (2nd season)
Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
56 receptions/90 targets
744 yards
4 touchdowns
Postseason: 4 receptions/6 targets, 55 yards
Bilal Powell (6th season)
Running Back, New York Jets
131 attempts/722 yards (5.5 yards per carry)
3 touchdowns
58 receptions/74 targets
388 yards
2 touchdowns
Calvin Pryor (3rd season)
Safety, New York Jets
45 solo tackles/17 assisted tackles
1 forced fumble
6 pass deflections
Sheldon Rankins (Rookie)
Defensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints
15 solo tackles/ 5 assisted tackles
4 sacks
1 forced fumble
*Rankins missed the first 7 games due to a leg injury*
Eli Rogers (2nd season)
Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
48 receptions/66 targets
594 yards
3 touchdowns
Postseason: 13 receptions/18 targets, 112 yards
James Sample (2nd season)
Safety, Jacksonville Jaguars
*Missed entire season due to shoulder injury*
Greg Scruggs (4th season)
Tight End, New England Patriots
*Scruggs was waived by the Chicago Bears after 3 games and picked up by the Patriots off waivers, where he was transitioned into a Tight End*
Marcus Smith (3rd season)
Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles
12 solo tackles/4 assisted tackles
2.5 sacks
Eric Wood (8th season)
Center, Buffalo Bills
Games Played: 9
*Wood missed the last 7 games due to a broken leg*
