The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 ■ 35 a loss, and 8 passes defended in what was a breakout 2025 campaign that was capped by an ascent to pro football's mountaintop. For a player who tore his ACL as an undrafted rookie, Thomas wasn't sup- posed to be in that moment. But his perseverance allowed him to not only stick in Seattle, but break through on the eventual Super Bowl champions. While Thomas' career path wasn't straightforward, including no promises for what his role would look like in Seat- tle, he earned everything he's been given. It's a journey that most around the NFL are in awe about, including the Seahawks' second-year coach Mike Macdonald. "Drake's story is awesome," Mac- donald said last season, via the Seattle Times. "We showed up, and our person- nel people had a high opinion of him. He was a player that I wasn't familiar with before we got here. He was injured at the beginning of last year, but he's an example of a guy that came back early from his injury because of how hard he worked, how he attacked the process. "And he's the same guy every day. He's 100 percent. He's all in. He's at- tention-detailed. He understands ad- justments, understands game plans. He's tough as nails. I think he's a good athlete. He does a lot of positive things. He's made a lot of plays on special teams, but this is the guy that we saw all offseason, too. When players tell you who they are, believe them." The Seahawks did just that. And, as a result, Thomas has become a key part of the team's defense going into his fourth NFL season. Pack Pros In 2026 A total of 19 former Wolfpack players were set to begin the 2026 season on an NFL 53-man roster, while six earned a spot on a team's practice squad and one will start on the injured list. Here's a rundown of all the former NC State stars looking to make an impact in the professional ranks this fall. OT Anthony Belton (Played at NC State from 2021-24), Green Bay Packers: Started eight games at guard in his rookie season with the Pack- ers. He started each of the last seven games of the year, including the Pack- ers' playoff loss to the Chicago Bears. He's battling to earn the starting right guard spot, while also getting reps at right tackle going into the 2026 season. C Garrett Bradbury (2014-18), Chicago Bears: Spent the 2025 season with the New England Patriots before he was traded to the Bears this offsea- son. He is expected to be Chicago's starting center this fall. QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Ari- zona Cardinals: Playing for his sixth different team in the past seven sea- sons after re-signing with Arizona on a one-year, $15.5 million fully guaranteed contract this offseason. He will open the season as the team's starting signal- caller. OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Buffalo Bills: After spending four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, he signed a three-year, $43.5 million con- tract with the Bills this offseason. He posted 8.5 sacks last season in his return from a significant knee injury suffered in 2023. He has notched 48 sacks in the first seven years of his NFL career. DT Brandon Cleveland (2022-25), Las Vegas Raiders: Was selected in the seventh round by Las Vegas to boost Jacoby Brissett is expected to start at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals this season following Kyler Murray's exit. Filling in for the injured Murray last season, Brissett completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns. PHOTO COURTESY ARIZONA CARDINALS