The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ■ 39 2021 NFL Preview and return his interception for a touchdown in a win at Virginia last fall. Detroit's first-year head coach Dan Campbell has called McNeill "twinkle toes," and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn nicknamed the rookie "dancing bear." "I tell you what, man, he's unbelievable," Glenn told MLive.com. "Strong, agile, ev- erything that we expected when we got him. You saw it on tape. So, we're happy with that player. "Now, he's still got a ways to go, just like a lot of the guys do. We're going to coach his butt off and continue to make him be successful to be the player he can be." McNeill has been helped by regularly going up against Frank Ragnow, an All-Pro choice in 2020 and first-round draft pick in 2018 coming out of Arkansas. "I've never really went against a center as coveted as Frank is, and he's really a technician," McNeill said. "He's going to sit there, he's going to anchor. I feel like I got a couple good reps on him, and he got some good reps on me. "But I'm just learning from him by ask- ing questions. I hope he doesn't think I'm annoying, because I kind of pester him with questions about different stuff, just trying to get better. But it's definitely an experience to go against Frank. I'm defi- nitely going to get better going against him." Top Earners In 2021 Which former NC State football players will have the highest earnings in the upcoming NFL season? According to contract data provided by Spotrac, these are the five highest yearly cash figures for 2021 of the past Wolfpack standouts: 1. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks — $19 million Wilson is in the midst of a four-year, $140-million con- tract, but this is the year he will take the least cash home. He received $53 million last season in the initial year on the deal. The next two will see his annual cash be $24 and $27 million, respectively, before he is set to hit free agency again at 36 years old in 2024. 2. OL Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs — $18.1 million This offseason saw Thuney switch teams from the New England Patriots to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was en- ticed away from the only organization he had ever played for by a five-year, $80-million deal with the two-time defending AFC champions. Thuney's most fruitful year in the contract will be year one, which will have a cash value of $18.1 million. He will receive between $14.4 and $16 million over the final four seasons. 3. QB Jacoby Brissett, Miami Dolphins — $5 million Although Brissett is the backup quarterback, he is the highest-paid signal-caller on the Dolphins' roster. He signed a one-year deal worth $5 million, half of which is his base salary and the other half a signing bonus. The year with Miami will increase Brissett's career earnings to over $38 million. 4. LB Bradley Chubb, Denver Broncos — $4,368,806 This could be the last season for perhaps a long time in which Chubb will be in single-digit millions. The Broncos have already picked up their fifth-year option, which will pay Chubb over $12.7 million in 2022, and that is the final year of his original rookie deal. If he can repeat his Pro Bowl campaign of 2020, he is sure to demand a hefty second contract. 5. DB Juston Burris, Carolina Panthers — $3,777,125 Burris is completing the final season of his two-year, $8 million contract. He will receive nearly $2.8 million in base salary and a little over $1 million on the signing bonus. Burris appears secure in his starting strong safety job with the Panthers, and with another good year he could be primed for a nice contract and pay bump at 29 years old. Joe Thuney started all 80 regular-season games in his first five seasons for the New England Patriots and signed a lucrative five-year deal this offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs. PHOTO BY DAVID SILVERMAN/COURTESY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS