Illinois Football: NFL teams are signing Illini as priority free agents

Illinois football had a successful 2022 NFL Draft, but the program isn’t finished sending players to the professional ranks.

After the draft is completed, the preferred free agents start to sign. The Illini names are starting to hit the circuit, and we already have three players who have joined NFL franchises.

As of right now, the Los Angeles Chargers have signed not one but two Illinois football players. The first of the two players is quarterback, Brandon Peters. I am happy to see Peters land with a team after an up and down career with the Illini.

The second player Los Angeles signed was Illinois kicker, James McCourt. Best known for making the game-winner against No. 6 Wisconsin, McCourt has a leg of gold and will help the Chargers win games in the future.

The third and final player, for now, who has signed with a team is Khalan Tolson. He joined the Carolina Panthers right after the draft ended. Tolson was a shocking early entrance into the NFL Draft, but his hard work has paid off.

Illinois football puts three more talented players into the NFL, and there are surely more to come.

Three players were picked in the NFL Draft and now three more have signed free agent deals. That is an impressive haul for the Illini.

I am excited to see what Peters can do with NFL coaching. He had moments of greatness with Illinois, but there are certain things he can’t do. One of the major pluses of his game is his ability to throw on the run.

McCourt is going to be in the NFL for a long time. He is a talented kicker who has good accuracy. NFL teams are always looking for that. I think Tolson has a chance to be a good player too. He has the versatility to play multiple roles in the defense, so I am curious how the Panthers will use him.

There are going to be more Illinois players who sign with teams in the coming days. I am waiting to see who picks up punter Blake Hayes, linebacker Jake Hansen, cornerback Tony Adams and linebacker Owen Carney Jr. It isn’t an if with these three signing with an NFL team, it is a matter of when.

Update: Jake Hansen has signed with the Houston Texans, reuniting him with former head coach, Lovie Smith.

Update: Tony Adams has signed with the New York Jets.