Buckeye Rookies in the NFL

Embed from Getty Images

With the NFL regular season winding down, let’s take a look at how all the Buckeyes did in their rookie seasons, both from a statistical perspective and a did-they-make-a-lot-of-money perspective. I’ll also throw a bunch of college stats because… why not?

A couple notes… all of the stats are from either College or Pro Football Reference. So, shout out to those lovely humans. Contract info comes from Spotrac.com. Kudos to them for being the least confusing NFL contract resources. Also, what the fuck, NFL? Your contracts are insane and convoluted. But also quite stingy for everyone who’s not a superstar. When you bring in a bajillion dollars a year YOU HAVE TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE MARGINAL PLAYERS SO THEY DON’T JUST GET HURT AND END UP FUCKING BROKE AND BROKEN. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. Moving along.

For the faint of heart, LSU fans, Coach Orgeron, SEC Douchebags, et al, I have to warn you – JOE BURROW IS INCLUDED. Just because Urban Meyer failed to realize he would become the best quarterback in college football history doesn’t mean he wasn’t a buckeye. Why don’t we just start with Joe and go from there?

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

• 1st overall pick in the draft. We know, of course, that Joe spent his last 2 college seasons at LSU.
• After throwing for a record 60 TD’s in 2019, winning the Heisman, and winning the hearts and minds of the whole goddamn world with his Heisman speech (“A kid from Ohio!”), and, you know, smoking Trevor and Company to win the title, Joe ends up a Bengal.
• Joe, per Spotrac, signed a 4 year, $36M contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, including a $23.8M signing bonus, $36M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $9M. And, he’s not going to touch any of that salary! He’s going to live off his endorsements just like – and this is fucking wild – ROB GRONKOWSKI! What on earth is happening? Fanatics, Nike, Lowe’s, NERF, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Bose are all on the list of endorsements that I’ve found on the shadiest websites I’ve ever seen. So… those could be completely wrong.
• Anyway, Joe started right away and played 10 games before getting his knee completely ripped apart November 22, 2020. He had surgery December 2nd and will hopefully be ready for next season. In those 10 games, Joe had 13 TD’s and 5 INT’s. He threw for 2688 yards, completing 65% of his passes. The Bengals were 2-7-1 and were a little frisky sometimes, despite Joe constantly running for his life from opposing defenses. Get well soon, Joe!

Chase Young, Washington Professional Football Team

• 2nd Overall Pick. The Heisman finalist (along with FELLOW BUCKEYES Joey Burrow and Justin Fields) thankfully didn’t have to go to a team with an overtly racist name due to approximately 600 years of pressure on all-around nice guy – owner Dan Snyder.
• Per Spotrac, Chase signed a 4 year, $34M contract with the Washington, including a $22.6M signing bonus, $34M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8.6M. He has, per essentiallysports.com, “signed deals with Under Armour, Old Spice, FedEx, and Beats By Dre. Furthermore, as per TMZ, the 21-year-old has filed to trademark the phrase ‘Terrorize the Moment’.”
• Washington is currently 6-8 on the season and… well they are first place in the worst division that’s ever existed in football. So, they might make the playoffs. It’s 2020, so who the fuck knows. Chase is on the team with fellow Buckeyes Terry MacLaurin, who is awesome, and Dwayne Haskins, who is getting fined for not following Covid regulations (partying with strippers). Settle down, Dwayne.
• Chase has, so far, 38 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery for a TD. Oh, and he was selected for the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He’s a scary dude. Terrorizing his moment and whatnot.

Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions

• The 3rd overall pick in the 2019 draft, and the 3rd Buckeye taken, Okudah goes to Detroit as their new lockdown corner.
• Jeff signed a 4 year, $33.5M contract with the Detroit Lions, including a $22M signing bonus, $33.5M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8.3M. These guys are making some real money.
• Jeff played in 9 games this season for the Lions, who recently fired their coach and more or less look like a fuckin mess. He had 1 INT and is out for the season and having either “groin surgery” or “core surgery,” depending on which link you click. He’s had an up and down season and some nagging injuries. Let’s go with GROIN surgery. It’s part of the Core, right?

Damon Arnette, Las Vegas Raiders

• Viva Las Vegas! I loved Damon when he was here in Columbus. Just a classic, shit-talking cornerback who has never been cleanly beaten on any route. He either makes a play or it was offensive pass interference. Which is the only way you can be a defensive back and not lose your mind, right? Damon was the 19th overall pick in the draft.
• He signed a 4 year, $13M contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, including a $7.3M signing bonus, $13M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3.3M. One time per year he should take his whole game check and put it on red, right? Double that shit.
• Damon has played in 7 games this year, starting 6. 19 total tackles and 2 passes defended. He’s been knocked out of several games this season, which seems like a good sign for his overall longevity.

JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens

• One of the great Buckeyes, Dobbins is 2nd all-time in rushing yards (4459 yards, just 1100 yards behind Archie, lol), and 7th in all-time rushing TD’s (38 – behind Pete Johnson, Keith Byars, Eddie George, Zeke Elliott, and JT Barrett) for Ohio State. I love that JT Barrett is 5th all time in rushing TD’s. Totally nuts. JK was picked in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft – 55th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
• Dobbins signed a 4 year, $5.7M contract with the Baltimore Ravens, including a $1.7M signing bonus, $2.6M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1.4M.
• JK’s played in 13 games so far this season. 568 yards rushing and 6 TD’s. The Ravens are a little disappointing but still have a shot at the playoffs. JK is a little like Ray Rice, but without the spousal abuse. Per Clifton Brown at baltimoreravens.com, JK “has taken over as the Ravens’ lead back in a talented group. His speed and ability to avoid going down on first contact makes him effective as both an inside and outside runner. Dobbins has run for a touchdown in four consecutive games, setting a franchise record for most consecutive game with a touchdown by a rookie.” Hell yeah, JK.

Davon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars

• A defensive tackle, Hamilton was the 73rd overall pick in the 2020 draft.
• DaVon signed a 4 year, $4.8M contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including a $1M signing bonus, $1M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1.2M.
• 11 games, 30 tackles, 1 sack. DaVon has been good this season. He was recently carted off the field and it looked bad – but it wasn’t! Not too bad anyway. So – kudos to a solid start DaVon! I hope you’re investing good portions of your game checks in low cost index funds.

Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions

• A Guard – Jackson was the 75th overall pick in the 2020 draft.
• Jackson signed a 4 year, $4.8M contract with the Detroit Lions, including a $1M signing bonus, $1M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1.2M.
• Jonah has started all 14 games this year for Detroit and has played well for the Lions, who mostly resemble a dumpster fire. Hope you get a sweet 2nd contract in a few years!!

Malik Harrison, Baltimore Ravens

• A Linebacker, Harrison was the 98th overall pick in the 2020 draft. In his 4 years at Ohio State had 205 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, and 9 sacks. A great Buckeye career! And a local guy from Walnut Ridge High School!
• Malik signed a 4 year, $4.5M contract with the Baltimore Ravens, including a $832K signing bonus, $832K guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1.1M.
• He’s played in all 14 games this season – 39 tackles, 1 for a loss, 1 pass defended. Malik has also played well special teams. Get that money, Malik.

Jordan Fuller, LA Rams

• Safety Jordan Fuller was taken with the 199th pick in the 2020 draft by the LA Rams. In his 4-year Buckeye career he had 216 tackles and 5 INTs and was really good.
• Jordan signed a 4 year, $3.4M contract with the Los Angeles Rams, including a $170K signing bonus, $170K guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $866K.
• This year Jordan has 36 tackles and 3 INT and is awesome! Anyway, the Rams got themselves a goddamn bargain and I hope Jordan can afford a nice 2-bedroom apartment in LA, close to a beach on that salary. It’s looking like he’ll earn way over his 170K guarantee… great job Jordan!

KJ Hill, LA Chargers.

• Firstly – KJ is the all time leader in receptions at Ohio State with 201. Next on that list are David Boston (191) and Cris Carter (168). Pretty good company. He’s also 6th in all-time receiving yards, with 2332. Ahead of him are Boston, Gary Williams, Michael Jenkins, Carter, and Devin Smith.
• Secondly, his full name is Reanard O’Keith “K. J.” Hill Jr. Which… is amazing.
• So the Chargers take him with the 220th overall pick.
• K.J. signed a 4-year, $3.4M contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, including a $105K signing bonus, $105K guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $850K.
• In 13 games this year he’s returned punts and has 7 catches for 73 yards. As far as I can tell, KJ is the best receiver in Chargers history and should probably get thrown the ball more. OK fine Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are on the team. But KJ is definitely third. Throw him the ball, Herbert!

Jashon Cornell, Detroit Lions

• Jashon was taken 235th in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Lions. It turns out that in 2020 the Lions were required to select only from available Buckeyes. He spent 5 years in Columbus and had 62 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, and 7 sacks.
• Cornell signed a 4 year, $3.4M contract with the Detroit Lions, including a $84K signing bonus, $84K guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $845K.
• Jashon injured his achilles before the season started. So that sucks.

Also – 4 undrafted players got deals with teams after the draft.

• Binjimin Victor, WR, New York Giants – he got a 1-year, 142K contract… doesn’t look like any of it was guaranteed, but he made…maybe 30K? And he didn’t play in any games and is not currently on the roster. I know everyone remembers Ben Victor… he made fucking insane crazy plays and then dropped the easy ones. 83 catches and 18 TD’s in his 4 years. Those 18 TD’s tie him (with DeVier Posey and Michael Thomas) for 11th in OSU history. And that catch and run against Penn State was insane and he’ll be famous in Columbus forever for it.
• Austin Mack, WR, New York Giants – Mack has played in 9 games for the Giants this year… 6 catches, 82 yards. In 4 years at OSU, Mack had 79 catches, over 1000 yards and 6 TD’s. He signed a 1-year, 610K deal. No guaranteed $ initially but it looks like he’s earned it!
• Rashod Berry, TE, New England Patriots. Listed as a tight end, it looks like he’s played only on defense and special teams. A 1-year deal, 92K, and it looks like he made all that money. As a redshirt freshman at OSU, Berry is listed as a defensive end. As a tight end he caught a few passes and had 4 TD’s.
• Liam McCullough, Long Snapper, Las Vegas Raiders. I’ve never heard of this dude but, per Cleveland.com, he “played in 54 of 55 games for Ohio State from 2016-19 without mishandling a snap. That included 577 consecutive good snaps on punts, point-after touchdowns and field goals.” Amazing! He was waived by the raiders, then signed by the Steelers… and then cut by the Steelers. Life’s rough in the long snapper world I guess. As far as I can tell, he made around 6 grand for his troubles.

OK that’s all folks. I’d like to make this a running series – revisiting previous drafts and finding out what happened to all the dudes we cheered for and criticized back when they were 20 years old. Peace.

-Eric