Five members of UVA football’s defense sign NFL free agent deals

TL;DR

Five members of the Virginia Cavaliers football defense signed NFL free agent deals after the 2026 NFL Draft. The players include LB James Jackson, CB Jordan Robinson, EDGE Mitchell Melton, S Devin Neal, and DT Jahmeer Carter.

Key points

Five UVA football players signed NFL free agent deals
Players include LB James Jackson and CB Jordan Robinson
James Jackson joins the Tennessee Titans
Mitchell Melton recorded five sacks in his final season
Devin Neal was known for his reliability in the secondary

Virginia CavaliersTennessee TitansTampa Bay BuccaneersIndianapolis Colts

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 27: Virginia Cavaliers linebacker James Jackson (1) lines up for a play during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl between the Missouri Tigers and the Virginia Cavaliers on December 27, 2025 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The 2026 NFL Draft is now complete. And while, surprisingly, not a single Virginia Cavalier had his name called throughout the 257 picks this year in Pittsburgh, we’ll still see plenty of former ’Hoos at NFL training camps this summer. Five members of last season’s defense signed undrafted free agent deals not long after the conclusion of the draft: LB James Jackson —> Tennessee Titans CB Jordan Robinson —> Tampa Bay Buccaneers EDGE Mitchell Melton —> Indianapolis Colts S —> DT Jahmeer Carter —> Jackson joins the Titans after five years in Charlottesville. Serving as one of the linchpins of the defense and the program, the Virginia native now officially turns the page on his college career after amassing 254 total tackles and providing the locker room with consistent leadership not only in 2025, but as Tony Elliott began his tenure with the ’Hoos. Like Jackson, Jahmeer Carter is another prime example of a culture guy carving out a path at the next level. He’ll head to LA, joining a fellow ACC guy in from and ’s Nick Barrett as new talent in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. Jordan Robinson carved out a huge role in the secondary after transferring over a season ago. His size at 6-foot-four, 210 pounds should give him a fighting chance to stick in the league. He finished his lone season as a ’Hoo with 24 tackles and four pass breakups. Staying in the secondary, you have to love the stars aligning as Devin Neal heads to Jacksonville. One of the most underrated, but most reliable players throughout last season, Neal was a staple in UVA’s backend and came up big in securing the program’s 11th win and avoiding the embarrassment of almost letting another game slip away with his game-winning pass breakup in the endzone against Missouri in the Gator Bowl. Like a handful of former UVA DB’s before him, would anyone really be surprised to see Neal find a role in the league? The ’Hoos badly needed to put together a capable pass-rush a season ago, and not many were better in helping that come to fruition than Mitchell Melton. Melton delivered five sacks in his lone season in the orange and blue and is set to join one of the more intriguing situations in the league right now with the Colts looking to bounce back after a great start to ‘25 was wasted away down the stretch. Melton was one of the biggest ‘hits’ in the portal a year ago, among many others, and will always be a hero in Charlottesville for bullying a quarterback for four straight quarters. A huge thank you and good luck to each of these guys as they gear up to earn roster spots in the coming months.

Q&A

Which Virginia Cavaliers football players signed NFL free agent deals?

The players are LB James Jackson, CB Jordan Robinson, EDGE Mitchell Melton, S Devin Neal, and DT Jahmeer Carter.

What teams did the UVA football players sign with in the NFL?

James Jackson signed with the Tennessee Titans, Jordan Robinson with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mitchell Melton with the Indianapolis Colts, Devin Neal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jahmeer Carter with the Los Angeles Chargers.

How did James Jackson perform during his college career at UVA?

James Jackson recorded 254 total tackles and was known for his leadership on the team during his five years at UVA.

What impact did Mitchell Melton have on the UVA football team?

Mitchell Melton contributed significantly to the pass rush, recording five sacks in his final season with the Cavaliers.