The Wolfpacker has done multiple stories since February previewing what should be a great weekend for NC State at the NFL Draft, which is Thursday-through-Saturday in Dallas:
ESPN analysts expect numerous NC State football to hear names called
Mel Kiper Jr. on NC State football's D-line: 'They're all going to go'
ESPN's Louis Riddick sees potential in NC State football's Bradley Chubb
Q&A: CBS draft analyst Chris Trapasso breaks down NC State football prospects, part I
Q&A: CBS draft analyst Chris Trapasso breaks down NC State football prospects, part II
NFL Draft expert: NC State football should set new record for draft picks
NC State could break its school record for most NFL Draft picks by the conclusion of this year’s draft on Saturday. The Wolfpack's 2012 and 2006 draft classes both had six selected. This year’s group is expected to have anywhere between six-to-eight picked.
Of course, headlining the group is defensive end Bradley Chubb, who according to ESPN’s Todd McShay is probably not falling past the Denver Broncos at pick No. 5. Most mock drafts however pencil Chubb into No. 4 for the Cleveland Browns, where he would be paired with last year’s No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett on the defensive line. There is still a chance Chubb will hear his name called at No. 2 by the New York Giants as well.
Then the question when Chubb is called turns to will he cry on camera? Vegas has high odds on Chubb being the first player on camera at the draft to shed a tear.
Here is a rundown of what else to expect in the draft:
B.J. Hill, Defensive tackle
Rounds two and three of the draft start Friday evening, and the consensus seems to be that Hill will be the next NC State player to hear his name picked. ZoneCoverage.com put together a “Consensus Big Board” using 48 individual big boards, and Hill came out No. 77, which would put him in the late-second, early-third round territory.
Hill is known to have worked out with the Atlanta Falcons and met with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nyheim Hines, Running back
Hines was ranked No. 101 by the ZoneCoverage.com big board, and he could be a candidate to come off the board as early as the third round but may also find himself available at the start of day three, which is rounds four-through-seven.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has compared Hines to both Darren Sproles and Dion Lewis, and believes that Hines will be picked in the third or fourth rounds.
“His ability to catch so well out of the backfield, return punts, return kicks and be a guy that can be so versatile and so dynamic and just a guy you want on your football team,” Kiper noted of Hines.
Hines has met with numerous teams, including the Buccaneers, Titans, Falcons, Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets and Eagles
Hines joined The Wolfpacker for a podcast, and you can listen to it below:
Jaylen Samuels, Athlete
Samuels has the most wide-ranging opinion. He is listed on the consensus big board at No. 108, but some analysts have ranked him as low as No. 150 (Rotoworld’s Josh Norris). The question with Samuels is what it was when he was coming to NC State: what position does he play?
Nevertheless, most expect Samuels will be off the board by the fourth round, including Kiper.
Among the teams known to have met with Samuels since the combine were the Patriots, Bengals, Falcons, Bills, Panthers, Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles and Jets. The Patriots in particular are known to have a keen interest in Samuels.
Will Richardson, Offensive tackle
Richardson is known to have met with the Texans, Bengals, Patriots and Jaguars. Off-the-field issues may hurt Richardson’s stock however. Some analysts are high on Richardson, including CBS’s Chris Trapasso who has him rated No. 103 on his board, which is a borderline third-round pick.
The consensus board has him at No. 143. NFL.com’s Mike Mayock thinks Richardson will be a round 5-6 pick, but he also has Richardson as his top “sleeper” among offensive tackles, as he explained to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Richardson is a right tackle only," he said. "He’s had some significant off-the-field problems. I’m not hearing much from teams about him because they’re worried about him off the field and because he can only play on the right side. But he’s a big, square-bodied dude who has better feet than people think. I like his tape. And I think he can be a starting right tackle in this league. He’s not going to go until late in the draft."
The Bengals, Jaguars, Chargers and Patriots reportedly met with him during the pre-draft process.
Justin Jones, Defensive tackle
Jones could be the third name from NC State’s defensive line to be called. He is listed at No. 155 on the consensus big board, but some like Norris (No. 126) and ESPN (No. 124) believe he is a borderline fourth-round NFL Draft pick.
Seven-round mock drafts however have Jones going as late as the sixth round.
Teams that have met with the interior lineman include the Cardinals, Lions, Colts, Chargers, Dolphins and Giants.
Kentavius Street, Defensive end
Street could be a question mark to get drafted after tearing his ACL while doing a workout for the New York Giants, but at least one NFL analyst believes that Street will still be picked after recently undergoing surgery.
Among the teams who have met with Street are the Cardinals, Falcons, Panthers, Lions, Colts, Chargers, Buccaneers and Redskins.
Tony Adams, Guard/center
Adams is the one player among this list who did not receive a NFL Combine invite, but he is still be listing as a potential draft pick. Several listed him among the event's biggest snubs.
The Panthers brought the Charlotte native in for a visit in April, and the consensus big board has him at No. 232, which would be a seventh-round choice (there are 256 draft picks). Other teams rumored to be interested are the Steelers, Eagles, Rams, Chargers, Falcons and Ravens.
Adams also joined The Wolfpacker for a recent podcast:
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