Mel Kiper Jr. discusses Georgia's four first rounders, Bulldogs flying under the radar

Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft, version 3.0 in his series, on Tuesday and has four Georgia players coming off the board in the first round. The longtime NFL Draft expert projects Travon Walker to the Carolina Panthers at No. 6, Jordan Davis to the Houston Texans at No. 13, Devonte Wyatt to the Arizona Cardinals at No 23 and Nakobe Dean as the final Bulldog off the board in the first round to the Miami Dolphins at No. 29.

Four Georgia players in the first 32 picks is the most of any team, falling right in line with the National Champions having more players represented at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis (14) than the any other school. Here’s what Kiper had to say about each of those players.

Travon Walker

“Walker just keeps rising in the pre-draft process, as tested extremely well at the combine. He didn’t put up “wow” numbers in college — he had six sacks for the national champs last season — but that’s because of how dominant the entire Georgia defense was around him. He could put up better numbers in the NFL, and he’s stout against the run too.”

Jordan Davis

“The 341-pound Davis can plug the middle of head coach Lovie Smith’s defense. He wowed at the combine earlier this month, and even if he doesn’t have stellar pass-rush upside, he’s going to dominate interior centers and guards on early downs. He’s a unique player who can be excellent if used properly, helping off-ball linebackers find space and getting in the face of quarterbacks.” — MORE ON DAVIS

Devonte Wyatt

“The Cardinals could be a fit for Jordan Davis if he makes it here, but his former Georgia teammate, Wyatt, could be a nice pick, too. The 305-pound tackle had a great workout at the combine, and he impressed impressed NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl. He had only five sacks in four seasons, but I think he could put up better numbers in the right pro scheme. He’ll help take some pressure off J.J. Watt.”

Nakobe Dean

“Dean was the leader of the national champs’ defense, racking up 72 tackles with six sacks, two forced fumbles and two picks. He has the ability to cover tight ends, and he can blow up backs in the run game. He’s tough. Dean could be a steal for an already solid defense.

Note: The Dolphins on Wednesday traded this pick (and more) to the Chiefs for wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Kansas City now has a big need at wide receiver and two first-round picks to fill it. Of the wideouts I don’t have in Round 1 in this mock, Skyy Moore, whom I mentioned above, and Calvin Austin III could fit for the Chiefs.“

Under the Radar

While those four are the only ones Kiper had in his Mock 3.0, that’s far from the only Bulldogs that will hear their name called during the draft. On Wednesday, Kiper was asked about some of the Georgia players that have flown under the radar.

“People can say, ‘Well Georgia, we’ve talked about them all.’ We haven’t talked about some of them enough,” Kiper said in a call with media members. “We’ve talked about a lot of them a lot, and we know who they are, but some of the ones are going kind of under the radar.”

On Channing Tindall: “Channing Tindall can fly to the football, he can play inside or outside, you can pass rush him inside or outside, he’ll be a great special teamer. Channing Tindall in the second, third round is going to be a really great pick for somebody.”

On Quay Walker/Nakobe Dean: “Quay Walker, everybody’s got him projected now to be late one, early two, so that makes sense. Nakobe Dean‘s moving down a bit because he doesn’t test great. People say, ‘Well he’s a great college play, but the lack of length may hurt him in the NFL,’ which it may. Everybody likes the long armed guys because it helps with tackles, it helps with batting down passes and all that. He may get into the second round. I have him in the late first to Miami.”

On James Cook/Zamir White: “And I’ll tell you, James Cook is as versatile as a back as you’re going to find in this draft. I think he’s the third best running back when you look at the wild card that he is right now. He’s a true wild card. He’s not going to be an every down back, but a guy that you can be utilizing as a receiver in the slot, wide… I think he gets into the third round discussion very easily. Zamir White could be a really good day three pick. Hard charging, north south runner, I like him in day three.”

More on Tindall and others: “Lewis Cine is a good football player, the safety. I like him in the second round, so I don’t think people are talking about him enough. I don’t think Tindall’s getting enough publicity. (Jamaree) Salyer the tackle will be a guard, he could be in that third, fourth round discussion very easily … But if I had to highlight one guy who’s under the radar, it would be Tindall. You could do the math on all the guys that are going to be picked. (Derion) Kendrick, the list goes on. It’s going to be double digits, but I think Tindall is the guy that I would like to highlight. He’s very, very underrated and very much a guy that doesn’t get enough publicity for as good of a player as he is.”

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