Who Are The Highest Drafted NFL Players from NC State?
NC State has produced three first round picks in the last five years of the NFL Draft and there’s the potential for another this spring. Linebacker Payton Wilson is a possible draft pick on day 2 for any team that is lucky enough to snag him.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Wilson is coming off a sensational season in which he earned the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker as well as being a unanimous All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
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The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. As we gear up for the event, let’s look back on the highest selected NC State players ever in the NFL Draft.
No. 1 pick in 2006 NFL Draft: DE Mario Williams (Houston Texans)
Mario Williams is the lone Wolfpack player to be the No. 1 selection in the NFL Draft, when the Houston Texans tabbed him in 2006. The gargantuan 6-foot-6, 300-pound defensive end arrived at NC State as a prized local product from Richlands, North Carolina.
Williams was spectacular in his three seasons with the Wolfpack. Williams is second in sacks (25.5) in program history. Williams also holds the NC State record for sacks in a season (14.5 in 2005).
Additionally, Williams has the three highest single-game sack performances for the Wolfpack. In 2005, Williams had a record four sacks apiece vs. Maryland and Southern Miss, as well as tying for second-best with 3.5 sacks against Wake Forest.
Williams’ No. 9 is honored by NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The four-time Pro Bowler spent his NFL career with the Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins. Williams was a three-time First-team All-Pro and two-time Second-team All-Pro.
In 2007, Williams was selected as the NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year. Williams concluded his pro career after the 2016 season with 97.5 sacks, 21 pass deflections, 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown.
No. 2 pick in 1962 NFL Draft: QB Roman Gabriel (Los Angeles Rams)
Roman Gabriel was a trailblazer in 1962 as the first quarterback of Filipino-American descent drafted in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams selected the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Gabriel with the No. 2 overall pick. Gabriel was also the No. 1 pick in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders but elected to play for the Rams.
The Wilmington, North Carolina native had a decorated three-year career with the Wolfpack. Gabriel captured ACC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1960-61) and was also a two-time All-American and academic All-American.
Gabriel was the first ACC quarterback to pass for 1,000 yards in a season and he led the country in passing percentage (.604) in 1959.
Gabriel’s No. 18 was retired in 1962 by Gov. Terry Sanford. Gabriel was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. He captured NFL MVP in 1969 and First-team All-Pro honors with 2,549 passing yards and 24 touchdowns for the Rams. Gabriel was also a two-time Second-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler.
After spending a decade with the Rams, Gabriel was dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. Gabriel bounced back from knee and shoulder injuries the prior season to lead the league in passing (3,219 yards, 23 touchdowns) en route to 1973 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Prior to the 2024 season, Gabriel still stands as the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown passes (154) and he’s third for the franchise in passing yards (22,223).
No. 4 pick in 2004 NFL Draft: QB Phillip Rivers (Traded from New York Giants to San Diego Chargers)
Phillip Rivers will eventually earn a bust in Canton as a future member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rivers was picked fourth overall by the New York Giants who dealt him to the then-San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning.
Rivers went on to have a legendary 17 seasons in the NFL filled with plenty of personal accolades. Prior to the 2024 NFL season, the 6-foot-5, 228-pound Rivers was sixth all-time in passing yards (63,440) and passing touchdowns (421).
Rivers made the Pro Bowl eight times. In 2008, Rivers led the NFL in passer rating and was tied for the most passing touchdowns (34). Rivers also led the league in passing yards (4,710) in 2010.
He responded from a subpar 2012 season to earn 2013 NFL Comeback Player of the Year with stats of 4,478 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes, and a league-best 69.5 completion percentage.
Rivers left an indelible mark on the NC State records books as well. Rivers is NC State’s all-time leader in passing yards (13,484) and passing touchdowns (95). Rivers also set the program’s single-season record for passing yards (4,491) in 2003.
During his college career, Rivers earned ACC Rookie of the Year (2000), ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2003), ACC Player of the Year (2003), and ACC Athlete of the Year (2004). He made history as the first ACC quarterback to pass for at least 3,000 yards in three separate seasons. Rivers’ No. 17 was retired by the Wolfpack prior to his last home game on Nov. 22, 2003.
No. 5 pick in 2018 NFL Draft: DE Bradley Chubb (Denver Broncos)
Bradley Chubb became NC State’s highest draft pick since Rivers when the Denver Broncos selected him fifth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The menacing 6-foot-4, 268-pound Chubb was sparingly used as a freshman at NC State but his last three college seasons solidified his status as a pro.
Chubb racked up 10.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles as a junior. His senior campaign included 10 sacks, 23 tackles for loss (second in the nation) and a forced fumble. As a result of this dominance, Chubb captured the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being a unanimous All-American and First-team All-ACC selection.
Chubb is NC State’s all-time leader in sacks (26) and tackles for loss. Chubb’s No. 9 is honored by the program. The 27-year-old Chubb has battled through a slew of injuries during his pro career but has been dynamic when healthy. While with the Broncos, Chubb made the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned two selections to the Pro Bowl (2020, 2022).
Last season with the Miami Dolphins, the resurgent Chubb posted his most sacks since his rookie campaign with 11 while being the NFL’s co-leader in forced fumbles (6) along with a career-best two fumble recoveries.
To round out the list, there’s a three-way tie of NC State players selected sixth overall:
1968: DE Dennis Byrd (Boston Patriots)
1999: WR Torry Holt (St. Louis Rams)
2022: T Ikem Ekwonu (Carolina Panthers)
DE Dennis Byrd (1968)
The first is the late Dennis Byrd, a defensive end who was picked by the then-Boston Patriots in 1968. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Charlotte, North Carolina only played one season in the NFL.
However, Byrd is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the ACC 50th Anniversary Team. Byrd’s No. 77 is also retired by NC State. While with the Wolfpack, Byrd was a consensus All-American (1967), Second-team All-American (1966), and three-time First-team All-ACC member (1965-67).
WR Torry Holt (1999)
Another No. 6 pick out of NC State is Torry Holt, the greatest wide receiver in program history. The St. Louis Rams selected the 6-foot, 200-pound native of Gibsonville, North Carolina in 1999 and he went on to make the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
During his 11-season career, the Super Bowl champion served as an integral piece of the “Greatest Show on Turf” and made the Pro Bowl seven times. Holt led the NFL in receiving yards twice (2000, 2003) and once in receptions (2003).
Holt was a First-team All-Pro in 2003 and a Second-team All-Pro in 2006. Holt finished his superb NFL career with 920 receptions, 13,382 receiving yards, and 74 receiving touchdowns.
The College Football Hall of Fame member is in possession of almost every receiving record for NC State. Holt is the program’s leader in all-time receiving yards (3,379), single-season receiving yards (1,604 in 1998) and single-season receiving touchdowns (16 in 1997). Holt also has the two highest outputs for receiving yards in a single game, with 255 vs Baylor and 225 vs. Clemson both in 1998.
While with the Wolfpack, Holt was a consensus All-American (1998), ACC Player of the Year (1998), ACC Offensive Player of the Year (1998), and two-time First-team All-ACC selection (1997, 1998). Holt’s No. 81 is retired by NC State and he’s a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
T Ikem Ekwonu (2022)
Most recently, tackle Ikem Ekwonu went No. 6 to the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Spanning his time in high school in Charlotte to now as a pro, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Ekwonu has spent his entire football career in North Carolina.
As a member of the Wolfpack, Ekwonu earned the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2021) while also being a unanimous All-American (2021) along with First-team All-ACC (2021) and Third-team All-ACC (2020) honors.
During his final season at NC State, Ekwonu only allowed three sacks and racked up a team-best 67 pancake blocks. Ekwonu flashed his potential during his first pro season, tying for the lowest pressures allowed by a rookie tackle (27) in 2022 based on PFF’s tracking.