The Tar Heels will host their 2024 Pro Day on Thursday in the Bill Koman Practice Complex as we close in on the NFL Draft, which is just over a month away. On Monday, the program released the list of fifteen former players who will be participating in drills as they continue their pursuit of a career at the next level. Here is a look at where each guy’s stock stands going into the day.
QB Drake Maye
Pro Football Network: Top 5, No. 1 QB
Pro Football Focus: Top 5, No. 2 QB
Drafttek: Top 5, No. 2 QB
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Top 5, No. 3 QB
ESPN: Top 10, No. 3 QB
WalterFootball.com: Top 10, No. 3 QB
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Top 15, No. 3 QB
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Top 5, No. 2 QB
Maye enters the day all over the mock drafts and the big boards. More and more mocks are beginning to place him behind J.J. McCarthy, but the big boards have stayed strong with him as either the second or third quarterback in this class. He probably can’t do anything on Thursday to really move himself back ahead of Jayden Daniels on some team’s draft boards, but he should be able to do enough to keep himself firmly in the conversation to go 3rd overall to whoever is picking there.
WR Tez Walker
ESPN: 2nd-3rd Round, No. 11 WR
Drafttek: 2nd-3rd Round, No. 12 WR
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): 2nd-3rd Round, No. 12 WR
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): 2nd-3rd Round, No. 13 WR
Pro Football Focus: 2nd-3rd Round, No. 16 WR
WalterFootball.com: 2nd-4th Round, No. 13 WR
Pro Football Network: 3rd-4th Round, No. 18 WR
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: 2nd-3rd Round, No. 15 WR
Walker’s performance in Indianapolis has seemingly solidified his stock as a late 2nd-early 3rd selection. Because of how many receivers are bunched together in that range, Walker could help himself sit atop this log jam if he runs and catches the ball well tomorrow. At the least, it seems like he has at least locked himself into to being a Day 2 draft spot barring something unforeseen.
LB Cedric Gray
ESPN: 2nd Round, No. 3 ILB
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): 2nd-3rd Round, No. 2 LB
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): 2nd-3rd Round. No. 2 LB
WalterFootball.com: 2nd-3rd Round, No. 3 ILB
Pro Football Network: 3rd Round, No. 3 LB
Drafttek: 3rd-4th Round, No. 3 ILB
Pro Football Focus: 4th-5th Round, No. 8 LB
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: 3rd-4th Round, No. 5 LB
Gray did not stand out the way that some of the other top linebackers in this class did and it seems like he is falling just a slight bit as a result. Most big boards still have him on the fringe of the 2nd and 3rd Round, but the consensus board has dropped him to a fringe Day 2 prospect that could fall into Day 3. Again, I don’t know how much he can really help himself considering we’ve already seen him go through these drills with the other linebackers in this class, but he could certainly solidify his standing with a team that may be eyeing him if he has a good day.
DT Myles Murphy
Pro Football Focus: 5th-6th Round, No. 17 IDL
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): 6th-7th Round, No. 24 DT
WalterFootball.com: 6th-Undrafted, No. 25 DT
Drafttek: 7th Round-Undrafted, No. 4 NT
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): 7th-Undrafted, No. 21 DT
Pro Football Network: Undrafted, No. 27 DT
ESPN: Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: 7th-Undrafted, No. 24 DT
Murphy did not have the best showing at the Combine and you can see that it has had an effect on his stock. Prior to Indianapolis, it seemed like a consensus opinion that he would be a drafted prospect, but he is now seen as someone that is on the fringe of that final round. A good showing tomorrow, especially with his 10-yard split if he runs again, could allow him to turn things back in a positive direction and secure himself a spot in Day 3.
EDGE Amari Gainer
Drafttek: Undrafted, No. 15 ILB
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 29 LB
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 39 LB
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Undrafted, No. 47 EDGE
Gainer’s stock is better than I think most people would have imagined and he has a chance to boost it and open some eyes even further. It will be interesting to see what position drills he does as someone that can play both off-ball linebacker and edge rusher because his versatility is a big part of the reason teams will probably be interested in him. Right now, it seems very likely that Gainer will be able to do enough to land with a team for training camp, especially if he shows well tomorrow.
C Corey Gaynor
Drafttek: Undrafted, No. 28 C
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 56 IOL
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Undrafted, No. 65 IOL
Gaynor is the guy that has the best stock of the four offensive linemen that will work out on Thursday. He has work to do to prove that he deserves to be in camp with a team, but a good showing tomorrow could be enough to do that.
OT Spencer Rolland
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 36 OT
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 36 OT
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Rolland enters in a similar spot to Gaynor. He is probably on the fringe of being in camp with a team and a good showing could be what gets him there.
IOL William Barnes
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Undrafted, No. 48 IOL
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Barnes may appear on one big board, something that the guys behind him on this list can’t say, but he still has a lot of work to do. Unless he shows out on Thursday, he will likely be heading for an alternate league.
DT Tomari Fox
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Fox isn’t on any of the draft boards and has his work cut out for him. He needs an outstanding performance that will open the eyes of scouts if he wants to be in an NFL camp this summer.
IOL Ed Montilus
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Montilus is the offensive lineman with the slimmest chances of making it to the NFL. His performance at the Tropical Bowl clearly wasn’t anything to write home about and it’s why he will need to really blow scouts away on Saturday to avoid having to head to an alternate league to play at the next level.
S Giovanni Biggers
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Biggers was a surprise addition to this group and is in a similar spot to guys like Montilus and Fox. He will need to wow scouts with a big day of look to the alternate leagues to pursue a pro career.
RB British Brooks
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
Brooks is another guy who was a bit of a surprise to see on this list and has a ton of work to do to get to that next level. A huge day is needed from Brooks to even be considered for a possible invite to camp, but he will almost certainly be in an alternate league if he opts to pursue a professional career.
LS Drew Little
Pro Football Focus: Unranked
ESPN: Unranked
WalterFootball.com: Unranked
Pro Football Network: Unranked
Drafttek: Unranked
Brian Bosarge (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
Shane Hallam (NFL Draft Countdown): Unranked
NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus: Unranked
It’s always tough to figure out exactly where long snapper stands, but it doesn’t appear that Little is on the precipice of making it to the league. With how few jobs are available at the position, even in camp, he will almost certainly have to seek an alternate league to continue his career.