The latest updates where NC State’s NFL draft prospects stand
Happy NFL draft week. The league’s big event is set to kick off Thursday night and run through Saturday as teams work to build their rosters for the future. NC State has a pair of key draft prospects that will wait to hear their names called this week.
NC State’s main draft candidate is linebacker Payton Wilson, the 2023 Bednarik (best defensive player) and Butkus (best linebacker) award winner. He logged 138 total tackles, including 17.5 for a loss with six sacks, six pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
After his impressive final season in Raleigh, Wilson has generated a good amount of draft buzz. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold ranked Wilson at No. 53 in his top-100 prospects in this year’s draft.
“Wilson’s ability, versatility and production in 2023 (Butkus Award winner with 138 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions) will push him up the board for some while a long injury history might pull him off the board for others,” Legwold wrote. “Wilson’s draft stock is likely in the hands of medical staffs around the league. He suffered a torn ACL in high school and had multiple shoulder surgeries and other knee issues during his college career.”
Wilson, whose injury history is well-documented, may be hurt by that in determining where he is selected this week. That seems to be a common consensus among all draft experts leading into the selections.
The Athletic’s Dan Brugler mentioned that when he ranked Wilson at No. 88 in his top-300 Monday morning.
“Wilson’s medicals will be a key factor in his final grade, but he is a rangy and instinctive player who impacts the game in different ways, because of his effort and toughness,” Brugler wrote. “His four-down potential will separate him from most linebacker prospects.”
ESPN’s Jordan Reid slotted Wilson as the 81st overall pick to the Seattle Seahawks, a third-round selection, in his final mock draft Monday. The injury concern was the main reason why Wilson was not higher in Reid’s list.
“Wilson has an early-round grade based strictly on his game tape, but durability concerns could drop him to this range — or even later,” Reid wrote. “He had 130 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions last season.”
While Wilson appears to have an injury designation by numerous teams, he seems to still be a top-100 prospect and will likely hear his name early on day two.
Wilson is the main guy, but NC State center Dylan McMahon has also received NFL draft grades from the experts. He had a breakout season with the Wolfpack this past season with just 11 pressures (one sack, one hit and nine hurries) allowed in 345 pass blocking opportunities.
McMahon had the opportunity to return to NC State for one more season, but he elected to leave that on the table and entered the NFL draft.
Brugler ranked McMahon as the No. 232 prospect in this year’s draft.
“McMahon doesn’t have desirable physical dimensions and is likely a center only in the NFL, but he is unencumbered with his movements and well-versed with his technique, giving him a chance to find a home in a zone-based scheme,” Brugler wrote.
Brugler’s assessment lined up with where Reid thought McMahon would end up in the draft. He slotted the center as a seventh round pick, the No. 247 selection to the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL draft is set for April 25-27 at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit. The first round will kick off with the first round at 8 p.m. on April 25, while the second and third rounds will begin at 7 p.m. on April 26. The final four rounds will begin at noon on April 27.
