Projected rookie contracts for each Georgia player taken in 2023 NFL Draft

Georgia, for the second year in a row, had double-digit players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Ten Bulldogs are headed to the NFL and they have the opportunity to make life-changing money.

DawgsHQ has already taken a look at financial projections for the three players taken in the first round. We’ll repeat those below but we’ll also take a look at what the other seven guys are set to make according to the folks over at spotrac.com.

DL Jalen Carter (No. 9 overall to Philadelphia): If the stud defensive tackle had gone in the top five like so many were projecting, his rookie contract would be worth roughly $10 million more than it will be as the No. 9 pick. Still, Carter is projected to make around $21.8 million over the course of his four-year deal. That figure will include around $12.8 million in guaranteed money, at least. The former five-star prospect’s cap hit in Philly is just under $4 million.

OL Broderick Jones (No. 14 overall to Pittsburgh): It’s worth noting that Jones got picked No. 14 overall after just 19 starts at the college level. He spent just three years at Georgia with one of those essentially serving as a redshirt year in 2020. Pittsburgh should love the tread left on those tires as they’ll offer Jones a contract in the neighborhood of $16.6 million. A round $9.1 million of that will be a guaranteed signing bonus and Jones cap hit is a little over $3 million.

OLB Nolan Smith (No. 30 overall to Philadelphia): He didn’t got in the top 10 or 15 as many projected but Smith going to pocket quite a bit of change as his rookie deal will be worth up to $12 million in total. Around $5.7 million of that will be signing bonus and his cap hit will be around $2.2 million.

TE Darnell Washington (No. 93 overall to Pittsburgh): A medical flag apparently played a role in Washington’s slide but he was taken near the of the third round. That puts him in line for a rookie deal worth up to $5.35 million over the course of four years. He’ll pocket a signing bonus worth nearly $900,000 and his cap his will be just under $1 million.

CB Kelee Ringo (No. 105 overall to Philadelphia): Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is a Florida guy but he loves the Bulldogs. He said that Ringo was much higher on their board than where they selected him but sometimes you get lucky. Ringo can make up to $4.66 million on his rookie deal with an $820,000 signing bonus. The cap hit is around $955,000.

QB Stetson Bennett (No. 128 overall to the Los Angeles Rams): The Mailman got drafted higher than many expected and because of that, he’s going to make some coin. Bennett’s rookie contract is worth up to $4.54 million with a signing bonus of nearly $700,000 and a cap hit of $924,000.

S Christopher Smith (No. 170 overall to Las Vegas): It comes as no surprise that the undersized safety was drafted because he’s such a good player. His rookie contract is worth up to $4.1 million with a signing bonus just shy of $245,000.

OLB Robert Beal (No. 173 overall to San Francisco): The Georgia edge rusher used a tremendous NFL Combine to get selected in the middle rounds. His first contract, according to spotrac, is projected the exact same as Smith’s. A total worth of up to $4.1 million and a signing bonus of $245,000.

OL Warren McClendon (No. 174 overall to the Los Angeles Rams): After serving as a starter at Georgia for three years, McClendon’s rookie contract has the same projections as Smith and Beal. It could be worth up to $4.1 million if he stays on the team for all four years. He’ll get a $245,000 signing bonus.

RB Kenny McIntosh (No. 237 overall to Seattle): Georgia’s leader in yards from scrimmage in 2022 surprisingly slid to the seventh round despite his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield. His four-year rookie contract has a total projected worth of $3.93 million with a signing bonus of around $90,000.