While there is no guarantee that a player selected in the NFL Draft will make an NFL roster, that is certainly the case for the three Pittsburgh Panthers players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Matt Gonsalves, Bub Means and MJ Devonshire all survived the dreaded “cut day” to make the 53-man roster, and it's unclear if any of those three will make a big impact this season, but they all have a chance.
All three played in the preseason and, barring Means missing some time during camp, all three made an impact. Goncalves and Means will likely assume reserve roles at their respective positions, while Devonshire could immediately compete for a starting role at nickel corner.
Matt Gonsalves — Indianapolis Colts
Gonsalves' excitement about joining the Colts was apparent the moment he got a call from Colts general manager Chris Ballard on draft night informing him the Colts were trading up and looking to select him with the 79th pick in the draft.
“Let's go, let's go. I'm crazy about Colt, baby,” Gonsalves said while on the phone with Ballard. “I'm crazy about Colt!”
Whatever Gonsalves said, or tried to say, was drowned out by the voices of about 30 friends and family members who were in his home.
“You could definitely fit in, big guy,” Ballard said.
“You'll never regret it,” Gonsalves told him. “You won't regret it!”
Gonsalves, a big (6-foot-6, 327 pounds) offensive lineman with experience at left tackle and right tackle, took his time to prepare in Pittsburgh and emerged as a team captain and starter at left tackle for the 2023 season.
His senior season was cut short by a lingering toe injury that required surgery, but he started and performed well in all three games he appeared in. Goncalves was expected to have a breakout season last year after a strong 2022 campaign.
Gonsalves was a 2022 All-ACC third-team selection and played 830 snaps last season, second only to fellow lineman Jake Kredel on offense, and showed glimpses of his ability to play on both sides of the line. He finished his career appearing in 35 games, starting 11 times at left tackle and 13 times at right tackle.
Bub Means — New Orleans Saints
Means arrived at Pittsburgh ahead of the 2022 season after a season at Tennessee, where the University of Tennessee wanted to use him as a defensive back, and a few seasons at Louisiana Tech. His two seasons in Pittsburgh have certainly been a journey.
Means entered the offseason as a borderline draft prospect, but once selected, he quickly made the most of his opportunity, performing well at the Shrine Bowl in January, impressing at the NFL Combine in February and solidifying his status at Pittsburgh's pro day in March. It was his performance at the combine that stood out.
In his first attempt at the combine, Means ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds and in his second attempt he ran an even faster 4.43 seconds, putting him among the best wide receivers in the program.
Standing 6'1″, weighing 212 pounds, with an arm length of 33 2/8″, hand length of 10 1/8″ and a wingspan of 79 3/8″. Means was looking to showcase to NFL personnel a well-built frame with above average physical traits. He also recorded a vertical jump of 39.5″ and a broad jump of 10'7″ during the drill portion of the experience.
He emerged as the leading receiver last season while at the University of Pittsburgh with 68 receptions for 1,122 yards (16.5 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns. There were two sides to last season: he had 41 receptions for 721 yards and six touchdowns last season, but all 650 yards and six touchdowns came in the final eight games, averaging 81 yards receiving per game.
The Saints then selected him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
MJ Devonshire — Las Vegas Raiders
Devonshire may have been the last Panthers player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but his excitement for the NFL hasn't waned. His excitement was palpable, and now he's one of the front-runners to make an impact this season.
“I can hear it in your voice, dude, keep it up,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said by phone.
Devonshire hosted a huge draft party with friends and family, including former University of Pittsburgh and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Servosia Dennis, and finally heard his name called on the third day, following his former teammates.
Devonshire is one of the University of Pittsburgh's top prospects entering the 2023 season coming off a standout 2022 season and while he's had his ups and downs, he's also shown off a combination of speed, playmaking and improved press coverage ability that NFL teams are attracted to.
In his Pittsburgh career, following his first two seasons at Kentucky, he recorded 83 tackles (51 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions (three for touchdowns) and 21 pass breakups. He was named All-ACC punt returner in 2022. He was also one of the most iconic and influential defensive backs in recent history.
