The Georgia Bulldogs are expected to have anywhere from six to ten players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. But what NFL players are elite UGA prospects being compared to?
Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm is anticipated to be one of the top quarterbacks selected. Where he falls among the best prospects is up for debate.
Jake Fromm’s player comparison is current Washington Redskin’s quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy doesn’t have elite physical talent, but is a solid player who has been in the NFL for ten seasons. PFF compares Fromm to another similar NFL player.
McCoy has been a back-up for much of his career, which is an indication of what NFL.com thinks of Jake Fromm. Fromm, like McCoy, had a distinguished career at a major college.
McCoy, who was a star for the Texas Longhorns, has thrown for 29 touchdowns and 27 interceptions across 28 career NFL starts. He has over 6,000 career passing yards. McCoy was a third round pick in 2010.
Georgia Bulldogs left tackle Andrew Thomas is considered a first round talent in the 2020 NFL Draft. Thomas displayed incredible blocking ability during his time in Athens.
Now he’s being compared to Ja’Wuan James, who was originally a first round pick of the Miami Dolphins.
Ja’Wuan James is a former Tennessee Volunteer, who signed a massive four year, $51 million dollar deal last off-season to join the Denver Broncos. James has played primarily as a right tackle in the NFL.
Will Andrew Thomas have to slide over to the right side of the offensive line to succeed in the NFL? Based on his time at UGA, Thomas should be fine on the left side.
That being said, right tackles are as valuable as ever in the NFL. Quarterbacks need protection and right tackles play a huge role in containing elite pass rushers. Look at Ja’Wuan James’s contract with the Broncos. On the left or right side, Andrew Thomas will play from day one in the NFL.
Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson has recently drawn buzz as a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Wilson has excellent size and played right tackle at UGA.
Wilson is a rare NFL quality player out of Brooklyn, New York. He started 24 games during his time in Athens. NFL.com has compared Wilson to former Minnesota Vikings tackle Phil Loadholt.
Wilson, who is compared to Loadholt, is projected as a late second round or early third round pick according to his ‘big board’ ranking. Wilson will look to dominate in the NFL with his size and quickness.
Loadholt was a second round pick for the Vikings out of Oklahoma. He saw immediate playing time as a rookie and helped block for some of Adrian Peterson’s best seasons. Loadholt played six NFL seasons before tearing his Achilles before the 2015 season. In 2016, Loadholt elected to retire, but he had an extremely promising career before then.
Georgia Bulldog great J.R. Reed has received his NFL.com player comparison ahead of the 2020 NFL draft. Reed returned to Athens for his senior season and had a massive season for the Dawgs. Reed recorded 54 tackles, secured a key interception versus Notre Dame and broke up seven passes in 2019.
Reed helped lead Georgia to three straight SEC title game appearances and a National Championship Game appearance. Reed was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award during his 2019 campaign.
Now, Reed is being compared to Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods:
Woods, who went to school at Louisiana Tech, was drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys. Woods, like Reed, relies more on his mental attributes than his physical traits. While both players aren’t bad athletes, neither is ‘elite’.
Woods is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He’s intercepted five passes for the Cowboys and started at safety this past season. Not a bad comparison for Reed. Over three seasons Woods has forced eight turnovers in the NFL. J.R. Reed forced seven in three seasons in Athens.
Georgia Bulldogs left guard Solomon Kindley is rated as one of the top guards in the 2020 NFL Draft. Kindley has been compared to a former Arkansas Razorback ahead of the NFL Draft.
NFL.com compares Kindley to former Oakland Raider guard Denver Kirkland. Georgia Bulldog fans may recognize Kirkland from his days with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC:
Denver Kirkland was undrafted during the 2016 NFL Draft. He played several games for the Oakland Raiders during his rookie season, but ended up on IR during his second season. Following his injury, he spent time between Oakland and Arizona’s practice squads.
Georgia Bulldogs fans should expect for Kindley to find more success at the NFL level than Kirkland. For one thing, Kindley is projected to go much higher than Kirkland, who went undrafted.
The Georgia Bulldogs really benefited from the transfer of former Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Lawrence Cager in 2019. The Dawgs lost both their games when he was injured or limited.
Cager is a dominant possession receiver, who should succeed at winning jump balls at the NFL level. Cager was a joy to watch in Athens and NFL.com compares him to current Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Justin Watson.
Justin Watson played college football at the University of Pennsylvania. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft. That’s around where Lawrence Cager is projected to be selected.
Watson caught 15 passes for 159 yards and a pair of TDs for Tampa Bay this season. Will Cager have success like Watson in the NFL? Cager can immediately make an impact in the red zone, but much of his production will depend on quarterback play.
Georgia Bulldogs star running back D’Andre Swift will be missed in 2020. Swift, a five-star recruit out of Philadelphia, made the most of his time in Athens and gutted through the Sugar Bowl and SEC Championship with a shoulder injury.
Now, Swift is preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft. Swift is considered among the top running back prospects. He didn’t take a beating in college, so he should have a decent NFL shelf life.
NFL.com is comparing UGA’s D’Andre Swift to NFL legend (he’ll be a Hall of Famer when/if he retires) Frank Gore.
Gore is an interesting comparison for Swift. Gore’s durability in the NFL may never be matched again. Gore has played in 226 games since his rookie season in 2005. He was a third round pick out of Miami when the San Francisco 49ers drafted him.
Gore has made five Pro Bowls and rushed for over 15,000 rushing yards in his career, good for third all-time. D’Andre Swift would take Frank Gore’s career in a heartbeat.
Swift should not be compared to Frank Gore. Swift will is faster and is more of a modern, explosive, and quick running back, while Gore relies on vision, strength, durability, and consistency. Swift is better suited as a receiver. He’s better compared to a back like Dalvin Cook or Kenyan Drake in today’s NFL.
