A high-motor Holy Cross pass rusher who has spent his pro career fighting for roster spots on the practice squad circuit.
Benton Whitley was a decorated small-school standout at Holy Cross, but the jump to the NFL has meant a steady grind through camps, practice squads and brief roster stints. He's now looking for a foothold with the Browns.
Path to the league
Whitley played five seasons at Holy Cross from 2017 to 2021, using a COVID-eligibility year to return for a fifth season, and earned three consecutive first-team All-Patriot League honors from 2019 to 2021 while racking up 111 tackles and 15.5 sacks. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Career highlights
Whitley has moved through a string of rosters since entering the league, including stints with Kansas City, Minnesota and the New York Giants, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the roster and practice squad. His NFL playing time has been limited largely to preseason and special-teams snaps.
2025 season recap
Whitley signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of Week 11 of the 2025 season but was later waived without recording a regular-season tackle or sack. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in June 2026, still chasing his first extended NFL opportunity.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Benton Whitley
- ESPN: Benton Whitley
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | giants | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive End
- Group
- defense
- College
- Holy Cross
- Hometown
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
