The final deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters down to 53 players has come and gone on Tuesday afternoon after this past weekend’s final slate of preseason games. With the beginning of the regular season rapidly approaching, that means another class of Pro Ducks will get their opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level of the game. Just like Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, and Evan Williams and others before them, these Ducks will receive their opportunity to leave their mark on the 2025 season as rookies, so let’s break down who has officially found their home in professional football.

Dillon Gabriel – QB, Cleveland Browns

After a quarterback battle in Cleveland, the Ducks signal caller from a season ago and the most prolific touchdown scorer in FBS history has officially made the Browns roster. After a strong preseason that saw him complete nearly 68 percent of his passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, Gabriel was able to edge out Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders to be named Cleveland’s QB2 to begin this season, where he will serve behind Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco. With Flacco set to enter his 18th NFL season at age 40, he’s not long for this game, meaning that Gabriel could find himself taking professional snaps sooner rather than later this year.

Derrick Harmon – DL, Pittsburgh Steelers

After being carted off with a knee injury during the Steelers’ final preseason game last Thursday in Carolina, there was fear that Harmon’s rookie season could be over before it even started. But as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport, Harmon was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, which should be expected to keep him off the field for about a month. On Tuesday, Pittsburgh officially named him to their 53-man roster, where he will have the chance to learn from talented players like Keeanu Benton and seven-time Pro Bowler Cam Heyward. He’s a candidate to begin the season on the injured reserve, but by the end of the year, quarterbacks in the AFC North will likely become very familiar with the 21st overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Jeffrey Bassa – LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Although not the biggest news to come out of “The Kingdom” on Tuesday, Bassa has officially made Kansas City’s 53-man roster, where he will have the opportunity to make an impact for a Super Bowl contender. Behind veterans like Leo Chenal and Nick Bolton, Bassa should factor heavily for the Chiefs on special teams, while his versatility in coverage (having started his career in Eugene as a safety) should get him looks in sub-packages when teams attempt to spread out what has been one of the best defenses in the NFL over recent years. Under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Bassa will be a contributor in Kansas City this season as they hunt for their fourth Super Bowl of the Mahomes-era.

Jamaree Caldwell – DL, Los Angeles Chargers

After plugging holes for one of college football’s best run defenses last season, the Chargers’ third-round pick excelled in the preseason, and now could find himself making a big impact for a team that expects to find itself in the playoffs this year. Caldwell’s surprising quickness for his large frame has made him an excellent run-defender at every level he’s played at, and he will now have a chance to team up with former Duck Justin Herbert as they attempt to out-race Nix’s Broncos and Bassa’s Chiefs for the AFC West crown.

Nikko Reed – CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Nikko Reed (Photo: © Sergio Estrada, 247Sports)

 

Despite going undrafted after not receiving an invite to the NFL combine, Reed popped throughout training camp time and time again, earning the praise of veterans in the secondary like four-time Pro Bowler Derwin James. He got his opportunity to show that his hard work had paid off to the world during the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game to open the preseason, nearly taking a pick-six 65 yards to the house. Now, alongside Caldwell, he will join a Chargers defense that is looking to find its identity under second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, and could find himself with significant playing time after working in and out of the first-team defense throughout camp.

Josh Conerly Jr. – OT, Washington Commanders

After quarterback Jayden Daniels took the league by storm as a rookie to lead the Commanders to the NFC Championship game, Washington decided to sure-up his protection in the offseason by selecting Conerly in the first round. Although he will be making the move across the line to accommodate the trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Conerly’s athleticism will make him a weapon in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s run game, clearing the way for Daniels’ blazing speed — and backup Marcus Mariota — as they look to return to the postseason.

Ajani Cornelius – OT, Dallas Cowboys

After protecting Gabriel’s blindside for the Ducks last season, Cornelius solidified his spot on Dallas’ 53-man roster with a strong preseason, where he impressed as a consistent force in both run and pass blocking. The Cowboys have a strong offensive line, having invested heavily at the position in recent drafts, with Cornelius projecting to provide depth in order to keep quarterback Dak Prescott upright throughout 2025.

Tez Johnson – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although he has constantly been overlooked throughout his career due to his small stature, Johnson has proven time and time again that he is simply a playmaker, earning his way onto Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster after falling to them in the 7th round of the NFL Draft. Johnson got a chance to show off his ridiculous athleticism with an impressive backflip after scoring in the Buccaneers’ final preseason game, and alongside his former Oregon teammate Irving at running back, will try to find his way in a talented receiver room that features the likes of Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.

Jordan James – RB, San Francisco 49ers

James led the way on the ground for the Ducks last season with over 1200 yards and 15 scores on the ground, enticing offensive wizard Kyle Shanahan to select him in the 5th round of this year’s NFL Draft. With superstar running back Christian McCaffrey’s availability seemingly constantly a question mark, San Francisco has continued to stack talent in its backfield, trading for the Commanders’ Brian Robinson Jr., who will compete with James and Isaac Guerendo for playing time on any snap that McCaffrey doesn’t find himself on the field.

Terrance Ferguson – TE, Los Angeles Rams

Terrance Ferguson (Photo: © Kirby Lee , USA TODAY Sports)

 

Sharing a stadium with his former teammates Caldwell and Reed will be Ferguson, who will look to supplement veteran Tyler Higbee in Sean McVay’s offense this season after making the Rams’ 53-man roster. Although McVay relies heavily on 11-personnel looks (with one running back and one tight end), Ferguson’s athleticism that dazzled at the combine and led to his second-round selection will be hard to keep off the field in a Matthew Stafford-led air attack that looks to be one of the league’s best this season.

Jordan Burch – Edge, Arizona Cardinals

As one of the most athletic linemen in this year’s draft, Burch brings rare explosiveness off the edge for his size that he showcased throughout the preseason with Arizona. Third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon is attempting to revitalize a defense that has long hung near the bottom of the league, and with Burch making the 53-man roster, now has another weapon to hunt NFC West quarterbacks with.