The NFL Draft is coming up in just a few months and multiple former Bulldogs are expecting to hear their names called in Las Vegas.
In the latest four-round 2020 NFL mock draft done by USA TODAY’s DraftWire, multiple former Georgia players go in round one and three guys head to the NFC South.
However, none are projected to go the Falcons, a franchise that has routinely passed up on drafting players from the in-state university over the years.
Round 1:
The first two picks of the draft see Joe Burrow headed to Cincinnati and Chase Young to Washington.
Andrew Thomas goes early…
Pick No. 4: Andrew Thomas to the Giants
At No. 4 the first Dawg, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, gets taken by the New York Giants.
On Thomas, DraftWire wrote:
If the Giants want Daniel Jones to become a true franchise quarterback, they’re going to have to protect him. General manager Dave Gettleman is as old-school as they come, so don’t be surprised when he spends this pick in the trenches. Moving back would be ideal given this year’s depth at both tackle and along the interior, but if they’re stuck here, Thomas is a strong pick.
At No. 5, the Miami Dolphins take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Kindley to Tennessee…
Pick No. 29: Solomon Kindley to the Titans
In the first round, at pick No. 29, Georgia has its second player selected in the draft. Offensive guard Solomon Kindley, one of the most consistent blockers at Georgia over the past couple of seasons, is projected to the Tennessee Titans, where he would team up with former UGA center Ben Jones.
On Kindley, Draft Wire wrote:
If Derrick Henry leaves in free agency, running back obviously becomes a strong possibility here. But if he returns, the Titans should focus on fortifying an already strong offensive line with young reinforcements. Kindley is the best of a deep class of interior blockers, and his experience against top competition in the SEC have him ready to make an impact from Day 1.
Former Bulldog goes to the NFC South in the second round…
Related — JR Reed ranks low in USA TODAY NFL Draft position rankings
Round 2:
Eason to Carolina…
Pick No. 38: Eason to Carolina
With Cam Newton’s future with Carolina in question, the Panthers use their second round pick (No. 38 overall) to select Washington quarterback Jacob Eason.
Eason, a former Bulldog who played one season in Athens before transferring back home, has reminded some analysts of fellow Dawg signal caller Matthew Stafford with both possessing insane arm strength.
Eason has the build of an elite NFL quarterback at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.
With his physical attributes in mind, I would not be surprised if Eason finds his way into the first round of the draft.
Swift gets taken…
Pick No. 39: Swift to the Fins
With the very next pick in the draft, another Bulldog is projected to go.
USA TODAY predicts that running back D’Andre Swift will go to the Miami Dolphins and join first-round draft pick Tua Tagovailoa.
If the Dolphins are able to secure both Swift and Tagovailoa, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that had more success in the first two rounds of the draft than the Dolphins.
Swift is built for the NFL. He’s a player that really can do it all; maybe more so than any running back to come out of Georgia in a long time. He’s no Todd Gurley, but thanks to his versatility, he’s going to make a splash in the pros.
He can run you over, he can hit you with a dirty cut, he can flat-out outrun you and he can also act as a solid pass catching guy out of the backfield.
Next up, two more Georgia players go to the NFC South….
Related — USA Today ranks top LBs ahead of NFL Draft…is Tae Crowder too low?
Round 3:
Two more to the NFC South, but still no Falcons…
OT Isaiah Wilson:
Pick No. 76: Bucs take Wilson
Georgia has two players go in the third round of this mock draft and the first is right tackle Isaiah Wilson, who goes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
One of only four third-year sophomores in the NFL Draft, Wilson had a great but short career in Athens.
The Brooklyn native is a monster at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds. Despite his size, he moves well and was a reliable bodyguard for Jake Fromm for two years.
QB Jake Fromm
Pick No. 88: Fromm to learn from Brees
Still in the third round, at pick No. 88, the New Orleans Saints are projected to draft Georgia’s three-year starter at quarterback, Jake Fromm.
Fromm has been compared to Drew Brees by some analysts thanks to the similarities in their build, leadership and preparation.
Fromm struggled in 2019, hence his fourth round projected. Over the summer going into last season, Fromm was projected as an early first round pick, and some mocks had him as the first quarterback off the board.
He’ll need a killer NFL Combine if he wants to creep his way up to the second or third round of the draft.
Who are the Falcons projected to take?
Falcons draft projections, per DraftWire:
Since we have you here, and a majority of our readers are fans of the home-state Atlanta Falcons, let’s do a run-down of who USA TODAY projects the Falcons to pick.
Falcons projections:
Pick No. 16: K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU
Pick No. 47: Rashard Lawrence | DL | LSU
Pick No. 55 (from NE); Cam Akers | RB | Florida State
Pick No. 78: Cesar Ruiz | OL | Michigan
Pick No. 109: Chris Orr | LB | Wisconsin
So, we have three Georgia players going to three different NFC South teams. If you’re unfamiliar, NFL divisions consist of four teams, so this mock draft that has every team in the division but Atlanta picking a Bulldog has to frustrate Georgia fans.
Obviously it’s important to remember that we have absolutely no idea who the Falcons will select and there is certainly a chance they could take a Bulldog, but history tells us otherwise.
If the Falcons could select one Georgias player, who would you want it to be?
