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Mel Kiper projects Georgia to set NFL Draft record early in first round

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•about 10 hours•

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Mykel Williams
(Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

With College Football season in the books and the declaration deadline passed for the majority of players (Ohio State and Notre Dame players have through Friday to announce their intentions), the 2025 NFL Draft is a MAJOR talking point. Just four teams remain in the NFL playoffs. The order for selection for 28 teams is in place. That being said, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. shared his latest thoughts on the first round and top players this week.

Kiper has three Georgia defenders coming off the board in the first 13 picks. According to ESPN Research, it would be the first time a college defense has had three players go that early in the same year. UGA already holds a modern draft record for most players selected in a single draft (15 in 2022) and most defenders taken in the same first round (5 in 2022), but this would surpass even that.

First off the board in the projection by Kiper would be Mykel Williams to the New York Jets at No. 7. Then, just one pick later comes Jalon Walker, returning to his home state with a selection by the Carolina Panthers. In his Big Board of best available players, Kiper has Walker over Williams – No. 8 and No. 12 respectively – however, he sees the draft playing out differently.

“Williams reminds me of another former Georgia edge rusher who didn’t have the college stats but absolutely had the talent: Travon Walker,” Kiper wrote. “So while five sacks — Williams did miss time with an ankle injury — might make you pause, know that he looks the part and has the traits to be a force in the NFL.”

“Walker is versatile, and he can line up as a traditional off-ball linebacker or as an edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you put him, he can get into the backfield to blow up plays,” he added. “He had 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season, and he’d be a fit in coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit.”

Walker is among the three Georgia players Kiper has as best available for their respective positions, joined by Malaki Starks (safety) and Jared Wilson (center). Starks would be the third selection in the top 13, headed to the Miami Dolphins.

“He closes well and makes plays on the ball,” Kiper wrote about Starks. “With 67 tackles this season, he works well in space. And he’s versatile, lining up as a traditional safety and over the slot.”

Of course those won’t be the only Bulldogs that get taken, and they aren’t the only ones Kiper has an eye on already. Joining the top-ranked Walker, Starks and Wilson, the following players earned a spot in the top 10 for their positions per Kiper: Williams (No. 2 outside linebacker), Dylan Fairchild (No. 5 guard), Tate Ratledge (No. 6 guard) and Ben Yurosek (No. 6 fullback/H-back).

All together, 17 Georgia players declared for the draft and are in the pool to be selected. Last season UGA saw eight get taken, the breaking a stretch of two straight draft classes to reach double figures (15 in 2022, 10 in 2023). Each of the previous eight seasons under the direction of Kirby Smart have seen at least one Bulldog be drafted with Smart’s total during his time in Athens at 63 including 17 first round picks (at least once each year since 2018).

The 2025 NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay Thursday, April 24th through Saturday, April 26th.

GEORGIA PLAYERS IN THE DRAFT (17)

RB Trevor Etienne
WR Dominic Lovett
WR Arian Smith
TE Ben Yurosek
OL Dylan Fairchild
OL Tate Ratledge
OL Xavier Truss
OL Jared Wilson
DL Warren Brinson
DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
DL Nazir Stackhouse
DL Mykel Williams
LB Chaz Chambliss
LB Smael Mondon
LB Jalon Walker
DB Dan Jackson
DB Malaki Starks

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