Georgia May Have Record-Setting NFL Draft
April 28, 2022 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
The headlines on ESPN.com on Thursday afternoon, hours before the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, told the story. There were pieces by ESPN's two draft experts, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, that predicted how the first round would play out and just how many members of Georgia's exceptional defense in 2021 would be selected in tonight's first round?
Given the way the Bulldogs' national championship season went, with a defense about as good as anyone's ever seen leading the way, it would be fitting to see a lot of Dawg defenders taken on the first day of the draft. And though unexpected things will surely happen, it seems a sure thing that a lot of former Georgia players are going to see yet another of their dreams come true.
Defenders Travon Walker (edge rusher), Jordan Davis (tackle), Devonte Wyatt (tackle), Nakobe Dean (linebacker), Quay Walker (linebacker) and Lewis Cine (safety) are all possible, in many cases probable, first-round picks. And wide receiver George Pickens could be a first-rounder, as well.
Kiper and McShay both are predicting that Walker, the 6-foot-5 and 272-pounder with loads up still-untapped potential, will be the first overall pick, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The last time a former Bulldog was the No. 1 overall pick was in 2009 when quarterback Matthew Stafford was selected first by Detroit.
A backup his first two seasons at Georgia, Walker blossomed in 2021. His stats weren't off the charts — 37 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 36 quarterback hurries — but it's also hard to pile up huge stats when you're playing alongside so many other playmaking stars.
Walker, from Thomaston, Ga., the small town of about 9,000 that has produced some legendary Bulldogs like Bill Hartman and Mike Cavan, said during the season that he loved being a part of such a deep and gifted defense.
"Just being a part of this defensive group, there's a lot of talent on this defense and it's just a pleasure to play around these guys," he said. "If you're not making the play, somebody else is making the play somewhere. You just get excited for your teammates."
It was at the NFL Combine that Walker's stock started to soar. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, posted a 35.5-inch vertical leap and also performed very well in the other drills and measurements.
"Travon Walker's enormously talented, he's gifted ... all of the measurables you would want," Kiper said on ESPN this week. "If you want to look at a guy and say this is the prototype in terms of being a great player, it's a guy like Travon Walker."
By the start of this week, Walker had supplanted Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
"The belief around the league is Jacksonville prefers the upside and traits of Walker over the proven production, motor and leadership that Hutchinson brings to the table," McShay wrote on ESPN.com this week. "And it is nearly a lock that one of them will come off the board first."
We won't know until the picks are announced tonight how it all plays out, whether Walker goes first or maybe as late as seventh, but Walker's rapid rise up the draft projection boards has been quite a thing to see. Walker told Sports Illustrated in a video posted on their website this week that being the No. 1 pick is something he's dreamed about for a long time.
"It would definitely mean a lot to me," Walker said. "That's one of the things that I've always dreamed of ever since I was a little kid. So did every other kid. If that dream was to come true, that would be something that I'd never forget."
Kiper's first-round projections have Walker going No. 1, Davis 14th to Baltimore, Wyatt 27th to Tampa Bay and Cine 32nd to Detroit. McShay, meanwhile, has six former Bulldogs going in the first round: Walker No. 1 to Jacksonville, Davis 14th to Baltimore, Wyatt 19th to New Orleans, Cine 28th to Green Bay, Pickens 30th to Kansas City and Quay Walker 31st to Cincinnati.
Another draft expert, The Athletic's Dan Brugler, has, as of Thursday, Walker going No. 1, Davis going to Philadelphia with the 15th pick, Quay Walker 19th to New Orleans and Cine 27th to Tampa Bay.
These are all just guesses, of course. Throw in a trade or two, and anything can happen.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic's "The Consensus Top-300 Big Board" featured 13 Bulldogs, including six in the top 50 and 10 in the top 100. Yes, a tenth of the players in the top 100 of The Athletic's "Big Board" of draft prospects suited up for Georgia in 2021. And if you add standout edge Jermaine Johnson, who started his career at Georgia before transferring to Florida State after the 2020 season in search of more playing time, then it's 11 of the top 100.
The most players Georgia has ever had picked in a seven-round NFL Draft came last year, when nine Bulldogs were selected. Cornerback Eric Stokes was the only first-round pick, taken 29th overall by the Packers. There is a good chance Georgia passes that number within the first three rounds this weekend.
The most Bulldogs ever taken in the first round came in 2018 when linebacker Roquan Smith, offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel were all drafted in the opening round. That, too, is a record that will likely be surpassed.
The SEC has had the most players drafted of any conference every year since 2007, including a record 65 picks last year. There's every reason to expect that trend to continue, with plenty of Bulldogs leading the way.
Staff Writer
The headlines on ESPN.com on Thursday afternoon, hours before the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, told the story. There were pieces by ESPN's two draft experts, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, that predicted how the first round would play out and just how many members of Georgia's exceptional defense in 2021 would be selected in tonight's first round?
Given the way the Bulldogs' national championship season went, with a defense about as good as anyone's ever seen leading the way, it would be fitting to see a lot of Dawg defenders taken on the first day of the draft. And though unexpected things will surely happen, it seems a sure thing that a lot of former Georgia players are going to see yet another of their dreams come true.
Defenders Travon Walker (edge rusher), Jordan Davis (tackle), Devonte Wyatt (tackle), Nakobe Dean (linebacker), Quay Walker (linebacker) and Lewis Cine (safety) are all possible, in many cases probable, first-round picks. And wide receiver George Pickens could be a first-rounder, as well.
Kiper and McShay both are predicting that Walker, the 6-foot-5 and 272-pounder with loads up still-untapped potential, will be the first overall pick, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The last time a former Bulldog was the No. 1 overall pick was in 2009 when quarterback Matthew Stafford was selected first by Detroit.
A backup his first two seasons at Georgia, Walker blossomed in 2021. His stats weren't off the charts — 37 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 36 quarterback hurries — but it's also hard to pile up huge stats when you're playing alongside so many other playmaking stars.
Walker, from Thomaston, Ga., the small town of about 9,000 that has produced some legendary Bulldogs like Bill Hartman and Mike Cavan, said during the season that he loved being a part of such a deep and gifted defense.
"Just being a part of this defensive group, there's a lot of talent on this defense and it's just a pleasure to play around these guys," he said. "If you're not making the play, somebody else is making the play somewhere. You just get excited for your teammates."
It was at the NFL Combine that Walker's stock started to soar. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, posted a 35.5-inch vertical leap and also performed very well in the other drills and measurements.
"Travon Walker's enormously talented, he's gifted ... all of the measurables you would want," Kiper said on ESPN this week. "If you want to look at a guy and say this is the prototype in terms of being a great player, it's a guy like Travon Walker."
By the start of this week, Walker had supplanted Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
"The belief around the league is Jacksonville prefers the upside and traits of Walker over the proven production, motor and leadership that Hutchinson brings to the table," McShay wrote on ESPN.com this week. "And it is nearly a lock that one of them will come off the board first."
We won't know until the picks are announced tonight how it all plays out, whether Walker goes first or maybe as late as seventh, but Walker's rapid rise up the draft projection boards has been quite a thing to see. Walker told Sports Illustrated in a video posted on their website this week that being the No. 1 pick is something he's dreamed about for a long time.
"It would definitely mean a lot to me," Walker said. "That's one of the things that I've always dreamed of ever since I was a little kid. So did every other kid. If that dream was to come true, that would be something that I'd never forget."
Kiper's first-round projections have Walker going No. 1, Davis 14th to Baltimore, Wyatt 27th to Tampa Bay and Cine 32nd to Detroit. McShay, meanwhile, has six former Bulldogs going in the first round: Walker No. 1 to Jacksonville, Davis 14th to Baltimore, Wyatt 19th to New Orleans, Cine 28th to Green Bay, Pickens 30th to Kansas City and Quay Walker 31st to Cincinnati.
Another draft expert, The Athletic's Dan Brugler, has, as of Thursday, Walker going No. 1, Davis going to Philadelphia with the 15th pick, Quay Walker 19th to New Orleans and Cine 27th to Tampa Bay.
These are all just guesses, of course. Throw in a trade or two, and anything can happen.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic's "The Consensus Top-300 Big Board" featured 13 Bulldogs, including six in the top 50 and 10 in the top 100. Yes, a tenth of the players in the top 100 of The Athletic's "Big Board" of draft prospects suited up for Georgia in 2021. And if you add standout edge Jermaine Johnson, who started his career at Georgia before transferring to Florida State after the 2020 season in search of more playing time, then it's 11 of the top 100.
The most players Georgia has ever had picked in a seven-round NFL Draft came last year, when nine Bulldogs were selected. Cornerback Eric Stokes was the only first-round pick, taken 29th overall by the Packers. There is a good chance Georgia passes that number within the first three rounds this weekend.
The most Bulldogs ever taken in the first round came in 2018 when linebacker Roquan Smith, offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn and running back Sony Michel were all drafted in the opening round. That, too, is a record that will likely be surpassed.
The SEC has had the most players drafted of any conference every year since 2007, including a record 65 picks last year. There's every reason to expect that trend to continue, with plenty of Bulldogs leading the way.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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