Who are the Tulane Green Wave draft hopefuls that have a solid chance at landing with an NFL team through the draft or free agency?
The Tulane Green Wave Pro Day looked a bit different than it did the last few seasons, with not as many pro scouts and NFL teams in attendance than over the past three NFL drafts. For one, the Green Wave had 21 players participate in last year’s Pro Day, and it featured a notably strong defensive back group and several pass catchers who were expected to catch eyes. Only two players of those 21 were drafted: Caleb Ransaw and Micah Robinson. Several more were signed as undrafted free agents, but only cornerback Johnathan Edwards went on to make the Colts’ 53-man roster. Outside of that group, wide receivers Mario Williams and Dontae Fleming, who is with the Minnesota Vikings, caught the attention and were picked up in UDFA.
That’s likely the trajectory that the 11 former players who participated on Tuesday at Tulane’s Pro Day will follow, though some could sneak into later rounds, like offensive tackle Derrick Graham, quarterback Jake Retzlaff, and defensive end Kam Hamilton, who didn’t participate in testing and drills. Someone who could sneak into that group is linebacker Sam Howard, who was a last-minute decision to participate in the showcase, and also longtime safety Bailey Despanie. It was Retzlaff’s second pro day, and the throwing session wasn’t spectacular, but Retzlaff noted afterwards that the odd, glaring lighting inside the New Orleans Saints’ indoor practice facility played a bit of a role.
Likely, so did the fact that Retzlaff simply showed up on campus so late to work with these guys last season and spent the last few months working out in California. Some guys may have joined him. But it makes sense that he went back to throw as well with the guys he cultivated chemistry with for several seasons at BYU. Once they all adjusted and settled in, things got going, but there were only two draft-eligible skill players to bring in attention from scouts, unlike the previous pro day that featured Fleming and Williams.
It was a bit surprising that Retzlaff elected to not run the 40-yard dash at either pro day, but his tape certainly speaks for itself when it comes to his speed and mobility. That could endear him to certain teams, even if his passing numbers don’t match up. He’s without a doubt a better thrower than Joe Milton, who was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Mobility sort of blew up in the NFL a few years back, and pocket passing has re-entered as a necessary skill, but there’s still a place in the league for athletic signal callers who could play some versatile roles potentially.
Then there’s Graham, who checks in as a 6-foot-4, 314-pound tackle, which fit the prototypal requirements for an NFL tackle, although a bit on the shorter side. But he was considerably more muscular at Pro Day, and has two full seasons with the Green Wave under his belt as a full-time starter.
A team to watch for Graham could very well be the Chicago Bears, where his former offensive line coach, Dan Roushar, currently coaches that unit.