Players Mentioned
Toledo's NFL Draft Picks, Free Agents Reflect on Whirlwind Weekend
5/4/2026 12:04:00 PM | Football
Rockets had nine players drafted, signed or invited to minicamps
TOLEDO, Ohio - Last weekend marked a turning point for a wave of Toledo football players, as dreams materialized in different ways across the NFL landscape.
The Rockets saw two players selected in the draft, three sign as undrafted free agents, and four more earn rookie minicamp invites. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren headlined the group as a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, while cornerback Andre Fuller followed in the seventh round to the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive end Anthony Dunn Jr. signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, joined by cornerback Avery Smith (Los Angeles Chargers) and running back Chip Trayanum (New York Jets) as undrafted free agents.
Defensive tackle Martez Poynter (Carolina Panthers), wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans), wide receiver Junior Vandeross (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and defensive back Nasir Bowers (Washington Commanders) will get their opportunities through mini-camp invites.
For McNeil-Warren, the moment arrived with a surge of emotion that's difficult to replicate. Sitting with family and watching the draft unfold pick by pick, he felt the anticipation build until everything changed in an instant. His phone rang. Then his name appeared on the screen.
"That moment was surreal for real," McNeil-Warren said. "Just hearing your name called for real, just waiting for the moment. I'd say that's the best moment of my life. I wouldn't want to take that for granted not one time."
Years of work—much of it unseen—had finally led somewhere tangible.
"All the hard work, it all paid off now," said McNeil-Warren, a second-team All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2025. He had eight career forced fumbles and five interceptions.Â
Even his destination felt fitting. The Browns had shown steady interest throughout the process, and for the Tampa native, staying in Ohio carried its own meaning.
"I love Ohio," he said. "I'm grateful for that."
If draft night was a milestone, it was more of a beginning than an ending.Â
"Just building a legacy," he said.
That mindset reflects what Toledo instilled in him—a program identity built on consistency and accountability.
"They prepared me a lot," McNeil-Warren said. "Toledo's got a standard. You can't get complacent."
Watching from Port St. Lucie, Fla., Fuller was surrounded by family as he endured the long wait that defines late-round prospects. With each passing pick came a new wave of uncertainty.
"It was a roller coaster of emotions," said Fuller, a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection in 2025 with 11 pass breakups. "I didn't know when I was going to get a call."
He had visited both Seattle and Detroit, leaving strong impressions, but nothing felt guaranteed. When the call finally came from the Seahawks—the team he had quietly hoped for all along—it brought everything into focus.
"I was excited to hear that the Seahawks were drafting me," he said. "That's exactly where I wanted to go."
Relief quickly gave way to joy. Fuller celebrated with the people who had supported him through every step of the journey, from early practices to college game days. Like McNeil-Warren, he credited Toledo for preparing him for what comes next. The defensive system, the coaching, and the expectations all helped build a bridge to the professional level.
"It feels amazing just knowing I had the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do my whole life," Fuller said.
Dunn's path looked different from both. Entering draft weekend, he didn't carry the same expectation of hearing his name called. His focus wasn't on draft position—it was on finding the right opportunity, and that opportunity began to take shape during the pre-draft process.
"Once I had talked to [the Chiefs], and I had realized they kind of understood me… I realized that they were probably gonna take me and they know what to do," said Dunn, who had 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in 25 games for the Rockets.Â
Unlike other teams, Kansas City's approach stood out. Midway through the seventh round, his phone rang, and for a moment, it seemed like he might still be drafted. Instead, he found something just as meaningful: belief from a team that had a plan for him.
"I can't say I completed the dream yet," Dunn said. "I'm not on the team yet. Once I get there, I just know I need to put my feet in there."
For Dunn, that perspective defines the moment. This isn't the payoff—it's the opportunity to earn one. At Toledo, he developed more than just physical ability; he built a mindset that will carry forward.
"They prepared me to understand, one, don't take this football stuff for granted," he said. "And two, don't let anybody deter you off your path."
Together, these stories form a larger picture of what Toledo football has become: a pipeline of players ready not just to reach the NFL, but to handle what comes after. Some arrived through the spotlight of the draft. Others took quieter paths. All of them are still chasing something bigger.
