Two Tar Heels to New York Jets in USA TODAY Sports' NFL Mock Draft
TL;DR
Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon from UNC are projected to be selected by the New York Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Dixon at 179th overall and Allen at 242nd overall.
Key points
- Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon are from UNC football.
- Dixon is projected 179th overall to the New York Jets.
- Allen is projected 242nd overall to the New York Jets.
- The NFL Draft begins on April 23.
Several hundred young men will have their childhood dreams realized on Thursday, April 23, which kicks off the NFL Draft.
The UNC football team doesn't have any top-ranked prospects for this year's Draft, but there's still a couple guys projected to play at the next level.
Cornerbacks Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon, two of North Carolina's top 2025 defenders, are both in USA TODAY Sports' 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Dixon is mocked 179th overall (sixth round) to the New York Jets, while Allen goes 242nd overall (seventh round), also to the New York Jets.
In a college football world dominated by the transfer portal, Allen played all four seasons as a Tar Heel, rising to become a key member of the secondary. Allen totaled 136 tackles (100 solo), 22 pass deflections (T-career-high 8 in 2025), and three interceptions during his time in Chapel Hill.
Dixon entered UNC as one of the top, incoming 2025 transfers, coming over from the Washington Huskies with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. In his lone season at North Carolina, Dixon totaled 20 tackles (14 solo) and six PDs.
Typically, late-round Draft selections face an uphill climb making rosters. Good news: several current, NFL defensive stars are late-round finds. The Jets, a perennial loser since firing Rex Ryan, need all the talent they can get.
Since trading Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, Gang Green is in search of cornerbacks to step up and fill that major void. Allen and Dixon were the two best cornerbacks on another lackluster defensive unit in 2025, so they may already have an early edge.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC CBs Marcus Allen, Thad Dixon to New York Jets in NFL Mock Draft
Q&A
Which UNC players are projected to be drafted by the New York Jets in 2026?
Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon are the two UNC players projected to be drafted by the New York Jets in 2026.
What round are Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon expected to be drafted in?
Marcus Allen is projected to be drafted in the seventh round, while Thaddeus Dixon is expected to be selected in the sixth round.
When does the 2026 NFL Draft start?
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to start on Thursday, April 23.
