Bill Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi are facing fresh scrutiny after North Carolina was shut out of the 2026 NFL Draft, ending a run of at least one Tar Heel pick every year since 2016.
The empty draft class comes after months of UNC describing itself as the NFL's "33rd team," and it has only deepened questions about the roster's talent level heading into Year 2 under Belichick, even after the Tar Heels added 61 players this offseason and followed a 4-8 debut.
CBS Sports **** yst Matt Zenitz said NFL personnel still view the Tar Heels as lacking high-end talent.
"UNC didn't have a single player drafted," Zenitz said via The College Football Insiders. "When talking to NFL people this summer, different people around the NFL front office and personnel world, this is a team that is once again depleted of next-level talent."
Defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude is UNC's top projected NFL prospect. He had 10.5 sacks last season, finishing second in the ACC and tied for 12th nationally, and is still viewed as a Day 3 draft candidate.
#talent #level
The empty draft class comes after months of UNC describing itself as the NFL's "33rd team," and it has only deepened questions about the roster's talent level heading into Year 2 under Belichick, even after the Tar Heels added 61 players this offseason and followed a 4-8 debut.
CBS Sports **** yst Matt Zenitz said NFL personnel still view the Tar Heels as lacking high-end talent.
"UNC didn't have a single player drafted," Zenitz said via The College Football Insiders. "When talking to NFL people this summer, different people around the NFL front office and personnel world, this is a team that is once again depleted of next-level talent."
Defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude is UNC's top projected NFL prospect. He had 10.5 sacks last season, finishing second in the ACC and tied for 12th nationally, and is still viewed as a Day 3 draft candidate.
#talent #level
8 days ago
