Pitt shut out of NFL Draft; players expected to sign contracts.

For the second year in a year, the Pittsburgh Panthers were shut out of the NFL Draft. The 2012-13 stretch marks the first time since 1997-99 Drafts that Pitt was shut out in consecutive seasons, and just the fifth time in the past 17 season that no NFL team drafted a Panther.

Outside of the Draft, however, multiple Pitt players have already inked professional contracts that guarantee at least a chance for players to prove themselves in training camps later this summer.

Running back Ray Graham—Pitt’s most attractive prospect—was undrafted and is expected to sign a deal with the Houston Texans. Graham rushed for 958 yards and nine touchdowns in 2012 and finished his Pitt career second all-time with 3.271 rushing yards.

Graham seemed well on his way to being a high-round choice in 2011 but his torn ACL in combination with a down year left Graham’s draft stock to plummet. Graham also had a poor showing at the NFL Combine, only recording a 4.8 40-yard dash time which ranked him near the bottom of 33 participating running backs.

In addition to Graham, Mike Shanahan and Ryan Turnley also are prepared to sign deals according to Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Shanahan’s contract takes him to New York where he will become a member of the Jets, and Turnley heads to the Buffalo Bills according to the agent the players share, Bill Parise.

Shanahan ended his Pitt career fifth all-time in career receptions with 159, and caught a career-high 62 passes for a career-best 983 yards and six touchdowns. Shanahan is in the midst of transitioning from receiver to tight end, where he will be able to compete for a roster spot as New York let 2012 starter Dustin Keller leave in free agency.

Turnley began his career at Pitt as a guard but moved to center to fill a need in 2011. In that season, Turnley earned All Big East Second Team honors.

Another tight end, Hubie Graham who transferred to the program from Illinois, is expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Graham played in 13 games in 2011, catching 28 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

But in 2012, injuries limited Graham to only eight games which opened the door for J.P. Holtz who eventually earned the majority of snaps even when Graham was healthy. Graham finished his senior year with just seven receptions for 61 yards.

Other undrafted Pitt players include safety Jarred Holley and quarterback Tino Sunseri.