Welcome to the list of Georgia’s top 5 NFL Draft prospects!
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar, the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25-27, 2024. We take a look at the SEC players, the class of 2024.
Obviously, every team in the country does not have five surefire draft picks. Some programs have more, and some have less. We also know that every year, there are late-round or undrafted players who become surprise success stories for teams. We aim to highlight five players from every program, whether they will be drafted or not.
Below is a look at the Georgia Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects and how they project according to NFL Draft Buzz. We are projecting some players to enter the draft who have not officially declared and we will update this list if players decide to return.
Georgia Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects
No. 1: Brock Bowers (TE)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 1st Round
CAREER STATISTICS: 175 receptions, 2,538 receiving yards, 26 receiving touchdowns, 193 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns.
THE SCOOP: There is a reason that Bowers is one of the best tight end prospects in a long time. He possesses a rare ability of size and athleticism. His catch-and-run ability is stellar, as he can make defenders miss and has a sneaky speed to outrun slower defenders. He can be used in reverses, sweeps, or screens, making him a versatile offensive piece. Bowers is no slouch in blocking either, but he does need to refine his skills.
It is hard to find a lot of weaknesses in Bowers’ game, but he does struggle against NFL-caliber safety at times. He might be over-reliant on zone looks to be effective early in his career. Bowers will have to get better at facing man coverage especially if he is split out wide a lot to create mismatches. Still, all of these things are easily correctable, and any team should be happy to have Bowers on their squad.
NO. 2: Javon Bullard (S)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 2nd Round
CAREER STATISTICS: 113 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 8 passes deflected
THE SCOOP: Bullard is very strong in zone coverage, where he can read routes and anticipate throws. He has a very nice blend of length, speed, and quickness, which allows him to stay with receivers downfield. The safety has quick hands that can disrupt receivers at the line.
The concern is his inability to stop big plays. He has the speed to recover when he is beaten, yet he would often give up big plays in college. While his quick hands help him disrupt receivers, he will need to improve his strength to be even more disruptive at the point of attack.
NO. 3: Amarius Mims (OT)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 1st Round
CAREER STATISTICS: In 2022, he had 2 QB hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks
THE SCOOP: Mims shows a good ability to block in space and get pass-rushers off balance. He has long arms and packs a good amount of power at the initial punch, making him a good left tackle candidate that so many teams desire. Mims shows good run-blocking abilities as well and has the agility to get to the second level and land blocks.
Mims does have trouble readjusting on counter moves. NFL teams will exploit this, so he has to do a better job at reading and readjusting. He looks way more comfortable blocking downhill and, in pass protection, can get off balance easily. Still, his size and measurements mean he will be a great pick for a team needing to upgrade the tackle position.
No. 4: Kamari Lassiter (CB)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 1st Round
CAREER STATISTICS: 86 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 14 passes deflected
THE SCOOP: Lassiter has the athletic ability to match receivers on the perimeter. When quick screens come his way, he shows eagerness to get to the ball carrier as quickly as possible. If he does get there, he is a reliable tackler who is good in space. Lassiter is a special teams veteran, which will give him an instant role on any roster.
His build is a concern. There are some bigger perimeter receivers in the league, and Lassiter could get bullied initially. His aggressiveness comes out in the way of being grabby at times, which could lead to more penalties in his first couple of seasons. Lassiter also needs to work on his ball skills, as too often, he loses track of the ball in coverage.
No. 5: Ladd McConkey (WR)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 2nd Round
CAREER STATISTICS: 118 receptions, 1,665 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, 189 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
THE SCOOP: McConkey runs precise routes which allows him to get separation from defenders easily. He tracks the ball well and consistently runs under long throws. As a blocker on the outside, he can swallow up defenders, which will be great for a team that does a lot of bubble screens or quick passes. His speed makes him a legitimate deep threat.
McConkey isn’t great on contested catches and relies on creating separation to be effective. While he has the speed to be a catch-and-run threat, he doesn’t transition from the catch to the run.
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