Illinois Football: Former Illini are cashing in on rookie contracts

For the first time since 2016, the Illinois football team had three players selected in the NFL Draft.

That is a nice accomplishment for the Illini considering there was a span of time in the last five years where having a draft pick wasn’t a sure thing. Now, we have three players getting picked and a couple of the players selected have already signed their rookie deals.

Last Thursday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Detroit Lions and former Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph had come to an agreement on a contract. The contract was for four years, $5,044,904.

That same day, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reported that the Minnesota Vikings and former Illinois offensive tackle Vederian Lowe agreed to terms on a contract. The deal was for four years, $3,860,000.

Joseph was a third-round pick by the Lions while Lowe was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round. Doug Kramer, also a sixth-round pick, has yet to sign a contract with the Chicago Bears, or at least I don’t see reports of him signing just yet.

Here is a peek at what former Illinois football players have signed for during their rookie year.

With three players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft and two players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Illini had multiple players selected in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 2012 and 2013. Things seem to be turning around in Champaign.

Kendrick Green and Nate Hobbs were the two players taken in 2021. Green went in the third round to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would eventually sign a four-year, $4,875,767 contract. Hobbs was selected in the fifth round and signed a four-year, $3,783,052 contract.

In 2019, the lone Illinois football player selected in that draft was Nick Allegretti. He was picked in the seventh round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only would Allegretti sign a four-year, $2,631,952 contract with the Chiefs, but he would also go on to win a Super Bowl in year one.

Let’s take a look at what a seventh-round pick in 2011 commanded. In 2011, the New Orleans Saints picked Nathan Bussey in the seventh round. His rookie deal would end up being a four-year, $2,085,900 contract. So, there isn’t much of a difference.

Kramer’s contract is going to happen soon. He will join Joseph and Lowe in celebrating their big deals. It is nice to see these guys getting paid. Their hard work and dedication is paying off.