UNC Football: Cedric Gray tabbed as Under-the-Radar rookie to watch

The Tennessee Titans made have found a steal when they selected UNC football star linebacker Cedric Gray in the early portion of the fourth round during the 2024 NFL Draft.

Fans of the UNC football program saw Gray develop into a star in Chapel Hill, as he became an absolute force for the Tar Heels defense over his college career. Heading into his rookie season in the NFL, Derrik Klassen of Bleacher Report believes that Gray should be considered among the under-the-radar Day 3 selections who could thrive during their rookie seasons in the pros.

"If there were ever a path for an early Day 3 linebacker to see the field, it would be in Tennessee.

That's where Cedric Gray comes in. At 6'2" and 234 pounds, Gray isn't an overwhelming presence but he is one hell of an athlete who isn't afraid to throw his body around.

Gray's sideline to sideline speed is a clear strength. He may not be quite as blazing as Murray but he more than makes up for it elsewhere. Namely, Gray is plenty willing to shoot his hands through a guard's chest and create some disruption between the tackles. He doesn't just concede space. That combination of speed and physicality alone is a good starting point for any young linebacker.

Gray's ability to find the field will come down to consistency and coverage ability. At North Carolina, Gray's vision and trigger ran hot and cold at times. He's willing to play fast downhill; it's just a matter of him trusting what he sees. In coverage, Gray finds himself in a daze rather often but so does Murray, so maybe he's not really at a disadvantage in that sense.

Linebacker is a tough position to find immediate success in this league. Playing both the run and the pass from the heart of the formation brings so many responsibilities. Gray has both the tools and the opportunity in front of him, though."

Like all rookies, there's certainly room for improvement for Gray, who possesses the size and skillset it takes to be a really good linebacker at the NFL level. It will be up to the Titans coaching staff to help him take the next steps in his development, as he's a guy who we definitely could be talking about in the future as one of the steals from the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Gray and the Titans open up the preseason on August 10 against the San Francisco 49ers. This will mark as Gray's first opportunity to play some meaningful snaps in an NFL game as he prepares for his rookie season.