The number of Tar Heels in professional training camps has increased from this time last year — when I wrote this primer last year, there were 26 Heels on expanded rosters. Even though not all of those players made it to September, the Tar Heel contingent fighting for NFL jobs has expanded to 32. From young players to career-uncertain veterans to stalwarts, here’s a rundown of each of those players, where they’re hoping to find a spot, and what their chances are looking like early on.
First-Contract Players
There’s obviously a lot of diversity in this group, from first-round picks and face-of-franchise hopefuls like Omarion Hampton and Drake Maye to guys who were not even guaranteed invites to training camp.