A seventh-round pick who played every offensive snap at center for Michigan State, Nick Samac has fought his way onto two different NFL rosters in two years.
Nick Samac is a journeyman center whose path to Carolina ran through Baltimore. After grinding through a rookie season with the Ravens, the Panthers signed him off Baltimore's practice squad in September 2025 to help fill out an offensive line hit by injuries.
Path to the league
Samac started 32 of 48 games at center for Michigan State from 2019 to 2023, playing every one of his offensive snaps at the position and serving as a team captain. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and made the Rimington Trophy watch list before his final season. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the seventh round, 228th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft, a pick they had acquired from the New York Jets in the Chuck Clark trade.
Career highlights
As a rookie in 2024, Samac appeared in 11 games for the Ravens, developing as a depth option behind Baltimore's starting offensive line. His steady college production at a single position, all 2,427 of his college snaps came at center, made him a reliable developmental piece for two different franchises in his first two pro seasons.
2025 season recap
Baltimore released Samac in late August 2025 and re-signed him to its practice squad before Carolina claimed him off that practice squad on September 16, 2025, needing offensive line depth after injuries. He has served as a reserve and depth option for the Panthers' interior line since arriving.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Nick Samac
- ESPN: Nick Samac
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Center
- Group
- offense
- College
- Michigan State
- Hometown
- Mentor, OH, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
Team
