Mel Kiper predicts five first-day picks from Georgia, eight in top two rounds

Mel Kiper released his latest mock draft, a 64-pick prediction, on Wednesday with five Georgia players coming off the board in the first round. Furthermore, his second round includes three Bulldogs, and there’s a couple of names higher than you might expect.

Travon Walker – No. 3 (Houston Texans)

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Walker potentially going even higher than this. Those conversations aren’t necessarily based on his college stats, but instead, his potential. Walker played the most snaps of any Georgia defensive lineman in 2021 and finished with 37 tackles, second among interior linemen, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

Kiper says: “I don’t think anyone outside the organization really knows what the Texans will do in Round 1. For this mock, I’m trying to think long-term with Houston, which just has to add some talent. Walker is a bit of a risk in the top 10; NFL teams are betting that his physical tools will win out over his subpar college production (9.5 sacks in three seasons). Coaches want to try to maximize that upside. There is a lot of buzz on Walker going early.”

Jordan Davis – No. 17 (Los Angeles Chargers)

Davis won both the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in all of College Football and the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman on either offense or defense. A finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, also given to the top defensive player in the country, Davis was named First-Team All-SEC by both the Associated Press and coaches as well as an All-American by many outlets. He totaled 32 tackles, 5.5 of which were for lost yardage including 2.0 sacks.

Kiper says: “The Chargers need a right tackle, but with Trevor Penning off the board, I don’t feel great about the value here. In fact, my next tackle in this mock doesn’t go off the board until No. 42. Let’s move instead to another need for L.A. and fill it with Davis, who at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds is used to being a hole-filler. He has unique physical tools for his size, and he makes everyone around him better because of the space he eats. This is how Brandon Staley’s defense can level up in 2022.”

Nakobe Dean – No. 18 (Philadelphia Eagles)

Dean won the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country and was named All-SEC and All-American by numerous groups, including Pro Football Focus who named him the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. While Davis won the Bednarik, Dean was a semifinalist for the award. He finished second on the team with 72 total tackles and led the Bulldogs in tackles for loss with 10.5, including 6.0 quarterback sacks.

Kiper says: “I see a massive void in the middle of the Eagles’ front seven, and we’re getting to the point in this draft in which an off-ball linebacker will be taken. I have Devin Lloyd just ahead of Dean in my rankings, but there are teams that will fall in love with Dean’s intangibles. He’s a tremendous teammate who was the leader of the national champs’ historic defense. He’s a little undersized, but he can play sideline to sideline.”

Devonte Wyatt – No. 27 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Wyatt was the most productive of Georgia defensive linemen last season, finishing tops among the group with 39 stops. He too earned All-SEC and All-American honors.

Kiper says: “The Bucs are another team that could take a guard in Round 1, but I see a fit with Wyatt, who could take Ndamukong Suh’s spot next to Vita Vea. Wyatt played mostly as a 3-technique tackle for the Bulldogs, but he could play end in a 3-4 defense, too. He wasn’t a super productive pass-rusher (2.5 sacks last season), but he has the physical tools that coordinators will want to mold. Cornerback could be a possibility for Tampa Bay as well.”

Lewis Cine – No. 32 (Detroit Lions)

Cine was named an All-American by the Associated Press and an All-SEC player by both the AP and league’s 14 head coaches. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the top defensive back in the country, Cine finished as the team’s leading tackler with 73 total stops. He also had a team-high nine pass breakups. Cine was named Defensive MVP of the National Championship Game with seven tackles including one for loss and one pass breakup.

Kiper says: “The more I talk to people in the league, the more I think the Lions will stand pat on a quarterback with their three picks in the top 34. Jared Goff can be the starter in 2022, and if he struggles, chances are Detroit will be right back in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick, which it can use on a signal-caller. Cine is the fifth Georgia defender in the top 32 picks here (with more to come). He’s a good cover safety who is rising after he ran a 4.37 40 at the combine.”

Quay Walker – No. 41 (Seattle Seahawks)

Walker finished off his college career in 2021 by tying for the third spot on the team in tackles with 67, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Walker started all 15 games at linebacker alongside Dean and helped lead Georgia to victory over Alabama in the National Championship Game with a team-high eight tackles and a career-best six quarterback pressures.

Kiper says: “The sixth Georgia defender off the board so far, Walker is a big and tough linebacker who could try to fill the void left by Bobby Wagner’s departure. I was a big fan of the Seahawks taking Jordyn Brooks in Round 1 in 2020, and this would give them two off-ball linebackers to crush ball carriers and get their hands in passing lanes.”

Channing Tindall – No. 45 (Baltimore Ravens)

Tindall had by far his best season as a senior at Georgia, finishing third on the team in tackles with 67 stops while earning All-SEC honors from the Associated Press. Always known for his athleticism, teams got a chance to see that on display at the Combine. While he might not get the shine that the other Georgia defenders do, Tindall is seen throughout the industry as one of the more underrated players in this draft class.

Kiper says: “OK, this is the last of the Georgia defenders in my mock draft, and this guy never even made a start for the national champs (in 50 career games). He still played a lot, of course, and had 19 pressures last season. His 4.47 40 at 230 pounds at the combine was extremely impressive. For the Ravens, he could compete for a starting spot at inside linebacker and be a core contributor on special teams.”

George Pickens – No. 47 (Washington Commanders)

Pickens made a comeback from his torn ACL suffered last spring for the final four games of the season. He caught a total of five passes for 107 yards including an athletic career-long reception in the National Championship Game against Alabama. Since then, he’s only built on an already strong resume, testing well at the Combine as he looks to assure teams that he’s capable of being the player that he once was before the injury.

Kiper says: “I love this for Washington, which could get a 6-foot-3 outside receiver with No. 1 traits. He tore his ACL last spring and returned late in the 2021 season, making an impact down the stretch. It’s no guarantee he lasts until Round 2 — teams could think long-term and be patient with him — but the Commanders should try to pair him with Terry McLaurin.”

Are you subscribed?

Ready to get all your latest Georgia athletics news in one place? Become a member of DawgsHQ today. With your DawgsHQ membership, you’ll not only have access to the goings on in Athens, but you’ll be able to peruse other fan sites within the On3 network to hear just how rivals are feeling about the Dawgs, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter (@DawgsHQ), on Facebook and on YouTube for all the Dawg news you need now! And listen to the DawgsHQ crew on our podcast Dawg Walk Talk on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.