2021 NFL Season: What Jersey Numbers Will Rookies Wear?

2021 NFL season: What jersey numbers will rookies wear? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

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This year’s NFL rookies will have more choices than ever when it comes to their jersey numbers, thanks to a rule change in April that gives more flexibility for players at several positions. Though Tom Brady says he’s not a fan, the league’s newest members are enjoying the opportunity to hang on to their college number or take a new number.

Here’s a look at which numbers the most notable NFL rookies will be wearing in the fall:

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Which number will NFL’s top rookies wear?

Trevor Lawrence: When he takes his long-awaited first snap for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the No. 1 pick will be wearing his familiar No. 16.

Zach Wilson: Though Wilson wore No. 11 and No. 1 at BYU, he plans to don No. 2, same as his selection in the draft, when he takes the field for the New York Jets.

Trey Lance: The 49ers’ future franchise quarterback will wear No. 5 in the NFL just as he did at North Dakota State.

Kyle Pitts: With the Falcons, Pitts is taking advantage of the relaxed rule and claiming the No. 8, previously off-limit to tight ends.

Ja’Marr Chase: Cincinnati's first-round pick will make team history as the first Bengal to wear No. 1.

Jaylen Waddle: The first wide receiver off the board this year will retain the No. 17 he wore at Alabama when he takes the field for the Miami Dolphins.

Jaycee Horn: The No. 8 pick will wear No. 8 for the Carolina Panthers -- to honor not only his draft selection, but also the late Kobe Bryant.

Patrick Surtain II: The No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft will wear No. 2 for the Denver Broncos this upcoming season. Like Horn, who was picked one spot ahead of him, Surtain II will be a single-digit corner as a rookie.

DeVonta Smith: As an Eagle, Smith will be keeping the No. 6 he wore at Alabama. Prior to the rule change, he would not have been allowed to have a single-digit number as a wide receiver.

Justin Fields: The former Ohio State and Georgia quarterback will hang on to No. 1 as a Bear.

As rookies begin to prepare for their first season in the NFL, their teams have started to announce their jersey numbers. Here’s a team-by-team look at what jersey numbers each rookie draft pick will be wearing in 2021:

Arizona Cardinals

Zaven Collins: No. 25
Rondale Moore: No. 85
Marco Wilson: No. 20
Victor Dimukeje: No. 92
Tay Gowan: No. 32
James Wiggins: No. 38
Michal Menet: No. 72

Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts: No. 8
Richie Grant: No. 27
Jalen Mayfield: No. 77
Darren Hall: No. 34
Drew Dalman: No. 67
Ta'Quon Graham: No. 95
Adetokunbo Ogundeji: No. 92
Avery Williams: No. 35
Frank Darby: No. 88

Baltimore Ravens

Rashod Bateman: No. 12
Odafe Oweh: No. 99
Ben Cleveland: No. 66
Brandon Stephens: No. 21
Tylan Wallace: No. 16
Shaun Wade: No. 29
Daelin Hayes: No. 59
Ben Mason: No. 38

Buffalo Bills

Gregory Rousseau: No. 50
Boogie Basham: No. 96
Spencer Brown: No. 79
Tommy Doyle: No. 72
Marquez Stevenson: No. 5
Damar Hamlin: No. 31
Rachad Wildgoose: No. 32
Jack Anderson: No. 66

Carolina Panthers

Jaycee Horn: No. 8
The numbers for the rest of the Panthers’ rookie class have yet to be revealed.

Chicago Bears

Justin Fields: No. 1
The numbers for the rest of the Bears’ rookie class have yet to be revealed.

Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase: No. 1
Jackson Carman: No. 79
Joseph Ossai: No. 58
Cameron Sample: No. 96
Tyler Shelvin: No. 99
D’Ante Smith: No. 70
Evan McPherson: No. 2
Trey Hill: No. 63
Chris Evans: No. 25
Wyatt Hubert: No. 56

Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome II: No. 20
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: No. 28
The numbers for the rest of the Browns’ rookie class have yet to be revealed.

Dallas Cowboys

Micah Parsons: No. 11
Kelvin Joseph: No. 24
Osa Odighizua: No. 75
Chauncey Golston: No. 59
Nahshon Wright: No. 40
Jabril Cox: No. 48
Josh Ball: No. 76
Simi Fehoko: No. 81
Quinton Bohanna: No. 98
Israel Mukuamu: No. 38
Matt Farniok: No. 68

Denver Broncos

Pat Surtain II: No. 2
Javonte Williams: No. 33
Quinn Meinerz: No. 77
Baron Browning: No. 56
Caden Sterns: No. 30
Jamar Johnson: No. 41
Seth Williams: No. 19
Kary Vincent Jr.: No. 35
Jonathon Cooper: No. 53
Marquiss Spencer: No. 51

Detroit Lions

The Lions have not announced the jersey numbers for any of their rookies yet.

Green Bay Packers

Eric Stokes: No. 21
Josh Myers: No. 71
Amari Rodgers: No. 8
Royce Newman: No. 70
Tedarrell Slaton: No. 93
Shermar Jean-Charles: No. 22
Cole Van Lanen: No. 78
Isaiah McDuffie: No. 58
Kylin Hill: No. 32

Houston Texans

The Texans have not announced the jersey numbers for any of their rookies yet.

Indianapolis Colts

Kwity Paye: No. 51
Dayo Odeyingbo: 54
Kylen Granson: No. 83
Shawn Davis: No. 31
Sam Ehlinger: No. 4
Mike Strachan: No. 17
Will Fries: No. 75

Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence: No. 16
The numbers for the rest of the Jaguars’ rookie class have yet to be revealed.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have not announced the jersey numbers for any of their rookies yet.

Las Vegas Raiders

Alex Leatherwood: No. 70
Trevon Moehrig: No. 25
Tyree Gillespie: No. 37
Nate Hobbs: No. 39
Divine Deablo: No. 49
Malcolm Koonce: No. 56
Jimmy Morrissey: No. 65

Los Angeles Chargers

Rashawn Slater: No. 70
Asante Samuel Jr.: No. 26
Joshua Palmer: No. 5
Tre’ McKitty: No. 88
Chris Rumph II: No. 94
Brenden Jaimes: No. 64
Nick Niemann: No. 31
Larry Rountree III: No. 35
Mark Webb: No. 29

Los Angeles Rams

Tutu Atwell: No. 15
Ernest Jones: No. 50
Bobby Brown III: No. 95
Robert Rochell: No. 31
Jacob Harris: No. 87
Earnest Brown IV: No. 90
Jake Funk: No. 34
Ben Skowronek: No. 81
Chris Garrett: No. 48

Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle: No. 17
Jaelan Phillips: No. 15
Jevon Holland: No. 22
Liam Eichenberg: No. 74
Hunter Long: No. 84
Larnel Coleman: No. 79
Gerrid Doaks: No. 23

Minnesota Vikings

Christian Darrisaw: No. 71
Kellen Mond: No. 11
Chazz Surratt: No. 41
Wyatt Davis: No. 51
Patrick Jones II: No. 93
Kene Nwangwu: No. 26
Camryn Bynum: No. 43
Janarius Robinson: No. 95
Ihmir Smith-Marsette: No. 15
Zach Davidson: No. 40
Jaylen Twyman: No. 76

New England Patriots

The Patriots have not announced the jersey numbers for any of their rookies yet.

New Orleans Saints

Payton Turner: No. 98
Paulson Adebo: No. 29
Ian Book: No. 16
Landon Young: No. 67
Kawaan Baker: No. 14
Pete Werner: No. 20

New York Giants

Kadarius Toney: No. 89
Azeez Ojulari: No. 51
Aaron Robinson: No. 33
Elerson Smith: No. 58
Gary Brightwell: No. 37
Rodarius Williams: No. 25
Brett Heggie: No. 61
Jake Burton: No. 70
Raymond Johnson III: No. 91

New York Jets

Zach Wilson: No. 2
Alijah Vera-Tucker: No. 75
Elijah Moore: No. 8
Michael Carter: No. 32
Jamien Sherwood: No. 44
Michael Carter II: No. 30
Jason Pinnock: No. 41
Hamsah Nasirildeen: No. 45
Brandin Echols: No. 25
Jonathan Marshall: No. 96

Philadelphia Eagles

DeVonta Smith: No. 6
Landon Dickerson: No. 51
Milton Williams: No. 93
Zech McPhearson: No. 27
Kenneth Gainwell: No. 14
Marlon Tuipulotu: No. 90
Tarron Jackson: No. 75
JaCoby Stevens: No. 30
Patrick Johnson: No. 48

Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris: No. 22
Pat Freiermuth: No. 88
Kendrick Green: No. 53
Dan Moore: No. 65
Buddy Johnson: No. 51
Quincy Roche: No. 48
Tre Norwood: No. 21
Pressley Harvin: No. 6

San Francisco 49ers

Trey Lance: No. 5
The numbers for the rest of the 49ers’ rookie class have yet to be revealed.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have not announced the jersey numbers for any of their rookies yet.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Joe Tryon: No. 9
Kyle Trask: No. 2
Robert Hainsey: No. 70
Jaelon Darden: No. 1
K.J. Britt: No. 52
Chris Wilcox: No. 29
Grant Stuard: No. 48

Tennessee Titans

Caleb Farley: No. 23
Dillon Radunz: No. 75
Monty Rice: No. 56
Elijah Molden: No. 24
Dez Fitzpatrick: No. 10
Rashad Weaver: No. 99
Racey McMath: No. 81
Brady Breeze: No. 33

Washington Football Team

Jamin Davis: No. 52
The numbers for the rest of Washington’s rookie class have yet to be revealed.