Three Georgia players off the board in first round according to Mel Kiper's latest projections

There aren’t many that do it better than ESPN’s Mel Kiper when it comes to mock drafts, and it’s time for his second of the season. After releasing his first prior to the finalization of draft order and the Senior Bowl, Kiper put out his latest version on Tuesday with the calendar turning to March and the NFL Combine taking place later this week in Indianapolis. Three Georgia players came off the board in the first round according to Kiper, and DawgsHQ breaks them down for you below.

Travon Walker (No. 17 to the Los Angeles Chargers)

Walker has quickly risen up draft boards after announces his intentions to declare for the draft as a junior. He started all 15 games as defensive tackle for the Bulldogs in 2021, finishing with 37 total tackles including 7.5 for loss and 6.0 sacks. He also had a team-high 36 quarterback hurries. At 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Walker is big and strong like a defensive lineman but also showed athleticism of an outside linebacker/edge defender at times. That’s certainly helped him already in the eyes of many NFL teams and should help him to a strong performance at the NFL Combine this week.

Kiper writes: As I mentioned in my debut mock draft, the Chargers still haven’t fixed their years-long issue defending the run, as they ranked 28th in the league in yards per carry (4.8). If you’re looking at a void to fill for a team that is right on the edge of playoff contention, this is a way to do it. The 280-pound Walker could be an ideal fit for L.A.’s 3-4 defense because he’s a good run defender who also has some pass-rush ability. He’s not a two-down player like his former Georgia teammate Jordan Davis; I think this is too high to take a nose tackle with a low ceiling for sacks. Walker had six for the national champs in 2021.

Nakobe Dean (No. 22 to the Las Vegas Raiders)

Of the three Georgia players that Kiper mentions in his second mock draft, Dean has been the most consistent in terms of being on draft boards all season long. Meanwhile, Walker and Wyatt have seemed to rise into the first round. Dean won the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in all of College Football during his junior season. He finished second on the team in total tackles, just one behind Lewis Cine, first in tackles for loss with 10.5, while also accounting for 6.0 sacks – half a sack off of the team-high – two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He’s a little bit undersized, and there’s nothing that he can do about that now. However, his play speaks for itself, and Dean is a name that almost everybody across the industry expects off the board in the first round.

Kiper writes: The Raiders have a new regime under coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, and they have a clear void in the middle of their defense. If Dean is still available at No. 22, this is a no-brainer. His coaches at Georgia rave about his leadership skills and he’s a dominant off-ball linebacker on the field, too. He stuffed the stat sheet with 72 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and two picks last season. Cornerback and wide receiver are two other positions I considered for Las Vegas, which also has questions surrounding the future of quarterback Derek Carr, whose contract is up after the 2022 season.

Devonte Wyatt (No. 25 to the Buffalo Bills)

Georgia’s Jordan Davis was the popular pick to be selected in the first round during the season. However, it’s Wyatt that has risen up the draft boards, and has a chance to continue to do so this week at the NFL Combine. Wyatt was named an All-American by the Associated Press and an All-SEC selection according to both the AP and coaches. Finishing his senior season with 39 tackles – tops among interior linemen – Wyatt was a consistent force in the middle of a strong Georgia defense that stuffed the run. He also had 27 quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks demonstrating an ability to get after the passer, like he did in an SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week performance against Arkansas, finishing with a team-high six tackles including 1.5 sacks.

Kiper writes: Here’s the third member of Georgia’s defense in my first-round mock, and that doesn’t even include massive nose tackle Jordan Davis, who has a chance to go in Round 1 to a team that runs a 3-4 D. Wyatt is a hulking 310-pound tackle who really impressed NFL teams at the Senior Bowl last month. He could play next to Ed Oliver and eat up blockers, allowing the linebackers more space to get to the ball. Wyatt, my new top-ranked defensive tackle, went a little under the radar in college because of the talent around him, but he’s a really promising prospect.

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