With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, the North Carolina Tar Heels will look to continue their strong pipeline to the NFL in the upcoming draft cycle.

Over the past three draft classes, the Tar Heels have been able to produce multiple NFL starters, including New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, and running back Omarion Hampton.

This year, however, will be a different story.

Instead of having a player go within the first two rounds of the draft, the Tar Heels are projected to have at least one player selected on day three in cornerback Thaddeus Dixon. But despite his low ranking within the class, Dixon could easily be one of the biggest steals in the 2026 draft class.

Dixon, before joining North Carolina for the 2025 college football season, was a highly-regarded transfer portal addition from Washington. The former three-star recruit out of high school was able to be a key playmaker for the Huskies as a freshman in 2023, recording 26 tackles, six pass deflections, and one interception during the program’s magical run in the College Football Playoffs.

His strong efforts in his first season at the college level paved the way for an increase in his playing time as a sophomore. In 2024, Dixon finished with a career-high 43 tackles, 10 pass deflections, two tackles for losses, and one interception. Dixon’s terrific sophomore campaign caught the attention of many college football programs, which prompted him to enter the transfer portal and land with head coach Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels in 2025.

Unfortunately for the talented playmaker, he would play in just six games throughout the 2025 season due to suffering an upper-body injury. Still, Dixon managed to be a force when on the field, ending his final college season with 19 tackles, six pass deflections, and two tackles for losses.

At 6-foot-1, 195 lbs., Dixon possesses the perfect body frame to be an outside cornerback at the NFL level. The combination of his size and athleticism allows him to cover anyone on the field, and with a proven track record at both Washington and North Carolina, one team will be lucky enough to land Dixon as a developmental cornerback with tons of potential.

Depending on how well Dixon performs at the 2026 NFL Combine next week, there is a good chance that the blossoming defensive back could boost his draft stock before the big event in April.

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