The final whistle blew on NFL roster cutdowns this week, leaving a mixed bag of emotions for those following the pipeline from College Park to the pros. While Maryland football continues to boast a respectable presence across the league heading into the 2026 season, the process proved brutal for several hopefuls. A handful of former Terps who seemed poised to secure their spots were ultimately let go, serving as a stark reminder of how thin the margin for error is when fighting for a spot on a 53 man roster.
Despite those losses, there is plenty of reason for optimism among the alumni base. Fifteen former Terrapins successfully navigated the cuts to land on initial rosters, anchored by heavy hitters like Stefon Diggs and DJ Moore. In particular, Moore looks set for a massive year in Buffalo, where he arrives via trade as a primary weapon for Josh Allen. Meanwhile, Diggs makes a homecoming of sorts with the Washington Commanders, putting him in a prime position to climb even further up the all time receiving yards leaderboard while playing close to home in the DMV.
Washington has essentially become a hub for Maryland talent, boasting three former Terps including safety Nick Cross and tight end Chig Okonkwo. Across the league, other alum are cementing themselves as foundational pieces rather than just depth players. Delmar Glaze enters his third year as a fixture on the Raiders offensive line, and Tarheeb Still has evolved into a reliable starter in the Chargers secondary. Even rookies are finding their footing early, with Jalen Huskey surviving his first cutdown cycle in Jacksonville after being taken in the third round.
From veterans like Ty Johnson battling injuries in Buffalo to rising stars like Dante Trader Jr. carving out roles in Miami, the spread of Maryland talent remains wide. While cutdown day may have been unkind to some promising candidates who saw their dreams deferred, the sheer volume of Terps currently contributing at various levels suggests that Maryland’s developmental system is producing NFL caliber athletes at an impressive rate.
