The Falcons are geographical neighbors with a football factory 70 miles East of them. Since Kirby Smart took over in Athens, the Dawgs have pumped players into the league as well as anyone. Falcons fans are hungry for the team to finally start taking Georgia players, but in the new regime’s only draft, Atlanta didn’t come away with a single UGA prospect, despite seven being selected.
Among those drafted were cornerbacks Eric Stokes (Packers) and Tyson Campbell (Jaguars), the Bulldogs starting corners for the 2020 season. Stokes had a prominent role with Green Bay due to Jaire Alexander‘s absence and had some extremely encouraging moments, improving throughout the season. Campbell did as well but to a lesser extent.
Azeez Ojulari was another former Dawg selected high in the draft. He led the Giants in sacks and tackles for a loss and was second in quarterback hits. Monty Rice also impressed in Tennessee before an ankle injury in mid-December sidelined him for the rest of the season. Since Tennessee let Rashaan Evans, who the Falcons signed, and Jayon Brown walk in free agency, Rice will likely assume a starting role in 2022.
Ben Cleveland battled with Ben Powers for the starting left guard position in Baltimore. He was in and out of the lineup due to injury and had his up and downs. Still, the former third-round pick will be expected to start in 2022. You get the point. UGA is sending productive prospects to the NFL, and coming off a National Championship, there will be a rich crop of draft-eligible Dawgs in 2022.
In Todd McShay’s latest mock draft, the national pundit had seven former Bulldogs going in the first two rounds. There is a legitimate chance that their defense has 11 players drafted to the NFL. Furthermore, there could be as many as 17 total Georgia players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
One of those prospects is Nakobe Dean, who is projected to go in the first round of the draft later this month. The Mechanical Engineering major said on Monday that he, among other teammates, visited the Falcons’ team headquarters in Flowery Branch on a day when Atlanta brought in local players.
“I met with everybody up there,” Dean said.
Dean probably isn’t in play for the Falcons’ first-round pick, but Travon Walker has been mocked to Atlanta. I’ve also seen some mock drafts have the Falcons landing George Pickens, Quay Walker, Zamir White, and Lewis Cine, among other former Dawgs. The Falcons would be wise to grab a couple of these prospects. Below is a full list:
- Tykee Smith, DB
- Devonte Wyatt, DT
- Nolan Smith, EDGE
- Travon Walker, EDGE
- Quay Walker, LB
- Channing Tindall, LB
- Zamir White, RB
- James Cook, RB
- Jamaree Salyer, OL
- George Pickens, WR
- Lewis Cine, S
- Jordan Davis, DT
- Jake Camarda, P
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