UNC, NC State football’s 5 best NFL Draft selections

Rodd Baxley, The Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read
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North Carolina football and NC State football will be on alert this weekend with several of their players expected to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Going back to the inaugural NFL Draft in 1936, the Tar Heels have had 263 players picked in the history of the annual event, according to Pro Football Reference. The Wolfpack has seen 186 players taken in the draft.

UNC’s Josh Downs and NC State’s Chandler Zavala are among the latest wave of players expected to be drafted over the course of the three-day event in Kansas City, Missouri.

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But before we turn our attention to who’s next, let’s take a look back at some of the best to come out of each program.

Here’s a look at the top draft picks for the Tar Heels and Wolfpack and what those players accomplished in the NFL.

UNC

Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, New York Giants

56: Lawrence Taylor
56: Lawrence Taylor

Taylor was the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft and finished his professional career as one of the all-time greats. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999, “L.T.” was a Pro Bowl selection in 10 of his 13 seasons. He logged 132 ½ sacks, 1,088 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and nine interceptions in his career. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion.

Julius Peppers, defensive end, Carolina Panthers

Peppers was the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and is certain to be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. A Pro Bowl selection in nine of his 17 seasons, Peppers racked up 159 ½ sacks – the fourth most in league history. He finished his career as the only player with at least 150 sacks and 10 or more interceptions.

Chris Hanburger, linebacker, Washington

Chris Hanburger consults with head coach George Allen during an undated Washington game.
Chris Hanburger consults with head coach George Allen during an undated Washington game.

Born at Fort Bragg, Hanburger was picked by Washington in the 18th round of the 1965 NFL Draft. A part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011, Hanburger was a nine-time Pro Bowler in 14 seasons. He logged 19 interceptions and recovered three fumbles for touchdowns, which was an NFL record at the time of his retirement in 1978.

Harris Barton, offensive line, San Francisco 49ers

Selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 22nd overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, Barton is a three-time Super Bowl champion. A two-time All-Pro, Barton started in 134 of 138 games during his 10-year career.

Dre Bly, cornerback, St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Rams' Dre Bly (32) celebrates as he gallops past the Carolina Panthers' bench into the end zone after intercepting a pass in the Rams' 34-21 win at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999. Bly's 53-yard touchdown sealed the game for the Rams. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
St. Louis Rams' Dre Bly (32) celebrates as he gallops past the Carolina Panthers' bench into the end zone after intercepting a pass in the Rams' 34-21 win at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999. Bly's 53-yard touchdown sealed the game for the Rams. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

The St. Louis Rams selected Bly with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler won a Super Bowl with the Rams and played 11 seasons. The cornerback also played for Detroit, Denver and San Francisco. He had 43 career interceptions, returning five for touchdowns, and 20 forced fumbles.

NC State

Torry Holt, wide receiver, St. Louis Rams

Torry Holt, wide receiver
Torry Holt, wide receiver

A four-time finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Holt was selected by the Rams with the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. A Super Bowl champion and seven-time Pro Bowler, Holt retired as one of the all-time greats at his position. He logged 1,000-plus receiving yards in eight straight seasons.

Philip Rivers, quarterback, New York Giants

Picked by the Giants with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft before being traded to the Chargers, Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection in his 17 seasons. He started every regular-season game in 15 consecutive seasons. At the time of his retirement in 2021, Rivers ranked fifth in passing yards (63,440), completed passes (5,277) and passing touchdowns (421).

Adrian Wilson, safety, Arizona Cardinals

Adrian Wilson (24) is pulled down by Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) after the Cardinals safety's interception during a game on Nov. 15, 2009.
Adrian Wilson (24) is pulled down by Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) after the Cardinals safety's interception during a game on Nov. 15, 2009.

A third-round selection in the 2001 NFL Draft, Wilson was a five-time Pro Bowler in 12 seasons with the Cardinals. He’s one of six players in league history with at least 25 career sacks and 25 career interceptions. Wilson also logged 987 tackles.

Roman Gabriel, quarterback, Los Angeles Rams

Sep 27, 1970; Buffalo, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Rams quarterback (18) Roman Gabriel hands off to running back (88) Pat Curran as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle (78) Jim Dunaway breaks through the line at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Manny Rubio
Sep 27, 1970; Buffalo, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Rams quarterback (18) Roman Gabriel hands off to running back (88) Pat Curran as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle (78) Jim Dunaway breaks through the line at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Manny Rubio

The second overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, Gabriel played 16 seasons and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1969. He was a Pro Bowler in four seasons and finished his career with 201 touchdowns and nearly 30,000 passing yards. He retired as the Rams’ all-time passing leader.

Jim Ritcher, offensive lineman, Buffalo Bills

13. Jim Ritcher Position:  Offensive guard Years: 1980-93 Achievements: Bills Wall of Fame inductee in 2004. … Two-time Pro Bowl selection. … His 203 games played ranks third in franchise history as does his 14 seasons played. … Member of the Bills all-time team.
13. Jim Ritcher Position: Offensive guard Years: 1980-93 Achievements: Bills Wall of Fame inductee in 2004. … Two-time Pro Bowl selection. … His 203 games played ranks third in franchise history as does his 14 seasons played. … Member of the Bills all-time team.

The 16th pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, Ritcher was a part of the Buffalo squads that made four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early ‘90s. He didn’t miss a start from 1983-93 and finished his 16-year career as a three-time All-Pro.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NFL Draft: Julius Peppers, Torry Holt top picks from UNC, NC State