Thursday, the 2020 NFL Draft will get underway, as many former Tar Heels will look to hear their names called over the three day span. To get you ready, here is a look at the prospects that appear on draft boards and a breakdown of their chances to get drafted.
DL Jason Strowbridge
Drafttek.com: 3rd-4th Round, No. 5 DL5T
WalterFootball.com: 3rd-5th Round, No. 8 3-4 DE
DraftSite.com: 4th Round, No. 10 DE
Sports Illustrated: 4th Round, No. 14 EDGE
Bleacher Report: 4th Round, No. 18 EDGE
The Draft Network: 5th-6th Round, No. 16 IDL
CBS Sports: 4th-5th Round, No. 11 DL
Ourlads: 4th-5th Round, No. 10 DE
NFL.com: No. 4 DE
DraftCountdown.com: No. 8 DE
Sporting News: No. 15 EDGE
The Game Haus: No. 15 EDGE
Draft Wire: No. 18 EDGE
Strowbridge received a big boost following his great Senior Bowl performance and a solid combine. His stock seems to have level out, though, with a few boards dropping him just a bit. There are a lot of questions about where exactly Strowbridge fits in, but it feels like most have settled on Strowbridge as a defensive end that will thrive best in a 3-4 system. It may take some time, but he has some decent upside and could develop into a starter in a few years, but will automatically be able to contribute in a rotational role. While there is a slim chance that he hears his name called at the end of Day 2, it’s likely he’ll have to wait until Day 3 to hear his name called.
OT Charlie Heck
WalterFootball.com: 3rd-5th Round, No. 14 OT
Bleacher Report: 5th Round, No. 16 OT
CBS Sports: 5th Round, No. 31 OL
Ourlads: 5th-6th Round, No. 14 OT
The Draft Network: 5th-6th Round, No. 17 OT
Sports Illustrated: 6th Round, No. 17 OT
Drafttek.com: 6th-7th Round, No. 22 OT
DraftSite.com: 7th Round, No. 24 OT
The Game Haus: No. 12 OT
DraftCountdown.com: No. 15 OT
NFL.com: No. 16 OT
Sporting News: No. 19 OT
Draft Wire: No. 20 OT
Heck’s stock has remained relatively consistent throughout this process and nothing has really changed as we’ve hit the stretch run. Heck looks like a guy who will enter a situation as a backup who will have a chance to battle for playing time in a couple of years if he lands in the right system. Teams are still intrigued by him, though, because of his willingness to compete and his pass protection skills. Barring something shocking, Heck will hear his name called at some point on Day 3.
S Myles Dorn
WalterFootball.com: 6th-Undrafted, No. 35 S
The Draft Network: 7th-Undrafted, No. 20 S
CBS Sports: 7th-Undrafted, No. 22 S
Drafttek.com: 7th-Undrafted, No. 22 S
Ourlads: 7th-Undrafted, No. 13 FS
Bleacher Report: Undrafted, No. 28 S
DraftCountdown.com: No. 25 S
NFL.com: No. 30 S
DraftSite.com: Undrafted
Draft Wire: Unranked
Sporting News: Unranked
Sports Illustrated: Undrafted
The Game Haus: Unranked
Dorn’s stock has taken a blow after he did not receive an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. The good news is, most experts think, at the least, teams will give him a shot to make their roster, whether as a draft pick or an undrafted free agent. He will have a lot of work to become a key contributor at the NFL level, but he has the range and versatily to help a team if he makes the roster. There is still a chance that Dorn hears his name called on Day 3, but it’s not looking quite as certain as it once was.
RB Antonio Williams
Drafttek.com: Undrafted, No. 31 RB
CBS Sports: Undrafted, No. 51 RB
DraftCountdown.com: No. 69 RB
The Draft Network: Undrafted
WalterFootball.com: Undrafted
DraftSite.com: Undrafted
Bleacher Report: Unranked
Draft Wire: Unranked
Sporting News: Unranked
Sports Illustrated: Undrafted
NFL.com: Unranked
The Game Haus: Unranked
Williams has began to gain some momentum following his virtual pro day. While it still seems like a longshot that he be taken in the draft, his chances of receiving a camp invite is as good as it has ever been. There is some upside still left with Williams and as he showed last year, he is willing to work hard behind other ahead of him on the depth chart to be ready to go when needed. There is enough talent here that if Williams lands on a roster he’ll chance to land on a 53-man roster.
LB Dominique Ross
Drafttek.com: Undrafted, No. 28 OLB
DraftCountdown.com: No. 52 OLB
The Draft Network: Undrafted
CBS Sports: Undrafted
WalterFootball.com: Undrafted
DraftSite.com: Undrafted
Bleacher Report: Undrafted
Draft Wire: Unranked
Sporting News: Unranked
Sports Illustrated: Undrafted
NFL.com: Unranked
Ourlads: Undrafted
The Game Haus: Unranked
Ross is another player who has seem to gain just a little recognition at the end of the process. While he isn’t as likely as Williams to receive a camp invite, I would not be shocked to see him in a camp whenever they get underway. Ross will sort of run into the tweener issue that some of the other athletic linebackers in the class, but it still feels like teams may be willing to give him a chance.
DT Aaron Crawford
Drafttek.com: Undrafted, No. 24 DL3T
The Draft Network: Undrafted
CBS Sports: Undrafted
WalterFootball.com: Undrafted
DraftSite.com: Undrafted
DraftCountdown.com: Unranked
Bleacher Report: Undrafted
Draft Wire: Unranked
Sporting News: Unranked
Sports Illustrated: Undrafted
NFL.com: Unranked
Ourlads: Undrafted
The Game Haus: Unranked
It still blows my mind, but a guy that saw plenty of success as a run-stuffing nose tackle in the ACC is seen as an afterthought by many draft outlets. Remember that Crawford graded out as the best interior run defender in college football this past year and while the NFL has become a passing league, teams like the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers showed us in the postseason that running the football with success can still win games. Most draft experts feel like he’ll have to go somewhere else prior to the NFL, but I think an NFL team will at least be willing to him a shot this summer.
TE Brandon Fritts
DraftCountdown.com: No. 52 TE
The Draft Network: Undrafted
CBS Sports: Undrafted
WalterFootball.com: Undrafted
Drafttek.com: Undrafted
DraftSite.com: Undrafted
Bleacher Report: Undrafted
Draft Wire: Unranked
Sporting News: Unranked
Sports Illustrated: Undrafted
NFL.com: Unranked
Ourlads: Undrafted
The Game Haus: Unranked
Fritts has started to run route once again, a big step after two ACL injuries cost him each of his final two seasons at Carolina. Prior to the injuries, there was some draft stock there as a red zone threat and he has put on the weight to allow him to be a solid blocking tight end. There is still work to do and he’ll likely need a stop prior to the NFL, but there is a slim possibility someone gives him a chance.
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