Taylor McNamara Signs With Cleveland Browns as Undrafted Free Agent

Former USC tight end and key Rose Bowl contributor Taylor McNamara has signed with the Cleveland as an undrafted free agent.

Taylor McNamara is headed to the NFL after signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He was one of a handful of Trojans to not be selected in the draft, along with Darreus Rogers, Chad Wheeler and Damien Mama.

A tight end who transferred in from Oklahoma in 2015, McNamara saw significant action as a two-year starter at USC. He started 24 games and made 24 catches in cardinal and gold, none bigger than his effort in the 2017 Rose Bowl.

RELATED: USC Becomes First School to 500 All-Time NFL Draft Picks

More from Reign of Troy

• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers
• Talanoa Hufanga is officially and rightly an All-American for USC football
• Five things USC football can do to increase optimism for 2021

With the Trojans down eight points in the third quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions, McNamara caught a pass from Sam Darnold to convert a two-point conversion. The play kept USC within one possession and helped set the stage for a 17-0 fourth quarter.

McNamara is a blocking tight end by trade, but proved to be impactful based on his sound technique. In the lead up the Rose Bowl, other players echoed his important by highlighting the role he played within the tight end brotherhood.

“Anything I’ve done this year, or Tyler [Petite] has done this year, all goes back to T-Mac,” tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe said. “He’s the one that taught us and has been looking out for us since Day 1.”

Now, McNamara will look to make the Browns’ roster and continue to influence his team in positive ways.