NC State Wolfpack: How many Draftees?

The NC State Wolfpack is hoping for some good news from the NFL Draft.

The NC State Wolfpack are looking forward to the next football season, but the heroes of the last season are testing the NFL Draft waters. Also there is Shadrach Thornton trying to do the same thing. Like their rivals to the West, the Wolfpack are hoping that a small number of notable guys make a big impact to promote the school in the future.

According to the Draft Prospect rankings on CBS Sports, there are only four Wolfpack prospects who would get drafted and none of them have more than a sixth round grade. The magic four who should get taken in the upcoming draft are quarterback Jacoby Brissett, lineman Joe Thuney, cornerback Juston Burris, and tight end David Grinnage.

All eyes will likely be on Brissett. The quarterback has had a range of opinions about his value. At one time he was considered a fourth round pick and it is still possible that he will get back up there. Quarterbacks are peculiar creatures, and it only takes the right team needing a particular style of passer.

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Brissett showed some ability to make plays from broken down plays. He also seemed comfortable throwing on the run. Two quarterbacks who play this kind of football are Russell Wilson and a healthy Tony Romo. As a result the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks should be teams looking to bolster their quarterback position with a late round pick like Brissett.

Grinnage, a big tight end who can move, is another guy who should find a roster. Even if he is not drafted, a team like the Carolina Panthers may be interested. The Panthers have carried extra tight ends in the past, and get a lot of use out of the position. Grinnage could have stayed for his senior year, let’s hope that decision doesn’t come back to bite him.

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Burris is a big guy at corner and teams might move him to safety if he shows the coverage ability to handle it. This versatility could make him an attractive pickup for teams needing secondary help. One team that comes to mind is the Pittsburgh Steelers whose corps of pass deflectors is aging out or retiring.

There are other State seniors in the draft, but the likes of end Mike Rose, tackle Alex Barr, center Quinton Schooley, and safety Hakim Jones are not rated high enough to be drafted. For Barr and Schooley, they would be encouraged to consider the story of starting Panthers guard Andrew Norwell who also went undrafted.

Next: Wolfpack Spring Football

Of course teams will differ on how they value these guys and the only real way to know for sure is to watch the NFL Draft starting on April 28.