It’s no secret we’re in the sports doldrums of summer right now. But we’re on the other side of the MLB All-Star break, the ESPY’s, and football will be here before you know it. In fact, NFL training camps are getting underway as we speak, and several former Huskies are participating, either as rookies or veterans. We take a look at some of the position battles, roster chances, and new contracts.
QB Joe Fagnano (Ravens)
- Acquired: UDFA
- Report Date: 7/24
- Contract: 3 years, $3,100,000
- 2026 Salary: $885,000
Fagnano has had a pretty good year, having one of the best seasons ever for a Husky QB, getting married, and signing a three-year deal with the Ravens. He got more good news Thursday as the Ravens waived one of his competitors for the roster, former Vanderbilt QB and Heisman finalist Diego Pavia, one day before camp started. Fagnano will be in a battle with veteran Skylar Thompson for QB3.
The question will be, do the Ravens want to carry a third quarterback on their active roster? If so, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine they’d want someone with NFL experience in Thompson if forced into emergency duty. In any case, the most likely scenario for Fagnano will be the practice squad, but it’s evident the Ravens value his decision-making and accuracy, two important qualities for a backup.
WR Skyler Bell (Bills)
- Acquired: 2026 4th round, 125 overall
- Report Date: 7/21
- Contract: 4 years, $5,471,764 ($1,091,764 guaranteed)
- 2026 Salary: $885,000
Fagnano’s top target is a near lock to make the active roster as a rookie. Bell will be competing for WR2 behind new addition DJ Moore, with the leading returning receiver, Khalil Shakir. Over the past two seasons, Shakir has recorded 1,540 yards and eight TDs, becoming a solid target for QB Josh Allen. It appears pre-camp that Bell will be WR3, but Husky fans to know never to count him out.
Behind Bell are Buffalo’s 2024 2nd round pick, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer. Coleman has earned the praise of new HC Joe Brady, so he could be pushing Bell for the WR3 spot, especially if Bell isn’t 100% from a hamstring injury suffered in mandatory OTAs in June. Bell should be ahead of Palmer, who has disappointed so far in his one-year tenure in Buffalo.
OL Ryan Van Demark (Vikings)
- Acquired: Free Agency (March 2026)
- Report Date: 7/28
- Contract: 1 year, $4,270,000 ($4,145,000 guaranteed)
- 2026 Salary: $4,270,000
Vandemark is a great example of keeping your head down, working hard, and getting ahead. Undrafted in 2022 after starting 43 games for the Huskies from 2017 through 2021, he was picked up by the Colts but was waived during final cuts. The Bills added him to their practice squad not long afterwards, and he made the active roster in 2023. His role has increased each year, starting two games in 2024 and four in 2025.
VanDemark is getting over $4M in guaranteed money, but just a one-year deal. His role is expected to be the backup RT to Brian O’Neill, and he is a swing tackle, proving his capability in stepping up when injuries occur.
OL Chase Lundt (Bills)
- Acquired: 2025 6th round, 206th overall
- Report Date: 7/28
- Contract: 4 years, $4,404,924 ($204,924 guaranteed at signing in 2025)
- 2026 Salary: $1,005,000
Van Demark’s former linemate, Lundt, had a tougher rookie season in 2025, finishing the season on the injured reserve and playing in just two games for Buffalo, with three snaps. The NFL is a cold world, and the Bills drafted T Jude Bowry in the 4th round and Ar’maj Reed-Adams in the 7th as a G. The Bills return all but one starter from a year ago, creating even stiffer competition for Lundt to make the roster.
Lundt will have the opportunity to prove himself in camp being fully healthy. With Van Demark departing, there is an opening for a swing tackle, a position Lundt can fill. He was an ironman at UConn, not missing a start over his last three seasons, but was injured in his final start, the 2024 Fenway Bowl.
DL Eric Watts (Jets)
- Acquired: UDFA
- Report Date: 7/28
- Contract: 2 years, $2,035,000
- 2026 Salary: $1,075,000
Another undrafted free agent, Watts made some waves as a rookie, not only making the active roster in 2024, but playing in 14 games, recording 13 tackles and five QB pressures. He was waived in final roster cuts in 2025 and signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster late in the year, playing in the final four games, where he notched 10 tackles, but just one pressure.
Even casual NFL viewers know that the Jets have struggled recently, to put it mildly, and new GM Darren Mougey needed to make a lot of moves to put a competitive roster on the field. The Jets allowed the 4th most rushing yards per game last year at 139.5, and generated just 26 sacks. Those aren’t favorable numbers for Watts, trying to make the roster after seeing his pressure rate drop.
The Jets added DT T’Vondre Sweat, Joseph Ossai, and Kingsley Enagbare, plus drafted Georgia’s David Bailey with the second overall pick in this year’s draft. Watts will need to have a strong camp to get one of the final DL spots, or to carve out a special teams role.
DL Travis Jones (Ravens)
- Acquired: 2022 3rd round, 76th overall
- Report Date: 7/28
- Contract: 3 years, $40,500,000
- 2026 Salary: $1,215,000 base plus $2,253,111 signing bonus proration
Jones has quietly been one of the best UConn picks, earning a contract extension this offseason. The contract is backloaded to the final two years of the contract, so he will see the payoff coming soon. Unlike most of the other players outlined, Jones doesn’t have much to worry about, having locked down the NT1 spot for the Ravens.
In his four years in Baltimore, Jones has played in 70 games, starting 36, including 33 the past two seasons, while recording 158 tackles, 18 for loss, and 8.5 sacks. He helped the Ravens’ D finish 3rd in defensive rush EPA, 5th in goal-to-go defense, and 6th in red zone efficiency. Their best seasons were known for being lights-out defensively, and the Ravens clearly see Jones as someone who will help them get back there.
OL Valentin Senn (Cardinals)
- Acquired: UDFA
- Report Date: 7/28
- Contract: 3 years, $3,005,000 ($274,000 guaranteed at signing)
- 2026 Salary: $885,000
Like Lundt, Senn was injured for his rookie season, suffering a neck injury in training camp. Unlike Lundt, however, Senn is from Austria, and the Cardinals are using an international exemption, meaning he does not take up a spot on the roster or practice squad. The Cardinals are again using the exemption on him this season, signaling Senn is likely a lock for the practice squad.
Senn is deep down the depth chart, needing to beat out many other tackles to make the active roster. Missing 2025, Senn will now have the opportunity to show what he can do and prove he’s worth hanging on to as a developmental prospect.
