Pack Pros: Former NC State football players in training camp

How is your favorite former Pack Pro 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.

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C Garrett Bradbury (Played at NC State from 2015-18), Minnesota Vikings: After starting for most of his first three full seasons in the NFL, Bradbury faces a crucial year … The Vikings declined the former first round pick’s fifth-year option, making this a contract season for Bradbury … Although Bradbury has worked with the first string in training camp, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell recently stated that Bradbury is not a lock to start at center.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Cleveland Browns: The suspension of Cleveland starter DeShaun Watson for six games (the NFL is appealing for a longer penalty) opens the door for Brissett to be the Browns’ starter to begin the year … The Browns would be the fourth different team that Brissett has started for in his NFL career … Entering his seventh season in the league, Brissett has completed 727 of 1,208 passes (60.2 percent) for 7,742 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions and added 653 yards and 13 more scores rushing … Brissett signed a 1-year, $4.65 million contract with the Browns in the offseason.

DB Juston Burris (2012-15), Carolina Panthers: After starting for most of the past two seasons for the Panthers, the recently-married Burris returns to Carolina on a 1-year contract worth almost $1.2 million … He is expected to make the roster in a reserve role after Panthers added free agent Xavier Woods on a 3-year deal worth $15.75 million.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Denver Broncos: The former Pro Bowler is in a contract year and looking to bounce back after ankle surgery limited Chubb to six largely unproductive games last season … In his two fully healthy seasons, Chubb had a combined 102 tackles, including 19.5 sacks, but he missed one season with an ACL tear and then most of last year with a bone spur.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), Las Vegas Raiders: Last season was a banner campaign for Cole … Led the NFL with a punting average of 50.0 yards per attempt, the eighth-best single-season mark in league history … Was selected to the Pro Bowl and during the season signed a four-year contract extension worth $12 million, including a $2 million signing bonus and $5.6 million guaranteed

OL Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), Carolina Panthers: After being drafted in the first round by the Panthers, the newest Pack Pro was assumed by many to immediately step into the left tackle role, but second-year pro Brady Christensen has received most of the first-string reps there … “To me, Ickey’s a rookie. He’s gotta earn everything he gets, and he’s got a long way to go,” Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said.

P Trenton Gill (2018-21), Chicago Bears: After being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, the rookie is favored to be the Bears’ punter … He is currently the lone punter on Chicago’s roster.

WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), Washington Commanders: As a rookie in 2019, Harmon caught 30 passes for 365 yards, but a year later he tore his ACL and then in his return in 2021 was cut before being placed on the practice squad … Faces a stiff competition to land a roster spot this preseason with the Commanders.

Commanders open practice
Sam Howell deep connection with Kelvin Harmon #commanders #fedexfield pic.twitter.com/arenNthPvN

— _kingdreee (@kingdrefitness) August 7, 2022

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals: After an impressive season with Super Bowl participant Bengals, who acquired Hill in a trade with the Giants, Hill signed a 3-year, $30 million contract during the offseason that included a $10 million signing bonus and $13 million guaranteed … Hill had 5.5 sacks during his breakout season with the Bengals in 2022 and is expected to have a larger role in 2022.

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Indianapolis Colts: Through four seasons with the Colts, Hines has rushed 282 times for 1,169 yards and 9 touchdowns and caught 210 passes for 1,537 yards and 7 more scores … Hines has also returned 2 punts for TDs … Colts head coach Frank Reich recently said he would pick Hines if he was a fantasy draft owner.

DB Dontae Johnson (2010-13), San Francisco 49ers: Johnson signed a one-year contract with the 49ers, the team which he has spent seven out of his eight seasons in the NFL … Started three games last season and has spent time in practice running first-string nickel during training camp.

DB Josh Jones (2014-16), Seattle Seahawks: Jones is quickly impressing with Seattle, his fourth different NFL team … He played the last four games of the 2021 season there, including one start, and has been reportedly “making waves” in training camp.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), Chicago Bears: Jones signed a 2-year, $12 million contract in the offseason with the Bears, including a $5 million signing bonus and over $7 million guaranteed … Thus far, Jones has been “thriving” in his new defensive scheme after four seasons with the Chargers, where he started 35 games and had 118 tackles, including 12 for loss and 4.5 sacks.

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), New York Jets: The undrafted free agent apparently made a good decision in signing with the Jets, as he has reportedly made a positive early impression and established a dark horse case for making the final 53-man roster and becoming a Pack Pro.

CB Nick McCloud (2016-19, finished at Notre Dame), Buffalo Bills: After playing two games last season for Cincinnati, McCloud is back with the team that made him an undrafted free agent signing in 2021 … Ended last year on the Bills’ practice squad and is in a training camp competition to earn a roster spot.

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), Minnesota Vikings: The former undrafted free agent has found a way to play seven years in the NFL with six different teams … Kept that streak alive by playing two contests for the Vikings a year ago and then signed a 1-year, $1-million plus contract in March to remain in Minnesota.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), Detroit Lions: After a promising debut season with the Lions, McNeill has been listed at No. 10 on Pro Football Focus (PFF) rankings of 15 breakout year-two candidates … McNeill started six games last season and had 39 tackles, including 3 for loss and two sacks.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), New England Patriots: The former undrafted Pack Pro has cashed in on his successes in the NFL, with the restricted free agent signing a 1-year contract worth nearly $4 million with the Patriots … Last season, Meyers caught 83 passes for 866 yards and 2 touchdowns and is expected to continue his role as a leading receiver for New England.

TE Thaddeus Moss (2016/finished at LSU), Cincinnati Bengals: Moss spent most of 2021 on the Bengals’ practice squad before suffering a hamstring injury during warmups just after he was called up to the active roster … Fighting for a roster spot during training camp.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), Tennessee Titans: After starting five of the 11 games he played last season, Murchison faces a camp battle to earn a roster spot.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), Cincinnati Bengals: After a breakout season in which he helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl, Pratt is another Pack Pro approaching his contract year … He is set to begin his third year as a starter and last season had 91 tackles during the regular season, including 5 for loss … Added an interception, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

OT Will Richardson Jr. (2015-17), Jacksonville Jaguars: After four seasons as a depth piece on the offensive line for Jacksonville, Richardson was re-signed with a 1-year deal in the offseason worth $2 million and is expected to continue in that role.

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), Washington Commanders: After starting six games in his second season in the NFL, Smith-Williams is aiming to carve out a larger role during training camp … Had 30 tackles, including 4 for loss and 2.5 sacks, a season ago.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), New Orleans Saints: In the offseason, Street reunited with his first defensive line coach at NC State, Ryan Nielsen, when he signed a one-year deal with the Saints … Nielsen is New Orleans’ co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach … Street spent his first four years with the 49ers, where he started four games and played in 35.

OG Joe Thuney (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs: Started every game last season for Kansas City and is in the second year of his 5-year, $80 million contract, one of the most lucrative ever signed by a Pack Pro.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2013-14, Finished at USF), Kansas City Chiefs: During the offseason, Valdes-Scantling was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs on a 3-year, $30 million contract that included a $6 million signing bonus and $15 million guaranteed … In four prior seasons at Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling had 247 receptions for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09/Finished at Wisconsin), Denver Broncos: In a blockbuster trade during the offseason, the potential future Hall of Famer and all-time great Pack Pro was traded from the Seahawks to Denver.