The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft was record breaking for UGA in several ways. There was the school's first-ever top overall pick in Travon Walker, five defensive players drafted in the first round, and 15 players drafted overall.
The 2023 draft later this month could also see another first for the program - three players taken in the first 10 picks. Nolan Smith, Broderick Jones, and Jalen Carter have all been projected in mock drafts to be taken very early in Round 1 at the end of April.
Smith has been the biggest mover in the pre-draft process, after running a 4.39 in the 40 and excelling in positional drills at last month's NFL combine. Teams are projecting him as a three-down lineman, capable of playing with his hand down or standing up. He's a tremendous leader on and off the field, as well.
Jones is being projected as both a left and right tackle. His athleticism is what stands out when evaluating him. He's big and fast, and played against top-level talent the last two years in the SEC, despite only being a full-time starter for one year.
Carter is maybe the biggest wildcard of the bunch in terms of draft position. He's far and away one of the most talented players in the draft, with a rare combination of size, speed, and explosiveness in the interior of the defensive line. He is facing off-the-field questions about his character. And at UGA's Pro Day he showed up nine pounds heavier than his listed weight from the combine. Teams also questioned how out of shape he was when failing to complete on field drills.
Steak and Drew Butler discussed the three UGA players in a recent edition of The Tailgate. Drew, especially, talked about how each of them would benefit the Atlanta Falcons if taken at eight.