Four Gators projected to be drafted in latest NFL Mock Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is just two days away, with this year’s ceremony heading to Las Vegas. Sin City was originally supposed to host the draft in 2020, but the event was moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft will kick off on Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m. EST.

The Draft represents new life and opportunity for all 32 NFL franchises. It also is an event that will realize the lifelong dreams of hundreds of young boys that dreamed of playing football professionally.

The Florida Gators have a long history of sending players to the NFL. In NFL.com’s latest mock draft, four Gators are projected to hear their name

Here are the four Gators projected to hear their name called and the rest of the former Florida Gator hopefuls.

Where are the Gators projected to go?

Kaiir Elam – 1st round – 27th overall – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The first former Gators football player projected to come off the board is cornerback Kaiir Elam. When Elam committed and signed to Florida he was thought to be the next in line on a long list of great defensive backs. That will be realized this week when he’s drafted. NFL.com doesn’t have Elam going far from Gainesville or his hometown in West Palm Beach County.

Elam posted a 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Only seven other corners put up faster times than Elam at the combine.

Elam earned All-SEC first-team honors as a sophomore in 2020 and was a preseason All-American before the 2021 campaign.

If Elam is picked by the Bucs, he would be the 17th Gator to go in the first round since 2010. He has a 6.38 draft grade on NFL.com, fourth-best among all draft-eligible cornerbacks.

Dameon Pierce – 5th round – 153rd overall – Seattle Seahawks

Pierce is the next off the board in this mock draft. He saw action in 50 games in four years while playing for the Gators.

The Bainbridge, Georgia product led the team with 13 rushing touchdowns in 2021. He carried the ball 100 times for 574 yards and added 19 receptions for 216 yards and three more scores.

Pierce has a 6.19 grade on NFL.com, the sixth-best among all running backs in the draft this season.

Zachary Carter – 6th round – 183rd overall – New England Patriots

Carter played all over the defensive line for the Gators during his career. He arrived at Florida in 2017 but redshirted. In 2018 as a redshirt freshman he appeared in nine games as a backup and recorded eight tackles.

Carter really came on as a redshirt junior in 2020. He led the Gators in sacks (5) against an all-SEC schedule. He improved on that number in 2021 with eight sacks, second-most on the team.

Carter improved each year that he was at Florida and found a home as a defensive end. He has a 6.19 grade on NFL.com.

Jeremiah Moon – 7th round – 236th overall – Los Angeles Chargers

Moon has battled injuries throughout his career at Florida. Despite that, his mix of size, speed, and strength will certainly intrigue someone this week.

Moon is a 6-5, 250-pound edge rusher. Even though he missed time throughout his career he was productive when on the field.

He finished with 151 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in his collegiate career.

Moon has a 5.80 grade on NFL.com.

Other Gators in the 2022 NFL Draft

RB Malik Davis

DL Antonio Valentino

OL Jean Delance

OL Stewart Reese

DL Daquan Newkirk

DL Tyrone Truesdell