The NFL draft has come to an end, and two players from Kansas State heard their names called, marking five straight years the Wildcats have had multiple players selected.
For K-State, it was center Sam Hecht, who the Carolina Panthers drafted in the fifth round, and VJ Payne, who the New York Jets drafted in the seventh round. Both players will join their new teams with a lot of uncertainty in their position groups, giving them a chance to compete for playing time early on.
Two other Wildcats, Jerand Bradley and Uso Seumalo, were signed post-draft as undrafted free agents, joining their respective teams.
Here is a look at each player heading to the NFL and their potential fit heading into their rookie seasons.
Sam Hecht, C, 6’4 300 lbs, Carolina Panthers
Sam Hecht was drafted in the fifth round (144th overall) by the Carolina Panthers. Hecht, according to ESPN’s pre-draft analysis, was ranked the second-best center and 80th-best overall player, but slid a bit in the draft, making him a good value for the Panthers in the fifth.
Last year, Carolina averaged 4.3 yards per carry and gave up 35 sacks, both of which were middle of the pack in the NFL. While those stats represent the entire offensive line, there could be improvements across the board for the Panthers, including center, and Hecht could be that.
VJ Payne, S, 6’3 206 lbs, New York Jets
VJ Payne, like Hecht, was ranked higher than his projected draft slot, making it a good value for him in the seventh round. Payne is fast, lengthy and durable, all of which are traits that NFL teams want and look for. He can show off those traits and have a chance to find playing time on special teams at first, making a strong impact with his speed and nose for the football.
Last year, the Jets’ defense didn’t record a single interception, which almost doesn’t seem real. The senior from Georgia isn’t a ballhawking safety, but with his length, he makes plays on the ball and can get the occasional interception. The Jets had little to no talent in their defensive back room last year, so getting talent like Payne in the draft should make that room better this year.
Jerand Bradley, TE, 6’5 223 lbs, Los Angeles Chargers
Jerand Bradley was a receiver in college, but to get a better chance in the NFL, he is switching to more of a tight end role. Bradley will have to beef up, but his size and speed make him attractive at the position, along with his natural catching ability.
It is unclear whether the position change will work for Bradley, but it’s worth a shot and a flyer for both him and the Chargers. The senior receiver most likely won’t have a chance to make the 53-man roster, but he could be an intriguing prospect for the Chargers to keep around until he gets his body up to size and ready for NFL competition.
Uso Seumalo, DT, 6’3 340 lbs, Seattle Seahawks
Uso Seumalo played his four-year career at K-State and was effective in the run game due to his rare size and athleticism. Seumalo is an early down defender, which limits his potential in the NFL. However, due to his size, he could make a roster because of his ability to plug up running gaps and be unmovable in short-yardage situations.
Seumalo, like Bradley, will have to really impress to make the roster for the Seahawks this year, but due to his size, Seattle will want to keep him around. The senior from Hawaii has size like Vita Vea of the Buccaneers, and he could play a similar but less impactful role in the NFL one day.
