Georgia players who could be taken on day two of 2023 NFL Draft
Thursday was a big day for Georgia football. Three Bulldogs were selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and all are headed to Pennsylvania. Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are Philadelphia bound while Broderick Jones will start his professional career in Pittsburgh.
Odds are that more that double that number will be selected in the next six rounds. Rounds two and three will take place on Friday night and DawgsHQ is breaking down who we expect to be taken and who could get picked.
Georgia players expected to come off the board…
TE Darnell Washington: It’ll be a big-time shocker if the mammoth tight end isn’t off the board by the end of day two. In fact, it’ll be quite surprising if he isn’t gone by the time the 50th overall pick comes around. Washington is a tremendous talent and could be a key piece for a number of teams still looking to add a high-upside player who is barely scratching the surface of his potential.
CB Kelee Ringo: Speaking of just scratching the surface, that applies to Ringo as well. He had an inconsistent 2022 season but his physical tools are undeniable. He’s big, fast, and has shown that he can play a physical brand of football. It wouldn’t shock us to see Ringo slip to the third round but that seems unlikely.
Dawgs with a chance…
S Christopher Smith: We view Smith as a day-three guy but all it takes is one team to fall in love. There is so much to like about the two-and-a-half-year starter. He’s not all that big and didn’t run the 40-yard-dash well but he’s physical, instinctive, and just seems to make a lot of plays.
OT Warren McClendon: The Brunswick native has been one of the SEC’s most consistent offensive linemen over the past three years. A team might do well to pick up a guy who can play at least four of the five positions on day two.
EDGE Robert Beal: This seems unlikely but hear us out. Beal’s blistering 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine is intriguing. There’s a very real chance that some team sees that combination of size and speed and thinks, “we can do something with that.” But that’s not all Beal is. He has some production, too.
Georgia’s day-two dark horses…
RB Kenny McIntosh: It surprised some last year when James Cook went in round two. McIntosh didn’t run nearly as well as Cook but it’s hard to ignore what he did in 2022 with well over 1,300 yards from scrimmage. He’s a great pass catcher and that plays in the NFL.
QB Stetson Bennett: That note about a team falling in love applies here but most see Bennett as a day-three guy. Him going in the second round would floor the entire draft-analysis industry. The third round would still be a shock but nowhere near as big as a round before.
