Michigan State football: 3 former Spartans who need an NFL team in 2021

These three former Michigan State football stars are in need of a new NFL team for 2021.

While no former Michigan State football player got drafted last weekend, there are a handful of quality former Spartans standouts in need of a new team for the upcoming 2021 NFL season.

Though it remains to be seen how the Mel Tucker era in East Lansing will shake out, the Mark Dantonio era brought the Michigan State program a ton of success. The Spartans won three conference championships and reached the College Football Playoff back in 2015. Many of his best players are still having lucrative careers in the NFL today. These three players need a team.

Here are three former Michigan State football stars who need an NFL team to play on this year.

Michigan State football: 3 former Spartans who still need an NFL team

Shilique Calhoun has greater staying power in the league than you would think

While Shilique Calhoun’s three-year run with the then-Oakland Raiders never amounted to much, it seems that the pass rusher has more staying power in the league than expected. He is coming off his fifth year in the league and his second with the New England Patriots. While he may not be part of the Patriots’ plans this season, Calhoun has shown he knows how to make an NFL roster.

A year removed from the New York Jets could be big for Le’Veon Bell

It has been a long time since Le’Veon Bell was the star running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After sitting out a season and signing on with the dysfunctional New York Jets, Bell finished his 2020 campaign as a rotational back on the Kansas City Chiefs. While he could return to the defending AFC champions, being a full year removed from the Jets’ zaniness may serve him well.

Darqueze Dennard started games for the Atlanta Falcons before he got hurt

After spending the bulk of his NFL career out of Michigan State with the Cincinnati Bengals, cornerback Darqueze Dennard played well at times when he was healthy last year for the Atlanta Falcons. With a regime change having taken place in Flowery Branch, Dennard may not return to the Dirty Birds. At his best, Dennard is a quality cornerback a team can count on to start games.

Overall, there are more former Spartans readily available to join an NFL roster than you would probably think. Though none of these three will be a major contributor to whatever team signs them, adding any of them will at worst improve their depth. In Dennard’s case, you might be able to get a cornerback who can start a handful of games for you in a rebuilding defensive backfield.

Where do you think these former Michigan State football stars will end up signing in 2021?

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