Where NC State's NFL prospects landed on Dane Brugler’s ‘The Beast’ list

It is almost time for the NFL draft and NC State has a few players in contention to hear their names called at the end of the month. 

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler revealed his annual scouting report on more than 2,000 prospective NFL draft candidates in ‘The Beast’ this week. Here’s a brief summary of what he put for each NC State player. 

The full list and full breakdowns can be found here. 

LB Payton Wilson – No. 4 linebacker

Payton Wilson, the Bednarik and Butkus Award winner was the Wolfpack’s heart and soul of the defense this past season. Wilson logged 138 total tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, with six sacks, six passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble. 

While Wilson impressed on the field during the season, he did the same at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any linebacker this year (4.43) with the eighth-best broad jump at his position (9-foot-11) and ninth-highest vertical jump for the group (34.5). 

Those numbers turned the heads of scouts, while also validating what they saw on the field this past season. Wilson, now seems to be a day-two pick in the NFL draft. 

Strengths: “Quick-footed athlete with outstanding lateral agility,” Brugler wrote. “Long-strider in space with terrific speed (23.7 mph on-field GPS) and perimeter range … alert and sees the field well to always be around the football … keys/mirrors the run and takes fast angles … uses body bend to skim and work around blocks … fluid turn-and run in coverage to match up with backs and tight ends … physical tackler and hits like a sack of potatoes.”

Weaknesses: “Disproportionately short arms for his tall frame,” Brugler wrote. “Spends too much time hand-fighting and needs to be more efficient with his shed … lacks desired bulk and bulk strength … occasionally late to break down as a tackler, allowing runners to make a move … highly active but at times to his determinant, leading to false steps … needs to better anticipate in zone coverage.”

Brugler’s grade: 3rd round (88th overall)

C Dylan McMahon – No. 11 center

NC State center Dylan McMahon opted to enter the NFL Draft, though he had a COVID year of eligibility remaining. He had a breakout season at center for the Wolfpack this year with just 11 pressures (one sack, one hit and nine hurries) allowed across 345 pass blocking snaps. 

McMahon logged three top-10 statistics among offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine. He posted the second-fastest three-cone drill (7.26) with the fourth-best broad jump (9-foot-7), fourth-fastest 20-yard shuttle (4.45). McMahon also logged a 5.10 40-yard dash time, the 20th-best of the 49 offensive linemen that competed in the event. 

The Savannah, Ga., native seems to have cemented himself as a final day draft pick this year. 

Strengths: “Above-average athlete for 300 pounds, with fluid movements in space,” Brugler wrote. “Slides efficiently through lateral engagements to maintain his spot … body control helps him stay centered, which helps his hands stay tight on contact … plays with a low center to scoop or create a seal on angle-drive blocks, taking advantage of his natural leverage … advances cleanly to the linebacker level and locks in on smaller targets.”

Weaknesses: “Marginal body girth and lacks desired arm length and growth potential,” Brugler wrote. “Questionable core strength to strain and stay connected to blocks … doesn’t have lower-body power to be a buzzsaw in the run game … can get walked back at contact and overrun by power from different angles … will struggle to own the line of scrimmage against NFL nose tackles.”

Brugler’s grade: 6th-7th round selection

Others (all rankings are among position group):

LS Joe Shimko: No. 4
QB Brennan Armstrong: No. 31
TE Trent Pennix: No. 37
CB Shyheim Battle: No. 82
OL Derrick Eason: No. 91
DL Savion Jackson: No. 93
CB Robert Kennedy III: No. 107
WR Bradley Rozner: No. 181
LB Jaylon Scott: No. 182
WR Keyon Lesane: No. 201