NFL training camp: What to expect from Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns' 8 active pros

Only six Sundays remain until the start of the 2022 NFL regular season.

The countdown kicks into high gear this week as preseason games begin across the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars got a head start (sort of) in playing the Hall of Fame Game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Canton, Ohio last Thursday.

Additionally, the eight active pros hailing from the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns area are set to prepare for the rigors of the regular season.

It's a smaller list compared to this time last year. Mainland grad Ricardo Allen retired after making his second Super Bowl appearance, Nease legend Tim Tebow returned to television after a short-lived stint with the Jaguars.

And both Adrian Killins (Mainland) and Donald Payne (Stetson) are searching for new homes, the latter fresh off a terrific stint in the USFL.

Let's look at a season overview for the area's NFL stars.

Darrynton Evans, Chicago Bears

A little less than two years after Tennessee spent a third-round pick on Oak Hill native and former New Smyrna Beach High star Evans, the Titans placed him on waivers in March. Chicago quickly scooped him up in search of adding speed and special teams versatility to its roster.

Evans, who turned 24 earlier this month, has been limited to six NFL games to this point in his career due to a slew of injuries. He logged 16 carries for 61 yards with the Titans, catching his lone career touchdown in a December 2020 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Outlook: Evans has two years left on his rookie deal and carries a cap hit of just over $1 million this season. NBC Sports Chicago forecasts him as the No. 3 back on the depth chart behind David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert. Sixth-round pick Trestan Ebner could push Evans for reps and/or a spot on the regular season roster.

Cole Holcomb, Washington Commanders

A former fifth-round pick who turns 26 on Saturday, Holcomb enters a pivotal year with Washington's rebranded franchise.

Holcomb's contract expires next spring, and he could be in line for a substantial raise — be it in the nation's capital, or elsewhere. He tied for 13th in the NFL with 83 solo tackles last season, adding two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a touchdown.

Pro Football Focus graded Holcomb in the middle of the pack (41st out of 87) for eligible off-ball linebackers in 2021.

Outlook: Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio warned against sleeping on Holcomb in an interview for the Commanders' team website. Holcomb wants to take control of the Mike spot in Washington's 4-3 base scheme this year.

Washington's front office still has work to do after signing wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a lucrative extension. Defensive linemen Daron Payne is in the last year of his contract, while edge rusher Montez Sweat, safety Kamren Curl and others will demand new deals as well.

Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins

Rounding out a trio of NFL 'Cudas, Mostert has a new home this fall — sort of.

It's actually his second stint with the Dolphins, though one could be forgiven for forgetting his single-game cameo as a returner during the 2015 season. Four seasons later, Mostert scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium, albeit in a losing effort for the San Francisco 49ers.

Mostert, 30, reunites with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, formerly the offensive coordinator in San Fran. He signed a one-year, $2.125 million deal as a free agent, joining a suddenly potent supporting cast for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Outlook: Mostert said Monday he's cleared to compete, fully recovered from last season's Week 1 ACL tear. More than half of his $1.94 million cap hit is fully guaranteed, so he seems a safe bet to make the squad as part of a committee with Chase Edmonds and Sony Michel.

Donald Parham, Los Angeles Chargers

In an April interview with the Los Angeles Times, Parham recounted his season-ending concussion as a "life-flashing-before-your-eyes kind of thing," concerned it might instead end his career. The 6-foot-8, 237-pound tight end smacked the back of his head on the SoFi Stadium turf and was stretchered off the field in the first quarter of a mid-December loss to Kansas City.

Parham, 25, caught a career-high 20 passes for 190 yards with three touchdowns as one of Justin Herbert's peripheral targets. Pro Football Focus ranked Parham 18th out of 70 qualified tight ends last season.

Outlook: Medically cleared in February, Parham is locked in for 2023 at a cap hit of $895,000. He will form, at least, a three-man rotation at tight end with free agent Gerald Everett and 2021 third-round pick Tre' McKitty.

Nathan Peterman, Chicago Bears

Bartram Trail grad Peterman, 28, finished a four-year tenure with the Raiders and latched on with the Bears in free agency in May.

He made one appearance last season, but did not attempt a pass. Peterman's most recent start dates back to 2018 — a campaign in which he tossed one touchdown and seven picks for Buffalo in four games.

Outlook: Justin Fields is the unquestioned QB1 for Da Bears, and journeyman Trevor Siemian seems a sensible choice for the back-up role. Peterman could be in line for a practice squad spot, but he just as easily could be a "camp arm" in Chicago with no guaranteed money in his contract.

Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears

Chicago fields nearly half of the area's active NFL alumni. Go figure.

Santos, 30, is nearly automatic from inside of 45 yards. The St. Joseph Academy product struggles from long distance, hitting only 10 of 22 kicks from longer than 50 in his career (0 for 2 in 2021).

Additionally, Santos forced a touchback on 47.9% of his kickoffs last year.

Outlook: Injury is about the only conceivable reason that would prevent Santos from opening the 2022 season as the Bears' placekicker.

He's due $3.175 million this season, and would count $3 million in dead money against the cap if cut.

Darious Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars

Everyone loves a homecoming, especially when it comes with a huge payday.

The cap-strapped, Super Bowl champion Rams were always going to struggle to keep hold of Creekside grad Williams, their starting cornerback opposite ex-Jaguar Jalen Ramsey. Williams, 29, made 60 solo tackles last season, though he did not record an interception — compared to the four picks he snagged in his 2020 coming-out party.

Jacksonville spent massively in the spring, bringing in the likes of wide receiver Christian Kirk, guard Brandon Scherff, tight end Evan Engram and Williams, among others. The 5-foot-9, 187-pound corner secured a three-year deal worth up to $30 million ($18 million guaranteed).

Outlook: Lining up across the formation from Ramsey encouraged opposing QBs to take aim at Williams, and he largely succeeded when called upon. That's a good sign as he forms a new tandem with Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell.

Leonard Williams, New York Giants

Drafted sixth overall in 2015, Williams — a former Under Armour All-American at Mainland High — is yet to experience postseason football in the pros. Both of New York's franchises have largely disappointed for the better part of a decade, though the "Big Cat" has put up decent numbers in the trenches.

Williams, 28, tallied 6½ sacks for the Giants in 2021, expectedly down from 11½ the year before. However, he set a career-high with 81 total tackles, adding 14 QB hits and five TFLs.

The Giants underwent a long-overdue house cleaning as general manager Dave Gettleman retired, and head coach Joe Judge was fired after an often-embarrassing 4-13 season.

Outlook: The Giants lack a lot of proven NFL talent, but Williams is a consistent, reliable presence along the defensive interior. How much is that truly worth, though?

For the upcoming season, it's valued at precisely $27.3 million.

New GM Joe Schoen could free up $18 million in cap space if he elects to part ways with Williams next winter, though the Giants would carry $8.3 million in dead money. That could be the outcome, unless the 6-foot-5, 302-pounder stars in Wink Martindale's blitz-happy defensive scheme.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NFL training camp: What to expect from Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns 8 active players