The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476803
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 ■ 35 2022 NFL PREVIEW and over $7 million guaranteed … Thus far, Jones has been "thriving" in his new defensive scheme, accord- ing to The Athletic, after four seasons with the Char- gers, where he started 35 games and had 118 tackles. LB Vi Jones (2019-21), Seattle Seahawks: Jones inked an undrafted free agent contract with Seattle, and while he's a long shot to make the roster, he does have a chance due to his athleticism and special teams abilities. DE Daniel Joseph (2020-21), Buffalo Bills: Joseph signed as an undrafted free agent but likely faces long odds of making the Bills' final roster. 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. 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 signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021 … Ended last year on the Bills' practice squad and is in a training camp competition to earn a roster spot, with the website Buffalo Rumblings projecting him to be one of the final cuts. 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, then signed a one-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 in the Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranking of 15 breakout Year 2 candidates … Started six games last season and had 39 tackles, including 3 for loss and 2 sacks. WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), New England Patriots: The former undrafted Pack Pro has cashed in on his successes in the NFL, signing a one-year contract worth nearly $4 million with the Patriots … Last season, Mey - ers caught 83 passes for 866 yards and 2 touchdowns and is expected to continue his role as a leading re- ceiver for New England. TE Thaddeus Moss (2016, finished at LSU), Cincin- nati Bengals: Moss spent most of the 2021 season on the Bengals' practice squad before suffering a ham- string injury during warmups just after he was called up to the active roster … Fighting for a roster spot dur- ing 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 Ben - gals reach the Super Bowl, Pratt is another Pack Pro approaching his contract year … 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 Jag - uars: After four seasons as a backup on the offensive line for Jacksonville, Richardson was re-signed to a one-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, last season. 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 Or - leans' co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach … Street spent his first four years with the 49ers, where he started four games and played in 35. G Joe Thuney (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs: Started every game last season for Kansas City and is in the second year of his five-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 to a three-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. ■ Rookie Ikem Ekwonu wasted little time earning a starting position on the Carolina Panthers' offensive line. Ekwonu, the sixth overall pick in the draft this past April, was named Carolina's starting left tackle after the team's preseason opener against Washington. PHOTO COURTESY CAROLINA PANTHERS