At the end of every college football season, Texas A&M football fans bid farewell to some of their favorite players as the NFL Draft comes around. In the 2024 NFL Draft, four Aggies were selected, bringing the total number of A&M players currently in the league to 30. Here’s a look at how some of the NFL Aggies are performing at the midpoint of the 2024 NFL season.
Edgerrin Cooper, linebacker, Green Bay Packers
Cooper was the highest-selected Aggie in the 2024 NFL Draft, being taken with the 45th overall pick by the Packers. During his time playing in the Maroon and White over four seasons, he recorded 205 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Cooper’s explosive athleticism has quickly allowed him to make a name for himself in Green Bay. He battled an injury early in training camp, setting him back. The linebacker did not get significant snaps until Week 3. Despite facing limited snaps early, Cooper has accounted for 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble for the Green and Gold.
Expect Cooper to see more snaps as the season goes on, especially after he secured NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 8 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
McKinnley Jackson, defensive tackle, Cincinnati Bengals
Jackson was the second Aggie taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 97th overall pick. In his time at A&M, Jackson was responsible for 87 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The Lucedale, Mississippi native has not seen significant action so far in his rookie season. Jackson was sidelined early in training camp when he sustained a knee injury that landed him on the injured reserve list until the Bengals’ Week 5 bout against the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson’s slow start is reflected in his play, recording just four tackles in four games. Jackson is the second DT on the depth chart and should get more playing time as the season progresses. Jackson may not be the guy making tackles that show up on the stat sheet, but he is making plays.
Layden Robinson, offensive lineman, New England Patriots
Robinson was taken in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Patriots. The Manvel native started 33 games at right guard for the Aggies and only gave up five sacks during his four years in College Station.
The 6-foot-3, 311-pound player is listed as the second RG on the Patriots’ depth chart. Robinson has played 288 snaps and has allowed four sacks in 2024. He got the start in the first four weeks of the season before Patriots star OL Mike Onwenu made the move back to guard from tackle and bumped Robinson down on the depth chart.
Robinson has been battling an ankle injury and has been week-to-week for the middle part of the season. If Robinson can get healthy and stay healthy, he can cement himself into the Patriots’ starting five. He has an opportunity to become a special player, coach Jerod Mayo said in a press conference.
Ainias Smith, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith was selected by the Eagles with the 152nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith joined the Aggies as a running back but found his niche at WR. While at A&M, Smith accounted for 405 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 2,407 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns.
The start to Smith’s rookie season has been nowhere near conventional. Before he could compete in the NFL Combine, Smith was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his shin. The injury set him back, forcing Smith to watch parts of camp from the sideline. In the preseason, Smith struggled with an ankle injury, which landed him on injured reserve for the first eight weeks of the season.
Week 8 was Smith’s first professional action. He played eight total snaps but did not touch the ball once. Smith was utilized as the motion man almost every time he was on the field. In Week 9, he caught one pass for no gain. Smith’s athleticism makes it hard to keep him off the field as he heals.
Demani Richardson, free safety, Carolina Panthers
Richardson joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. In his five seasons with the Aggies, the Waxahachie native recorded 295 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions and 18 passes defended.
Richardson initially did not make it through the preseason, being waived after the final game. The safety was re-signed to the practice squad, where he battled his way back to the active roster in late September. By late October, he found himself in a starting role due to injuries from the starters. In his last two starts, Richardson has put up 24 tackles and a pass defended. If the rookie continues on the track he has been on, it will be hard to justify benching him once the starters do heal up.
De’Von Achane, running back, Miami Dolphins
Achane joined the Dolphins when he was selected 84th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Achane jumped into the hearts of Aggies when he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in A&M’s 41-38 victory over the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021. The Missouri City native racked up 2,376 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground while wearing the Maroon and White.
So far in his second year with the Dolphins, Achane has 420 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. In the Dolphins’ Week 9 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the back had 63 yards on 12 carries with a rushing touchdown. He wrangled eight passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Achane has been a reliable pass-catching back so far in 2024, catching 37 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns. With Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returning, expect Achane to continue making an impact in the passing game.
Antonio Johnson, free safety, Jacksonville Jaguars
Johnson was taken by the Jaguars with the 160th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. In three seasons at A&M, he was responsible for 164 tackles, two sacks, an interception and eight passes defended.
Johnson’s sophomore year in Jacksonville has seen him improve by leaps and bounds over his rookie campaign, and at a different position. In just nine games, he has 43 tackles and one pass defended. His rookie year, Johnson had 17 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended in 13 games while playing mostly slot corner. Johnson’s best performance this season came against the Indianapolis Colts in London, where he recorded 11 tackles, solidifying himself as the team’s true free safety.
Jaylon Jones, cornerback, Indianapolis Colts
Jones was the Colts’ seventh round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 221st overall. The cornerback recorded 98 tackles, three interceptions and 17 passes defended in his three years with the Aggies.
The cornerback earned a starting role in Week 5 of his rookie year and has not looked back. In 2024, Jones has recorded 59 tackles, a forced fumble, nine passes defended and two interceptions. His best game of the season was against the Chicago Bears in Week 3, where he recorded five tackles and two interceptions. Jones continues to be a seventh-round steal for the Colts.
Kenyon Green, offensive lineman, Houston Texans
Green was selected with the 15th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to his hometown Texans. The Atascocita High School standout only allowed five sacks in his 35 games in the Maroon and White.
Green struggled in his rookie year and did not see the field in Year 2 thanks to a shoulder injury. Green’s third year in Houston was unfortunately cut short following another shoulder injury he sustained in the Texans’ Week 9 loss to the New York Jets. Prior to being sidelined, the guard allowed five sacks and 27 pressures through 561 snaps played, which ranks 110th and 113th among guards, respectively. If Houston were forced to make the decision right now, there is little chance it would pick up Green’s fifth-year option.
Myles Garrett, defensive end, Cleveland Browns
Garrett joined the Browns after they selected him with the first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The superstar end recorded 145 tackles, 48.5 tackles for loss, 32.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an interception during his time terrorizing the Southeastern Conference.
The Arlington product had immediate success with the Browns, being named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. Since, Garrett has caused nightmares for opposing quarterbacks year in and year out. In 2023, Garrett amassed 42 tackles, 14 sacks and four forced fumbles on his way to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. At the midpoint of the 2024 season, he has 23 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Garrett is on track to have another award-caliber year.
Jake Matthews, offensive lineman, Atlanta Falcons
Matthews was picked by the Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame member started 46 straight games for the Aggies while helping set offensive records during the Johnny Manziel era.
Matthews currently holds the longest active streak of starts in the NFL with 161. In 2024, he’s allowed three sacks and 16 pressures through 577 snaps. Matthews has been one of the most consistently available players in the league. Matthews had big shoes to fill when he entered the league. His father is 14-time Pro Bowler Bruce Matthews, his uncle is former San Francisco 49er Clay Matthews Sr. and his cousin is Packers Hall of Famer Clay Matthews. It is safe to say that Matthews adds to his family’s legendary status.
Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Manziel’s favorite target was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. In just two seasons for the Aggies, Evans accounted for 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The receiver has 335 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Evans has been riddled with injuries this year, last seeing action in Week 7. He joined elite company in that game, catching his 100th career touchdown pass. Evans is a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Once healthy, there is no doubt Evans will continue to build on to his potential Hall of Fame resume.
Von Miller, defensive end, Buffalo Bills
Miller was taken with the second pick in the 2011 Draft by the Denver Broncos. Miller played three years in College Station, recording 160 tackles, 46.5 tackles for loss, 31 sacks, nine forced fumbles and an interception.
The DeSoto High School graduate is a two-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, seven-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler. In 2024, the future Hall of Famer has seen action in five games.
The 35-year-old missed Weeks 5-8 after being suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy in November 2023. Despite the suspension, Miller has recorded six tackles and three sacks on the year. Now that he is eligible to play again, expect those numbers to go up.
