Tulane Professional Athletes

For Tulane fans tracking the Green Wave's NFL footprint, the Buffalo Bills made news this preseason week by adding one of the program's own.

Sincere Haynesworth, C — Buffalo Bills

Center Sincere Haynesworth secured a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster during the 2026 preseason roster-building period, with the Bills signing him in a corresponding move that also saw wide receiver Mac Dalena waived. It's a straightforward transaction on paper, but for a program like Tulane — which has steadily built an NFL alumni presence — every active roster hold matters.

Haynesworth's signing reflects the Bills' ongoing evaluation of their offensive line depth heading into final roster cuts. Landing with a perennial AFC contender in Buffalo is no small opportunity; the competition is stiff, but the door is open.

The Bigger Green Wave Picture

Haynesworth isn't alone in keeping Tulane's name on NFL depth charts this summer. The Bills also have linebacker Dorian Williams on the roster, meaning Tulane has two alumni in Buffalo's building simultaneously — a notable concentration for a program outside the traditional college football power structure.

Elsewhere around the league, the Green Wave's NFL alumni corps spans the league. Titans running back Tyjae Spears continues to be among the most high-profile names in the group, while wide receivers Darnell Mooney (Giants), Jha'Quan Jackson (Titans), and Duece Watts (Steelers) give the program strong representation at the skill positions. On defense, Cameron Sample (Falcons) and Patrick Jenkins (Browns) anchor a credible pass-rush contingent, and Cairo Santos keeps his career alive in Chicago as one of the NFL's more durable specialists.

The sheer breadth of the alumni list underscores the quiet but consistent pipeline that Tulane has built into professional football. Not every name will make a 53-man roster when the dust settles, but the preseason presence alone is a testament to the program's development track.

For now, all eyes are on Haynesworth as he works to hold his spot in Buffalo. A center on an AFC contender's roster is exactly the kind of foothold that can turn into a long NFL career — and Tulane's alumni base will be watching.

Tulane alumni are making noise in NFL training camps this preseason, with a pair of former Green Wave standouts — pass rusher Patrick Johnson and wide receiver Darnell Mooney — each fighting to cement a place on a 53-man roster before the 2026 season kicks off.

Patrick Johnson, Raiders DE

In Las Vegas, Patrick Johnson is turning heads as a veteran edge rusher battling for a spot on the Raiders' final roster. Johnson brings experience and versatility to a defensive front that values both, and according to reporting from Yahoo Sports, he has a legitimate shot at making the cut. At this stage of his career, Johnson knows the margins are thin — every preseason snap carries added weight, and the Raiders' brass are watching closely. For a program like Tulane that has produced consistent NFL-caliber pass rushers, Johnson's continued presence in the league is a testament to the Green Wave's defensive pedigree.

Darnell Mooney, Giants WR

Meanwhile, in East Rutherford, Darnell Mooney is chasing something more than just a roster spot — he's chasing a second act. Now 28 and healthy, the former Tulane wideout is competing for a role with the New York Giants after a stretch that tested his durability and forced a hard reset on his NFL trajectory. Yahoo Sports notes that Mooney arrives in New York with a genuine chance to re-establish himself as a reliable NFL receiver. Youth and health are back on his side, and the Giants' wide receiver room offers a realistic path to meaningful snaps if he can win the competition in camp. Few positions in the NFL are as unforgiving as wide receiver for a player reclaiming footing — but Mooney has the pedigree and the motivation to pull it off.

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Two players, two different stages of a career arc, one shared alma mater. Johnson is a veteran grinding to stay in the league; Mooney is a young talent grinding to get back to where he belongs. Both storylines are worth watching as final cuts approach. For Tulane fans, the 2026 preseason is serving up real stakes on two different sidelines — and the Green Wave faithful have every reason to keep a close eye on the depth charts between now and roster cutdown day.