East Carolina Pirates: Bryce is Nice
The East Carolina Pirates hope that more than one name is called when the NFL Draft rolls around.
The East Carolina Pirates in the NFL Draft represent the end of the Ruffin McNeill era for the team. This handful of guys are trying to join Shane Carden and Justin Hardy among others on NFL rosters next season. Like their Tobacco Road rivals, the Pirates will likely be listening for names to be called on the last day of action.
Of the six men available only two are currently rated high enough to get drafted on the board. Those two would be tight end Bryce Williams and linebacker Montese Overton.
Williams has a fifth round grade, but should be more valuable than that. Every NFL quarterback likes a good tight end and every tight end needs a solid backup. With that thought, Williams should get looks from teams like the Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos.
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The Cowboys rely on old hand Jason Witten at the position but Witten is aging and they will need to develop someone behind him. The Broncos decided not to keep any of their free agents at that position, meaning that they could use some depth as well.
Overton was given a seventh round grade, but it is easy to see what Overton would do at the next level. He needs a defense that attacks the quarterback. He’s not quite big enough to be a 3-4 outside backer, but he could be a 3-4 inside backer on blitz situations or a 4-3 outside backer in faux five man fronts.
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I imagine that Zeek Bigger will find his way into the league as well. The middle linebacker has worked too hard to stop working now. Bigger will find his way, be it through practice squad or training camp and then stick once he’s there. It is notable that Bigger is not rated in the draft right now.
Chris Hairston could also get some love, but it will probably be through the ranks of special teams. He has all the things you would need from a third down back. He can take heart from experiences of guys like Fozzi Whittaker for inspiration.
So if you are a Pirate fan watching the Draft, you should be honed in on Williams first. Then you have to hope that the team profiles for these guys don’t match the scouting reports of the analysts. Then you can go see what Scottie Montgomery wants to do.