Keeping It Heel
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2017 NFL Draft: North Carolina Tar Heels best fits

By Brandon Griffin

Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive tackle Nazair Jones (90) pumping his team up before facing the Stanford Cardinal at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive tackle Nazair Jones (90) pumping his team up before facing the Stanford Cardinal at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; A view of the North Carolina Tar Heels logo and helmet outside their locker room before facing the Stanford Cardinal at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; A view of the North Carolina Tar Heels logo and helmet outside their locker room before facing the Stanford Cardinal at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /

Center of Attention

Position: Offensive Center

Measurements: 6-foot-2, 294-pounds

What is needed: Crowley would fit well on a team in need of offensive line depth, particularly at center.

Best Fits: New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns

New York Jets: The Jets just recently released long time center Nick Mangold. Mangold was a seven-time pro bowler and will be missed by the Jets.

Enter Crowley who could compete for the job and provide depth. He might also have value if the Jets grabbed Mitchell Trubisky with the sixth pick as the two would be familiar with each other.

The Jets might consider using the 224th overall pick on Crowley in the seventh round in order to add him to the mix.

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers do have two-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kalil at center, but he is in his 11th season and is coming off a shoulder injury. Crowley would provide depth and fit better with the timeline for star quarterback Cam Newton.

The Panthers hold the 233rd overall pick in the seventh round which they go in a trade with the Colts. That pick would be a good spot for them to select Crowley.

Cleveland Browns: Like the Jets, the Browns lost a pro bowl center last off-season. Like the Jets, Crowley would provide depth to Cleveland’s offensive line.

Additionally like the Jets, Crowley might also have value if the Browns were to take Mitchell Trubisky in the first round with either the first or 11th pick.

The Browns traded their seventh round pick to the Colts (who traded it to the Panthers) and would either have to pick up an additional pick in a trade, trade back into the seventh, or sign Crowley as an undrafted free agent.

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