Kirby Smart continues to send guys to the NFL in droves, and 2024 shouldn’t be any different, especially if Georgia does the unthinkable and three-peats as National Champions:
Most draft picks past 5 years (1st rounders)
Georgia- 48 (12)
Alabama- 46 (18)
Ohio State- 41 (11)
LSU- 40 (8)
Michigan- 37 (7)
Penn State- 31 (3)
Oklahoma- 29 (5)
Florida- 29 (5)
Clemson- 26 (9)
Notre Dame- 26 (2)
Auburn- 22 (2)
Kentucky- 20 (2)
Texas A&M- 20 (1)
Iowa- 19 (6)— CFB Home (@CFBHome) April 30, 2023
There’s no reason to think the Georgia Bulldogs trend of sending several first-round picks to the NFL Draft every year won’t continue, so who should be on team’s radar going into the season?
Honorable Mention
WR Arian Smith
WR RaRa Thomas
IDL Warren Brinson
IDL Zion Logue
In a year with a lot of turnover from the portal and the draft, any of these guys could break out. Kendall Milton and Arian Smith have to stay healthy, and RaRa Thomas needs to develop some chemistry with Carson Beck if he’s going to make enough of an impact to warrant a first-round pick. If Smith is healthy, he’s going to get a lot of attention next April.
Ladd McConkey probably won’t go in the first round due to his size if he declares, but he’s going to be a quality NFL receiver. Brinson and Logue have huge opportunities with Jalen Carter headed to Philly, and I could see both guys making their way into the conversation.
Top Ten
QB Carson Beck
TE Brock Bowers
OT Amarius Mims
IOL Sedrick Van Prann
IDL Nazir Stackhouse
LB Smael Mondon
Carson Beck is a sleeper for the Heisman Trophy if he plays as well as he did in 2022 in a reserve role, especially if Georgia throws the football more in 2023. Dominic Lovett would be a direct recipient of that production, as he was one of the most productive receivers in the SEC in 2022. Brock Bowers is a lock if he stays healthy; he’s a generational talent at the position.
Amarius Mims looks to be a franchise tackle, and he could join Broderick Jones as a first-round pick. Sedrick Van Prann has an uphill battle as a center, but he absolutely has the talent to be a first round pick.
Nazir Stackhouse is a sleeper, but he’s been the talk of spring practice and could have a huge 2023 season. Mondon and Dumas-Johnson are arguably the best returning linebacker duo in the country, and they should be even better in 2023. Lassiter and Bullard are both very productive players, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re two of the top four of five defensive backs in the entire 2024 draft.
Ten first round picks is a stretch, but if anyone can get these guys ready, it’s Kirby Smart and his staff.
—
Photographer:Â John Adams/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.