Georgia Football: Experts share final rankings ahead of NFL Draft

There are just two days to go before the 2023 NFL Draft, and with that, experts are starting to release their final verdicts. Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper Jr. are among the two most respected in the game when it comes to the NFL Draft, and while they work for different companies, both can agree, Georgia is going to be well represented in this year’s draft.

Jalen Carter

Jeremiah – No. 6

Kiper – No. 1

Carter is one of the top players in this year’s NFL Draft, and it’s reflected in the overall rankings from Jeremiah and Kiper. While he won’t be going No. 1 overall based on the desire to go draft a quarterback and might not be the top defensive player picked either due to what can only be described as a turbulent offseason for him, Carter is without a doubt one of the most talented players on the field whenever he’s out there.

Nolan Smith

Jeremiah – No. 13

Kiper – No. 12

Smith shot up draft boards after the NFL Combine, reminding folks the kind of athlete that he is. After all, he was the No. 1 overall player in the country for the Class of 2019. Smith suffered a season-ending injury halfway through the 2022 season. However, his workout in Indianapolis seems to have vaulted him back towards the top – where he was before the season and after a 2021 campaign that saw him finish fifth in tackles on a team that had five first round picks on that side of the ball.

Broderick Jones

Jeremiah – No. 19

Kiper – No. 15

Jones might not be the most polished product of the available offensive linemen, but he sure is athletic. That’s something that’s helped him seamlessly make transitions into tough spots – whether that be in game or over an offseason, replacing Jamaree Salyer several times for Georgia at left tackle. The ceiling on Jones is quite high, and one team is likely going to get very lucky in drafting him somewhere in the teens when we might look back on this draft and say he should have easily been top-10.

Darnell Washington

Jeremiah – No. 33

Kiper – No. 38

Washington is an absolute freak for his position. At 6-foot-7 and nearly 270 pounds (he cut down some since the end of Georgia’s 2022 season), Washington brings to the table traits that can’t be coached. He’s physical with the ball in his hands and a great blocker. His numbers don’t indicate him being an incredible pass catcher, and it’s something that he’s said he wants to improve on, but keep in mind, he did share a college offense with the top tight end in the country last season. No matter how you see him, he’s big, and that’s intriguing to NFL teams knowing the potential for him to continue to grow as a pass catcher at the next level.

Kelee Ringo

Jeremiah – No. 47

Kiper – No. 63

Ringo is a tough one to project when it comes to the NFL. His size and speed say future Hall of Famer. His tape can make you scratch your head. Ringo will always be remembered in Athens for his incredible interception and the ensuing return to seal the deal on Georgia’s 2021 National Championship against Alabama. He also picked off top quarterback prospects Hendon Hooker and Will Levis in 2022. However, NFL teams look at him and potentially see a move to safety with stiffness somewhat of a concern. Most projections have Ringo somewhere in the second round, just as Jeremiah and Kiper’s player rankings would indicate.

Others in Top 150…

Warren McClendon – No. 142 (Jeremiah)

Christopher Smith – No. 147 (Kiper)

McClendon and Smith aren’t quite strong enough to be among the top prospects in this year’s draft, and they may have to wait until the third day to hear their name called. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t both super strong players. McClendon was a three-year starter for Georgia on the offensive line, holding down the right tackle position from 2020 on. Meanwhile, Smith was named an unanimous All-American in 2022, one of just 13 players in program history to do so. Safe to say that both McClendon and Smith have a chance to be the steal of the draft class when it comes to Georgia players.

Kiper’s Position Rankings…

Along with his top 150, Kiper also released position rankings for almost all the Georgia players. They go as follows:

Stetson Bennett – No. 9 QB

Kenny McIntosh – No. 14 RB

Kearis Jackson – No. 55 WR

Darnell Washington – No. 4 TE

Broderick Jones – No. 2 OT

Warren McClendon – No. 15 OG

Jalen Carter – No. 1 DT

Nolan Smith – No. 2 OLB

Robert Beal – No. 14 OLB

Kelee Ringo – No. 9 CB

Christopher Smith – No. 9 S

Jack Podlesny – No. 3 K