Not everyone can be former Trojan and current Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

That is, both in skill and job security. Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and had a signing bonus of $25.5 million. With the evident talent of Williams and the massive investment the Bears have already made in the signal caller, he has more job security than nearly any other NFL player.

But many former Trojans were late-round picks in the draft or signed undrafted free agent contracts after the seven rounds concluded. All these athletes are trying to impress their coaching staffs in training camp, which began as early as July 13 for some rookies.

---

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

---

Each team also has three preseason games and some have joint practices with other NFL squads, giving former Trojans opportunities to show why they should make a roster against live competition.

Come Aug. 27, the training period will be over and NFL teams will have to cut their rosters down to 53 players. Here are some former Trojans who still have the preseason to try to lock down one of those 53 slots. Wide receiver Tahj Washington, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins, would have qualified as one of these players, but he is injured and will miss the entire 2024 season.

John Jackson III

While Jackson III finished off his career with the Nevada Wolf Ppack, the wide receiver played four years with the Trojans before signing an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bears to reunite with Williams.

Jackson III remains on the roster as of Aug. 16, but he did not record any receptions in the Bears’ preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 10. That is not a clear sign that he will not make the opening-day roster — the Bears’ other first-round draft pick, wide receiver Rome Odunze, also did not tally a catch in that game — but it does not look good for Jackson III.

Preseason games are usually reserved for those with something to prove after the starters sit following the first couple drives. The fact that Jackson III, one of those players who does have something to prove after going undrafted, did not even see a target is not a good sign.

His case is further hurt because he is listed as “other” on the Bears’ depth chart as of July 26, not making it into one of the top-six wide receiver slots. Jackson III is in that “other” position with other proven NFL wide receivers such as former Seattle Seahawk Freddie Swain and Dante Pettis, who played with the Bears in 2022, making it an even larger uphill battle for the former Trojan.

Solomon Byrd

Byrd, a defensive end, was one of the few bright spots of a dreadful USC defense the past two seasons. He was second on the team with 6 sacks in 2023 to build on a successful 4- sack season in 2022.

Byrd was on the older side of NFL prospects after starting his collegiate career at the University of Wyoming in 2018, part of the reason why the Palmdale, California. native went in the seventh round of the NFL Draft to the Houston Texans.

The defensive end has a much better chance to make a roster than Jackson III after signing a contract for $4.119 million, according to Houston’s NBC TV affiliate. Similar to Jackson III, though, Byrd did not record a stat in the Texans’ first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Aug. 9.

Where Byrd might have a leg up is that the Houston Texans’ unofficial depth chart, compiled by the team’s PR department, lists Byrd at the No. 4 position in one of the two defensive end slots, with one other player listed below him.

While Byrd might not end up as an impact player, there is still a good chance he makes the Texans’ roster.

Brenden Rice

Taken in the seventh round like Byrd, Rice saw three targets but no receptions in the Los Angeles Chargers’ first preseason game. The son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, Brenden has the name to go along with his draft status.

It was a surprise that it took until the seventh round for a team to select Rice after he led the Trojans with 12 touchdowns in 2023 to go along with 1,402 receiving yards across his two years at USC.

Not only does Rice have the skill to make an impact with the Chargers, but he is also in a good situation. Of the 12 wide receivers on the Los Angeles roster, seven of them are rookies and four of them were undrafted. The Chargers lost longtime star wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen this past offseason and are in desperate need of a breakout pass catcher.

Ladd McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia, is the most likely to see a lot of targets, but with the lack of true veterans on the roster — DJ Chark is the lone wide receiver with more than five years of NFL experience — Rice has the chance to get playing time quickly.

Rice is not only likely to make the Chargers roster, but has a solid shot of becoming important for Los Angeles.

Jarrett Kingston

Kingston was the highest-drafted Trojan on day three of the NFL Draft after the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the sixth round. Offensive line depth is always important in the NFL, especially when that depth can come in the form of the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Kingston.

While he is low on the depth chart, Kingston is on the list, last updated on Aug. 14. The former Washington State Cougar is listed at the No. 4 spot at left guard. Even if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster, Kingston could still be assigned to the 49ers’ practice squad.

The offensive lineman started 12 games for the Trojans in 2023, but playing time for Kingston might be slim for the next few years. San Francisco has a young core on the interior of the offensive line. The 49ers listed starting guards,  Spencer Burford and Aaron Banks, are only 24 and 26 years old, meaning Kingston likely has to wait behind those young forces before he gets any time on the field for the 49ers.