Georgia continues to be one of college football’s leading producers of NFL talent, with seven players being taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.
At almost every position does Georgia have an NFL star — linebacker and running back being the most notable.
From veteran passer Matthew Stafford to new Falcons back Todd Gurley, to rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, former Georgia Bulldogs look to put up big numbers again in 2020.
We’ve gone through an exercise of picking the best at each position to field a starting team of former Georgia players, all from a current pool of those currently on NFL rosters.
Remember, free agents did not make the team.
So, let’s get it started shall we?
Next … QB
QUARTERBACK:
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Stafford continues to put up big numbers since being taken No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He’s Georgia’s only starting quarterback in the NFL.
On November 10, 2019, Stafford missed his first game since 2010, ending his streak of 136 consecutive regular-season starts. That was the sixth-longest streak for a quarterback in league history.
Next … Running Backs
RUNNING BACK:
Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns), Sony Michel (New England Patriots), Todd Gurley (Atlanta Falcons)
How can I only pick one? If I had to, I’d take Chubb, who just finished second in the NFL in total rushing yards. But I don’t have to.
That’s why Todd Gurley and Sony Michel are here, too. Gurley is the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Michel is a Super Bowl champion who has had a solid start to his NFL career.
Next … Wide Receivers
WIDE RECEIVERS:
AJ Green (Cincinnati Bengals), Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs), Chris Conley (Jacksonville Jaguars)
AJ Green remains one of the league’s best wide receivers despite missing the entirety of the 2019 season.
Mecole Hardman wasted no time turning heads in the NFL, winning the Super Bowl in his first season and becoming one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite deep targets.
Chris Conley has put together a nice NFL career. Last season, his fifth in the league, he had 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns in Jacksonville.
Next … Tight End
TIGHT END:
Isaac Nauta, Detroit Lions
This is the first year since 2004 that we cannot include Benjamin Watson, who recently retired after a stellar career.
Nauta just wrapped up his first season with Detroit and had only two catches for 13 yards, but has the tools to be a productive tight end for years.
Next … Center
CENTER:
David Andrews, New England Patriots
An undrafted free agent, David Andrews quickly became a leader on a Patriots offense that included Tom Brady. A two-time Super Bowl champion, New England’s rushing attack suffered without him last season, as he missed 2019 with blood clots in his lungs. He announced he’ll be back in 2020.
Honorable mention: Ben Jones
Next … Left Guard
LEFT GUARD:
Solomon Kindley, Miami Dolphins
The 111th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kindley should go on to have a long NFL career.
With former Bulldog Clint Boling now retired, we look to Kindley to takeover as Georgia’s best guard in the league.
Next … Right Guard
RIGHT GUARD:
Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots
A tackle for New England, Wynn played some left guard during his days as a Georgia Bulldog.
Injuries have made things difficult for Wynn early on in his NFL career, but New England used a first rounder on him in 2018, so we know he can ball.
Next … Left Tackle
LEFT TACKLE:
Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
Longtime Bills offensive tackle Cordy Glenn is currently a free agent after spending the last two seasons with the Bengals, so he does not make our list.
Instead we turn to rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas, who was just taken with the 4th overall pick by the Giants in April.
Next … Right Tackle
RIGHT TACKLE:
Isaiah Wilson, Tennessee Titans
Since we moved Isaiah Wynn to offensive guard, that opened up a tackle spot for Isaiah Thomas, who was a first round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Two rookies starting at left and right tackle.
Next …Defensive End
No. 1 DEFENSIVE END:
Justin Houston, Indianapolis Colts
Justin Houston has been one of the league’s best pass rushers since he entered the NFL in 2011. Whether you want to call him a 3-4 linebacker or just a defensive end, it does not matter. He’s an NFL sack leader, a 4x pro-bowler and a former first-team all-pro.
Next … No. 2 Defensive End
No. 2 DEFENSIVE END
Abry Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Technically he’s a defensive tackle, but we can’t afford to get too picky here when we have a limited number of options.
Jones has quietly put together a nice career, playing for the Jaguars since they drafted him in 2013.
Next … No. 1 Defensive Tackle
No. 1 DEFENSIVE TACKLE:
Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
Atkins has been one of the league’s most dominant interior defensive lineman since entering the NFL in 2010. He’s played his full career with the Bengals, is an 8x pro-bowler, a 2x first-team all-pro and a member of the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team.
Next … No. 2 Defensive Tackle
No. 2 DEFENSIVE TACKLE:
John Jenkins, Chicago Bears
Jenkins, who you may remember from Georgia’s 2012 team, has had a long career, playing for six teams, including his current Bears.
He was taken in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Saints.
Next …Outside Linebacker
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Jordan Jenkins, New York Jets
Being LBU, there are a lot of options for the outside linebacker spot.
To name a few: Thomas Davis, Leonard Floyd, Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Carter, D’Andre Walker.
But look at what Jenkins has done lately. 15 sacks in the last two seasons earns him a starting spot.
Next …Other Outside Linebacker
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Thomas Davis, Washington Redskins
He’s old, but he’s still doing it like one of the league’s best.
After 14 years with Panthers, Davis spent last season with the Chargers, where he recorded 112 tackles at the age of 36 years old.
Now he’s on the Redskins and could be playing his final NFL season in 2020.
Next … Middle Linebacker
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears
Roquan is about as good as it gets at the inside linebacker position. He’s athletic, he’s a hard hitter and he has some of the best instincts I’ve seen from a linebacker.
He made the all-rookie team in 2018 after being the 8th pick in the draft by the Bears.
Next … No. 1 Cornerback
No. 1 CORNERBACK:
Deandre Baker, New York Giants
Given all of the off-the-field issues that are surrounding Baker, I’m not sure how much longer he will remain on this list. But he’s currently a member of the New York Giants so therefore, he is featured.
He did not have a great rookie season, but he did pick it up in the final few games.
Next … No. 2 Cornerback
No. 2 CORNERBACK:
Jayson Stanley, Seattle Seahawks
Stanley played wide receiver at Georgia, but converted to cornerback in the NFL while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.
At Georgia, Stanley played receiver and special teams, producing more tackles (five) than receptions (three).
Next … Free Safety
FREE SAFETY:
Shawn Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
Drafted by the Bengals in 2013, Williams has been in Cincinnati since and has put together a really nice career.
He’s had back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons, has 408 career total tackles and 12 career picks.
Next … Strong Safety
STRONG SAFETY:
J.R. Reed, Jacksonville Jaguars
After 10 great years with Miami, Reshad Jones is now a free agent, meaning we’re going to go ahead and slide Jaguars rookie J.R. Reed into the starting spot.
Reed is an absolute baller, and although he went undrafted in April I still expect him to have a nice career.
Next … Kicker
KICKER:
Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianpolis Colts
Georgia’s only kicker in the NFL, Blankenship is one of college football’s most decorated kickers ever.
Let’s see how he does in the big leagues.
Georgia has no punters in the NFL.
Next … Kick Returner
KICK RETURNER:
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs
We’re giving all of our kickoff returns to Mecole. Maybe the fastest player in the NFL, Mecole took one to the house last season.
Next…Punt Returner
PUNT RETURNER:
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills
The Human Joystick….who else?
