Takeaways from North Carolina’s Pro Day

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The University of North Carolina hosted its Pro Day on March 28, and the prospected draft picks showed out in front of all 32 NFL team scouts that attended.

Photo by Shannen Horan

Drake Maye

Photo by Shannen Horan

Quarterback Drake Maye solidified himself as a top prospect in the draft after airing it over 60-plus yards, moving around in the pocket and throwing from different angles with ease. Maye had two misses on deep outs early, but when throwing around 60 passes, especially with his coaches adding the challenge of pressure and blitzes, a few misses is expected.

Tez Walker

Photo by Shannen Horan

Wide receiver Tez Walker was Maye’s top connection last season and put out a good showing on Thursday. Walker is a vertical threat and his strong hands and catch radius are notable, but he struggles on routes that aren’t verticals and has issues with drops. Walker is a projected day-two pick and could pair with Maye in the pros.

Cedric Gray

Photo by Shannen Horan

Linebacker Cedric Gray is another North Carolina talent that has been catching the attention of the league. He drew a pretty big crowd of linebackers coaches, and his versatility makes him a threat on the field. He is currently projected to be a late second to early third-round pick.

All in all, UNC’s Pro Day was a success, bringing many NFL executives to Chapel Hill, including Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and Commanders general manager Adam Peters. The top prospects were able to showcase their skills even further, while other players showed why they deserve to be looked at.

The 2024 NFL Draft begins on April 25, where we will see how the QB landscape will lay out and hopefully hear several UNC players’ names called.