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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Sep 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) scores a touchdown in the second quarter as James Madison Dukes cornerback Curtis Oliver (26) defends at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) scores a touchdown in the second quarter as James Madison Dukes cornerback Curtis Oliver (26) defends at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Size and Speed

Position: Wide Receiver

Measurements: 6-foot-4, 221 lbs

Last Season: Caught 16 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Only played in seven games due to injury.

What is needed: Hollins is a big, fast receiver who can help stretch the field. He needs to find a team with a quarterback who has a strong arm. It would also help to find a team that likes to hit a home run now and then.

This would eliminate teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, who rely on short passing games to help disguise the weaknesses of their respective quarterbacks.

Best Fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers have a young, strong-armed quarterback in Jameis Winston. They are also in need of a second wide receiver after the departure of Vincent Jackson.

A negative is that the Buccaneers current duo of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson each do what Hollins does. Jackson is a speed demon, though at just 5 foot 10, he doesn’t bring Hollins’ size. Evans is big but is more of a possession receiver.

Hollins would be a combination of the two and give Winston an extra weapon in the passing game. Tampa Bay would likely consider using the 84th overall pick to select Hollins.

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford is also a big-armed gunslinger. The Lions have not had a wide receiver of Hollins’ ilk since Calvin Johnson retired. Hollins would also get to pair with former Tar Heel Eric Ebron in the Motor City.

Detroit holds the 85th overall pick in the third round. This would be a likely spot if the Lions were to select Hollins.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have a guy named Big Ben Roethlisberger. The strong and tall quarterback can throw it deep and also move in the pocket, giving Hollins time to get down field.

Currently, Pittsburgh has two good wide receivers in Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Bryant, however, will be under suspension to start the season and Brown is more of a slot guy. Hollins could fit right into Bryant’s spot.

Pittsburgh would most likely use the 94th overall pick late in the third round to select the former UNC walk-on.

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