Pack Pros: Former NC State football players in training camp

How are your favorite former Pack Pros doing in NFL training camps? Here is a rundown of all the former NC State football players currently trying to make a roster spot in the league.

Pack Pros Updates

DB Tyler Baker-Williams (Played at NC State from 2018-22), Los Angeles Chargers: Alex Katson of USA Today’s Chargers Wire listed the undrafted free agent as one of five “under-the-radar” players to watch going into training camp, but the latest projected 53-man roster from The Athletic did not include Baker-Williams on the team.

Los Angeles Rams safety Tanner Ingle (34, defensive tackle Larrell Murchison (52) and Los Angeles Chargers safety Tyler Baker-Williams (44) @TylerBakerWill1

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C Garrett Bradbury (2015-18), Minnesota Vikings: A season ago, Bradbury entered a crucial contract year after the Vikings declined the former first-round pick’s fifth-year option, but after showing improved pass protection, he was rewarded with a three-year, $15.5 million contract extension …. Offensive line coach Chris Kuper described himself as “elated” at the re-signing … Bradbury, who has started for most of his four seasons in the NFL, is expected to continue handling first-string snaps for the Vikings.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Washington Commanders: Brissett signed a one-year, $8-million contract in the offseason with Washington, but the Commanders recently announced that Sam Howell would be the starter … Brissett has started for four different teams in his seven seasons in the NFL thus far … He has completed 963 of 1,577 passes (61.1 percent) for 10,350 yards and 48 touchdowns with 23 interceptions and added 896 yards and 15 more scores rushing.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Miami Dolphins: The two-time Pro Bowler begins his first full season with the Dolphins after being traded midseason from the Denver Broncos to Miami and signing a five-year, $110 million extension with his new team … In his three fully healthy seasons, Chubb had a combined 141 tackles, including 27.5 sacks, but he missed one season with an ACL tear and then most of 2021 with a bone spur.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Last year, Cole made his second straight Pro Bowl team … Led the NFL in punting average at 50.0 yards in 2021, and he followed up with an average of 48.9 yards in 2022 … Will continue to handle punting duties for the Raiders.

DT Cory Durden (2021-22), Detroit Lions: Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lions but was not part of the projected 53-man roster for Detroit on The Athletic.

OL Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Carolina Panthers: After a successful rookie season starting every game for the Panthers at left tackle, Ekwonu has gotten off to a slow start in two exhibition games, but new Carolina head coach Frank Reich noted he has “no concerns” about Ekwonu “being one of the true anchors to our offensive line.”

P Trenton Gill (2018-21), Chicago Bears: After averaging 46.0 yards per punt as a rookie, Gill is locked in as the Bears’ punter in 2023.

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals: Hill is in the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract that he signed after the 2021 season … In 2022, Hill started all 16 games for the first time in his career and logged career highs in tackles (68), pass breakups (4) and fumble recoveries (3) while also having his first career forced fumble and registering 3 sacks. … Hill is favored to continue in his starting role.

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Buffalo Bills: Hines will miss the season after suffering a knee injury while sitting on a stationary jet ski … Hines, who reworked his contract to a two-year, $9 million deal in the offseason, is in a pay dispute with his team.

DB Tanner Ingle, Los Angeles Rams (2018-22): The list of Pack Pros includes examples of undrafted free agent success stories, and Ingle is one of multiple possibilities to join that list … Ingle, who had an impressive blindside sack in the Rams’ preseason game vs. the Chargers, was listed as one of “seven standouts” from the first phase of Los Angeles’ training camp by USA Today Rams Wire reporter Cameron DaSilva … The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue listed Ingle among the list of players who “could become preseason darlings.”

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), Chicago Bears: Jones who has started all but one game he has played in over the past four seasons, is in the final year of a two-year, $12 million contract with the Bears and appears to be a lock to make the roster … In his NFL career, Jones has 170 tackles, including 24 for loss and 7.5 sacks … He set career highs last season in tackles (52), tackles for loss (12), quarterback hits (7) and matched his personal best with 3 sacks.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), Seattle Seahawks: Jones went from undrafted free agent to making the Seahawks’ practice squad to be elevated to the active roster for three games in 2022 … He faces another training camp battle, with The Athletic not including Jones on the projected 53-man roster.

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), New York Jets: Another undrafted Pack Pros success story, Knight started four of seven games he played as a rookie and finished the year with 85 carries for 300 yards and a touchdown on the ground … He also added 13 receptions for 100 yards … However, The Athletic noted that Knight is in a competition with Michael Carter to be the fourth running back, and there may not be a guarantee that New York will carry that many runners … “Knight has played better throughout training camp, in addition to an impressive three-game stretch he had last season before tailing off. He’s also more explosive than Carter and is an option in the return game,” The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt added.

CB Nick McCloud (2016-19, finished at Notre Dame), New York Giants: McCloud broke through last year with the Giants, starting 8 of 14 games he played and finishing with 43 tackles (1.5 sacks) and 7 pass breakups … In a battle to regain his place on the depth chart.

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), San Francisco 49ers: The former undrafted free agent has found a way to play eight years in the NFL with seven different teams … He hopes to extend his streak as one of the longest-tenured Pack Pros after signing a one-year offseason deal with 49ers, with whom he played nine games last year and had 8 tackles, including a pair for loss, and 2 quarterback hits … Bolstered his chances of making the roster with a strong exhibition game performance Saturday, which included 1 sack.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), Detroit Lions: McNeill is a lock to make the Lions after emerging as a full-time starter in Year 2 with Detroit, tallying 41 tackles, including a sack … McNeill dropped his body fat by 13 percent in the offseason to improve his conditioning.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Another member of the undrafted group of Pack Pros has cashed in on his successes in the NFL, signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders after four seasons with the Patriots, where he hauled in 235 passes for 2,758 yards and 8 touchdowns … Meyers is expected to start for Las Vegas.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), Los Angeles Rams: Murchison was cut midway through his third season with the Tennessee Titans and caught on with the Rams to conclude the 2022 campaign … Murchison is likely to be in a camp battle to try to win a spot on Los Angeles.

CB Derrek Pitts Jr. (2021-22), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The undrafted free agent rookie earned a training camp invite with the Bucs but likely faces an uphill climb to make the roster.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), Cincinnati Bengals: After his third straight year as a full-time starter for the Bengals, Pratt cashed in on his success with a three-year, $21-million contract to stay in Cincinnati … Pratt has 355 career tackles, including 20 for loss.

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), Washington Commanders: After starting six games in his second season in the NFL, Smith-Williams started all 14 contests he played a year ago, amassing career highs in tackles for loss (5), sacks (3) and quarterback hits (16) … Favored to be in the defensive line rotation if not starting.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), Philadelphia Eagles: After piling up 29 tackles in his lone season for the New Orleans Saints, including 5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, Street signed with the Eagles in the offseason on a one-year, $1.28 million deal, but first Street has to make the team … The Athletic’s projected roster for Philadelphia did not include Street.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), Las Vegas Raiders: The undrafted free agent is another who has made a positive impression, especially after having 10 tackles in his most recent preseason performance … “He’s an undersized guy, but he plays fast and physical,” Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said Aug. 20. “He showed up in the kicking game last night multiple times. He made a bunch of plays on defense. He just has a knack (for) finding the ball, and he’s a tough kid. He’s really given himself an opportunity to compete.” … That said, both The Athletic and Las Vegas Review Journal have Thomas on the outside looking in for a roster spot.

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), Minnesota Vikings: The Athletic credited Thomas, an undrafted free agent rookie, with having “shown flashes” during training camp, but he is not on its projected 53-man roster.

OG Joe Thuney (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs: Has started every game he has played in his seven-year NFL career, the first five with the New England Patriots … Is in the third year of a 5-year, $80 million contract, one of the most lucrative ever signed by the Pack Pros community, and is coming off his second All-Pro honor and first Pro Bowl selection.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2013-14, Finished at USF), Kansas City Chiefs: In his first season with the Chiefs after signing a three-year, $30 million contract, Valdes-Scantling set a career high with 42 receptions, which went for 687 yards and included 2 touchdowns.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09/Finished at Wisconsin), Denver Broncos: The potential future Hall of Famer is looking for a rebound year after setting career-worst marks for completion percentage (60.1 percent) and quarterback rating (84.4) while throwing the fewest touchdowns (16) in any of his 11 seasons in the NFL.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), Carolina Panthers: The rookie fourth-round draft pick for the Panthers started at offensive guard in Carolina’s second preseason game and is considered a safe bet by The Athletic to make the roster.