The 2021 NFL draft was the first year in two years when a Horned Frog was not drafted in the first round. Despite this, several former TCU players have found spots on NFL rosters.

The Frogs have 23 active players in the NFL, with several of them joining the league this year. TCU Football is no stranger to seeing players drafted, as over the past two years at least one player has been drafted in the first round (L.J Collier in 2019, Jalen Reagor and Jeff Gladney in 2020).

This year, the streak was broken, but several players were drafted with others signing contracts post-draft. Of those players, some were signed instantly and are starters on NFL rosters, others barely made the cut and some former Frogs failed to make the final roster.

Trevon Moehrig: Las Vegas Raiders

Moehrig was the first frog to be drafted in 2021, taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 43rd pick of the 2nd round. The 2020 Jim Thorpe Award winner was rated as the best safety in the draft, according to NFL Network and ESPN.

The former TCU star stood out at the NFL combine, running a 4.5 40-yard dash as well as recording a 33-inch vertical jump.

During his time at TCU, the safety was named to the All-Big 12 first team twice, finishing his career at TCU with 125 tackles and seven interceptions in three years.

“Moehrig, I think, is going to show up when the games start,” Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said to Sports Illustrated.

Moehrig’s performance during training camp and the preseason has led to him being named the week one starting free safety. 

The Raiders kick off their season on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens.

Garret Wallow: Houston Texans

Second off the board for the Frogs, Wallow stayed in state after being drafted by the Houston Texans with the 170th pick of the 5th round.

Wallow was a dominant force on defense at TCU, accumulating 295 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss over his four-year career. He made the Big 12 all-defensive first team in 2019 and led the Big 12 in total tackles the same year.

Wallow recorded 8 tackles in three pre-season games this season and due to his strong showing, Wallow made the Texans active 53 man roster. The 6’3″ linebacker is currently the third-string strongside linebacker for the Texans.

The Texans kick off their season on Sunday against division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ar’Darius Washington: Baltimore Ravens

Washington was an undrafted rookie free agent who signed a contract with the Baltimore Ravens the day after the draft concluded.

The safety had a breakout redshirt freshman season at TCU (2019), recording 46 total tackles and 5 interceptions, which both ranked among the top three in the Big 12.

After a successful redshirt sophomore season (37 tackles, five pass breakups), Washington declared for the draft.

Projected a 6-7th round pick by many draft experts, many scouts saw his 5’8″, 176-pound stature as a red flag. After going undrafted, Washington signed with Baltimore on May 13 and has stood out in the preseason, even causing a forced fumble in a pre-season game against the New Orleans Saints. This led to him making the 53-man roster, and he is currently 3rd on the depth chart at free safety. 

Washington will get a chance to face his former teammate, Moehrig, this weekend on Monday Night Football.

Pro Wells and Artayvious Lynne

Former TCU tight ends Pro Wells and Artayvious Lynn were also signed after the 2021 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

Both players were cut before the start of the regular season, leaving them as free agents waiting to be signed.