PULLMAN, Wash. (July 25, 2025) – Fourteen Washington State Cougars continue their playing career in the NFL. Here is where the former Cougs are playing as training camps opened within the last week.
 
Andre Dillard | OL | San Francisco 49ers
Dillard begins his seventh NFL season and joined the 49ers this past offseason after playing the 2024 season with the Green Bay Packers. Dillard has played in 69 career games with the Eagles (2019-22), Titans (2023) and Packers (2024).
 
Daniel Ekuale | DL | Pittsburgh Steelers
Ekuale begins his seventh NFL season and first with the Steelers after signing as a free agent this past offseason. Last season, Ekuale started 16 games and tallied 52 tackles including one sack for New England. Ekuale has played in 57 regular season games with the Browns (2019), Jaguars (2020) and Patriots (2021-24).
 
Daiyan Henley | LB | Los Angeles Chargers
Henley begins his third NFL season, all with the Chargers. Henley started all 17 games last season and recorded 147 combined tackles with one sack and one interception.
 
Jaden Hicks | S | Kansas City Chiefs
Hicks begins his second NFL season after making 22 solo tackles and three interceptions as a rookie with the Chiefs last season.
 
Brennan Jackson | DE | Los Angeles Rams
Jackson begins his second NFL season after appeared in seven games with one start for the Rams as a rookie last season. Jackson recorded three combined tackles with one pass breakup.
 
Cam Lampkin | CB | Los Angeles Rams
Lampkin begins his second NFL season after appearing in four games as a rookie with the Rams last season.
 
Abraham Lucas | OT | Seattle Seahawks
Lucas begins his fourth NFL season, all with the Seahawks, and owns 29 career starts including starting all seven games appeared in last year.
 
Frankie Luvu | LB | Washington Commanders
Luvu begins his eighth NFL season and second with the Commanders after making 125 total tackles with 5.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles en route to All-Pro Second Team honors last season.
 
Gardner Minshew II | QB | Kansas City Chiefs
Minshew II begins his seventh NFL season and first with the Chiefs. Last season, Minshew II appeared in 10 games, nine as a starter with the Raiders. Minshew II has appeared in 59 games and made 46 career starts for the Jaguars (2019-20), Eagles (2021-22), Colts (2023) and Raiders (2024).
 
Esa Pole | OL | Kansas City Chiefs
Pole begins his first NFL season after signing with the Chiefs as a free agent this past offseason.
 
Chau Smith-Wade | CB | Carolina Panthers
Smith-Wade begins his second NFL season after appearing in 14 games as a rookie last season. Smith-Wade made 36 total tackles with one interception and one pass breakup.
 
Jalen Thompson | S | Arizona Cardinals
Thompson begins his seventh NFL season, all with the Cardinals after starting all 15 games he appeared in last season and recorded 98 combined tackles with three pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Thompson has appeared in 84 games including 72 career starts with nine interceptions in his six-year career.
 
Jaylen Watson | CB | Kansas City Chiefs
Watson begins his fourth NFL season, all with the Chiefs, after making 32 tackles and six pass breakups in six games played last season. Watson has appeared in 38 games including 14 career starts, picked off one pass and helped the Chiefs to three-straight Super Bowl appearances including Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024.
 
Kyle Williams | WR | New England Patriots
Williams begins his NFL rookie season after being drafted in the third round by the Patriots this past May. In 25 career games for the Cougars, Williams caught 20 touchdowns, tied for the sixth-most in program history.
 

 
Fans wishing to purchase tickets for the 2025 Football season can click on the link HERE, visit wsucougars.com to order online, or call the WSU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS.