Georgia NFL Draft History Under Kirby Smart

The 2023 NFL draft is rapidly approaching so how have the Bulldogs performed in the draft ever since Kirby Smart became head coach?

Very few programs have had as much success as Georgia has had recently in the NFL draft. The Bulldogs set a draft record last year with 15 total players being selected within the seven rounds, and five first-round picks on top of that. Now the 2023 NFL draft is approaching, and it is showing signs of the program's success continuing. 

If Georgia has at least five players taken in this year's draft, head coach Kirby Smart would then have 50 total draft picks over the last seven years. For context, it took Saban nine years to reach the 50 mark at Alabama and 10 years for Dabo at Clemson. So as the big day approaches, let's take a look at just how many players Georgia has had drafted at each position since Smart was hired: 

Georgia football head coach, Kirby Smart / Photo by UGAA

Bold indicates the player was a first-round pick

Offense:

• QB (1 total): Jake Fromm(2020)
• RB (5 total): Sony Michel (2018), Nick Chubb (2018), D'Andre Swift (2020), James Cook (2022), Zamir White (2022)
• WR (6 total): Isaiah McKenzie (2017), Javon Wims (2018), Mecole Hardman (2019), Riley Ridley (2019), Terry Godwin (2019), George Pickens (2022)
• TE (4 total): Isaac Nauta (2019), Charlie Woerner (2020), Tre McKity (2021), John Fitzpatrick (2022) 
• O Line (9 total): Isaiah Wynn (2018), Lamont Gaillard (2019), Andrew Thomas (2020), Isaiah Wilson (2020), Solomon Kindley (2020), Ben Cleveland (2021), Trey Hill (2021), Justin Shaffer (2022), Jamaree Salyer (2022)

Defense:

• D Line (3 total): Travon Walker (2022), Jordan Davis (2022), Devonte Wyatt (2022)
• Linebackers (9 total): Roquan Smith (2018), Lorenzo Carter (2018), D'Andre Walker (2019), Tae Crowder (2020), Azeez Ojulari (2021), Monty Rice (2021), Quay Walker (2022), Nakobe Dean (2022), Channing Tindall (2022)
• DBs (7 total): Deandre Baker (2019), Eric Stokes (2021), Tyson Campbell (2021), Richard LeCounte (2021), Mark Webb (2021), Lewis Cine (2022), Derrion Kendrick (2022)  

These numbers will only continue to climb once the 2023 NFL draft comes to a close as well as the total number of first-round picks that Georgia has produced since Smart arrived, which currently sits at 12. Another notable statistic to keep in mind is if Georgia has a defensive back go in the first round this year, it would be the third straight year in which Georgia had a player from their secondary go on day one. It would be the first time in program history and just the 4th program to do so since 2000. 

The Georgia football program has developed talent at a very high rate since Smart arrived in Athens, and that trend isn't showing any signs of stopping anytime soon.

Other Georgia News:

• 2024 QB Dylan Raiola Set to Visit Georgia and Others this Spring
• Nolan Smith Discusses Bulldogs' Future at Linebacker Position
• BREAKING: Georgia Defensive Lineman no Longer with the Team

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