East Carolina Pirates: All About the Spot
East Carolina Pirates made up for a slow NFL Draft by plugging some guys in the right roles.
The East Carolina Pirates had a quiet NFL Draft weekend much as the other schools in the state. To make for that surprise, there were a handful of Pirates who joined NFL rosters via undrafted free agency. In a sense they are a special group. They represent the last Ruffin McNeill class at East Carolina.
The nice things about being an undrafted free agent is that you get to go out and seek a situation that is good for you instead of getting taken to a team who perhaps does not know what they are going to do with you. Close attention should be paid to see how these things work out.
The players that got picked up are as follows:
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New England Patriots
TE – Bryce Williams
Green Bay Packers
CB – Josh Hawkins
Seattle Seahawks
LB – Montese Overton
If there is any big winner out of this group, it has to be Williams. Disappointment of going undrafted has to be replaced by excitement for going to the land of Gronk. The Patriots have a history of finding ways to use tight ends including two tight end sets back when they had Aaron Hernandez to go with Rob Gronkowski.
The Patriots brought Martellus Bennett on board to try and recreate some of that magic, but they always act with an eye to the future. Williams could fit very well in that future if he can show promise in these early years behind Gronk and Martellus.
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The next guy who ended up in a good spot was Overton. The Seattle Seahawks are built behind pressuring the quarterback. Overton could start off as a situational rusher on third downs and then build his role.
The money situation in Seattle also plays into his hands because the Seahawks have had to shed some of their defensive contracts. Value contracts like Overton’s are where they are looking for gems in the rough.
The Pirates will have a lot to adjust to this season under new coach Scottie Montgomery, but they should still have some newly minted pros if they get nostalgic for the days of Ruffin.