Four Nittany Lions Sign NFL Rookie Contracts
Four former Penn State football stars have inked their first contracts with their respective NFL teams.
Yetur Gross-Matos, KJ Hamler, John Reid, and Robert Windsor have all put the pen to paper so far, while just Cam Brown and Tommy Stevens have yet to sign. With players set to report to training camp on July 28, the latter two should be signing their contracts shortly.
Here’s a look at some of the details for each player’s rookie contract:
Yetur Gross-Matos
Gross-Matos surprisingly fell to No. 38 overall after many experts projected him to be a first-round pick. He’ll join the Carolina Panthers on a four-year rookie deal this fall after totaling 111 tackles, 36.5 tackles-for-loss, and 18.5 sacks as a Nittany Lion.
Gross-Matos will likely have a chance to earn legitimate playing time as a rookie. He’s already listed as the second-string defensive end, according to ESPN.
KJ Hamler
Hamler went just eight picks after Gross-Matos when John Elway and the Denver Broncos took him with their second-round pick at No. 46 overall. Friday, the team signed him to his four-year rookie deal. He’ll likely put his blazing speed to work to become a dynamic addition to Denver’s passing and return game.
Hamler, like Gross-Matos, should have the opportunity to produce right away. He is already listed as one of the three starting receivers, joining Courtland Sutton and fellow rookie Jerry Jeudy.
John Reid
Reid’s NFL dream came true when Bill O’Brien and the Texans selected him in the fourth round of this year’s draft at No. 141 overall. Reid and O’Brien have a history dating back to 2013 when O’Brien was recruiting the cornerback to Happy Valley.
Reid is joining a young and crowded cornerback room that should be filled with competition. As things currently stand, he is listed as a third-string cornerback on ESPN’s Houston Texans Depth Chart.
Robert Windsor
Windsor, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts back in May, heard his name called during the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft at No. 193 overall. The high-energy defensive tackle totaled 120 tackles, 19 tackles-for-loss, and 13 sacks during his Penn State career.
As a sixth-round pick, Windsor will likely need to compete for playing time early on in his NFL career. However, he’s clearly up for the challenge.
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!