Jalen Carter goes in top spot, first of four Bulldogs in Daniel Jeremiah mock draft

NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, one of the most respected in the business, released his first mock draft for 2023 late last week, and it’s got a Georgia Bulldog on top of the board. According to Jeremiah, Jalen Carter could be the second straight Georgia defensive lineman to go first overall, projecting him to be selected by the Chicago Bears.

I’m sure the Bears would love to trade out of this pick. If that option isn’t available — or the offers fail to meet their asking price — Carter would be an immediate difference-maker on all three downs.

Carter finished up his Georgia career by being named an unanimous All-American in 2022, one of just 13 in program history. He totaled 32 tackles on the season including 7.0 for loss, all of which came in a five game stretch after returning to full strength from a few injuries that bothered him early in the year.

Broderick Jones is the next Georgia player that Jeremiah has off the board, and according to him, Jones could be headed to the Big Apple. The New York Jets pick at No. 13 overall, and one of the top offensive tackles could be of interest to them.

Jones is very athletic and powerful. He can create movement in the run game and his ability to recover in pass pro is impressive. The Jets need to keep throwing resources at the offensive line.

Jones started all 15 games for Georgia at left tackle, stepping in after Jamaree Salyer departed for the NFL this time last year. Normally a switch at left tackle would make headlines. The way Jones handled things, it was far from on the front of Georgia fans’ minds in 2022.

Two picks later Jeremiah has another Georgia player projected, and it’s a team that has shown a love for UGA as of late. The Green Bay Packers took two Bulldogs in the first round last season with Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker. That came just one year after they took Eric Stokes in the first round. Why not make it three years in a row with Nolan Smith going to the Frozen Tundra?

Smith had his season cut short by injury, but he’s shown enough promise in his career to warrant top-15 consideration. He has elite burst and change of direction. Expect him to garner some comparisons to Pro Bowler Haason Reddick. 

Smith is an interesting projection this high because of the fact that his senior season came to a close early. That may knock him down some draft boards, but there’s no denying that when he was on the field he was productive. Starting each of the first eight games at outside linebacker before his injury, Smith totaled 18 tackles and team-high 16 quarterback pressures before seeing his season end against Florida. Of his 18 tackles, seven were for loss as he had one in each of the games after the opener, including against the Gators before being sidelined.

Jeremiah’s final Georgia player projected in the first round is Darnell Washington – not Kelee Ringo. Washington had the best year of his career in 2022, catching 28 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns. All three single-season categories are better than his previous two years combined. Washington also put up single-game highs for his Georgia career with 78 yards versus Vanderbilt and five catches, including a touchdown, against Mississippi State. Jeremiah has him joining one of the top offenses in the league with Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 27.

Washington can function as a sixth offensive lineman in the run game, regularly using his massive frame (6-7, 270) to dominate at the point of attack. The two-time national champion is still growing and developing in the passing game, though. 

As for Ringo, widely projected as a first round pick but excluded from Jeremiah’s mock draft, his traits say he’s a first rounder, and is highlights do too, but there were times where he seemed to struggle. Is that just the case with any cornerback playing at a high level of College Football? Maybe. Could it be telling that Ringo isn’t the sure-fire, plug-and-play corner that many thought he would be? Also could be true. Ringo was named Second-Team All-SEC by both the AP and Coaches this season starting all 15 games on the outside for the Bulldogs as he finished with 42 total tackles and two interceptions.