As the 2022 NFL Draft draws closer, more excitement surrounds the Georgia football program. The Dawgs could see all 15 of its players selected in this year’s draft, plus Georgia could break multiple NFL Draft and school records.
Georgia could even see their fifth No.1 overall pick happen as Travon Walker is now the favorite for the Jaguars. He should be as Walker is the best edge rusher in this 2022 class, but Jacksonville could make the wrong decision. Regardless, he and a few other teammates will be first-round picks.
There are a handful of records the Dawgs could break this weekend, and at one point, it didn’t seem like it would, but now it seems inevitable.
Georgia football could see a historic record-breaking NFL Draft.
The first record Georgia could break this week at the NFL Draft is the total amount of guys selected in the seven-round era. LSU tied the record with 14 in the 2020 Draft, and the Dawgs could tie or even break it if all 15 get drafted.
Ohio State set the record in 2004 with 14 players and Alabama saw 12 taken in 2018.
The Tide has had at least 10 players drafted in four of the last five drafts, but head coach Kirby Smart does have something to hold over his old mentor’s head.
This draft class could really be a momentum booster for the Dawgs with recruiting. Regardless of NIL deals, seeing 15 go in one draft class should draw a lot of attention.
Right now, the most Georgia has had drafted in one year came last year when the Dawgs had nine taken. That record will get smashed because nine could go in the first three rounds.
Another record that will either get tied or broken will be the amount of first-round draft picks. The most Georgia has taken in the first round was three in 2019. Alabama and Miami have the most taken in the first round with six. The Hurricanes set the record in 2004, and the Tide tied it last year. LSU got close in the 2020 Draft with five but didn’t quite get there.
While this record is less likely to get broken, the Dawgs could tie it or get close. They should break the school record, though, as mock drafts have four to five Georgia players in the first 32 picks. However, six isn’t out of the question, and it’ll depend on what those teams do. Smart has had at least one first-rounder in four of the five drafts at Georgia.
Georgia saw five picks go in the first three rounds in 2018, 2009, 2005, 2003 and 2001.
The next record stays in the first round as we look at the most defensive players taken in one year. If the Dawgs see four defenders taken, that will tie Miami in 2004 and FSU in 2006 for the most. However, five could happen for Georgia, so that would set another NFL Draft record and school record.
Making history is not quite the right way to describe what could happen to the Dawgsduring the 2022 NFL Draft. It’s leaving a legacy for the program and showing that Georgia is officially a heavy hitter.
The Dawgs have sent players to the league for years, but something like this is truly mind-blowing. While it’s hard to imagine it happening, buckle up because it’s coming, and the Dawgs will again be on top.