AUBURN, Ala. – Former Auburn Tigers turned disappointment into determination Saturday, signing free agent contracts after going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Linebacker Zakoby McClain, safety Smoke Monday, defensive lineman T.D. Moultry, linebacker Chandler Wooten and receiver Demetris Robertson quickly signed with NFL franchises after the seven-round draft concluded.
McClain signed with the Baltimore Ravens. As a junior in 2020, he led the nation with 113 tackles, finishing his Auburn career (2018-21) with 268 stops, including 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Auburn teammate Brodarius Hamm will join McClain at Baltimore's upcoming minicamp, with the offensive lineman receiving a post-draft invitation he hopes will lead to a free agent contract.
Monday signed with the New Orleans Saints. As a senior in 2021, Monday finished with 63 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. In four seasons at Auburn, he collected 171 tackles and five interceptions.
Wooten signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Wooten captained the 2021 Tigers after opting out of the 2020 season, selling scouts on his versatility and potential for further development.
Moultry signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defensive lineman played in an Auburn-record 59 games from 2017-21, concluding his career with his best season, compiling 33 tackles, 7.5 tackles four loss and four sacks in 2021.
Robertson signed with the Seattle Seahawks. In his only season on the Plains, the graduate transfer made 37 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns, adding a 36-yard rushing TD vs. Alabama State.
The signees will attempt to follow the blueprint of recent former Tigers who have forged a similar path from undrafted free agent to established NFL player.
Former Auburn standouts Josh Bynes, Jonathan Jones and Peyton Barber each traveled the path from undrafted free agent to productive and lucrative NFL careers.
Bynes, a linebacker on Auburn's 2010 national championship team, just completed his 11th NFL season and looks forward to season No. 12. He won a Super Bowl ring with Baltimore following the 2012 season.
A cornerback, Jones caught on with the Patriots in 2016, won two Super Bowls and signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension in 2019.
Barber, a running back, is fielding offers before his seventh NFL training camp this summer, having already more than doubled the average career length at his position.
#RavensFlock@RicochetRabbit signs with the @Ravens ✍️#AuburnMade | #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/1hJ4BNNHEt
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) May 1, 2022
#BirdCityFootball @ItsMeWootang signs with the @AZCardinals & is headed to the desert✍️#AuburnMade | #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/g1H1LrpIkx
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) May 1, 2022
𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝘿𝘼𝙏!@SmokeMonday has signed with the @Saints✍️#AuburnMade | #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/KvrSu7SZEo
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) April 30, 2022
Headed to the Steel City!@humble55_ signs with the @steelers ✍️#AuburnMade | #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/VpNhcQS7BE
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) May 1, 2022
#WarEagle ➡️ #GoHawks@d_rob4 is signing with the #Seahawks ✍️#AuburnMade | @Seahawks pic.twitter.com/zKYAEA6HP2
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) May 1, 2022
☑️ Mini-Camp Invite@brodariousH is Baltimore bound!!#AuburnMade | #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/ExIQtslPrh
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) May 1, 2022
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer