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Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs football program is coming off of a good season, but short of title aspirations. The Bulldogs in the NFL Draft will be heavily represented.
The first half of their draft eligible players are expected to come off the board early. Many of those first six players come from positional archetypes that will seem different when compared to draft history. No QBs, no big prototype WR, no first round RB.
From Monroe Freeling to Zachariah Branch to CJ Allen, expect many of these players to hear their name called in the first two days of the draft. While there will be another wave of good players with a better than good chance of making an NFL 53-man roster.
Georgia Bulldogs 2026 NFL Draft prospects (11)
| Name | Pos | HT | WT | 40 | Range | Pick | Team |
| Monroe Freeling | OT | 6'7 | 315 | 4.93 | Rd 1 | 19 | CAR |
| CJ Allen | LB | 6'1 | 230 | 4.55 | Rd 1-2 | 53 | IND |
| Christen Miller | DT | 6'4 | 321 | 4.90 | Rd 2-3 | 42 | NO |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 5'9 | 177 | 4.35 | Rd 2-3 | 79 | ATL |
| Daylen Everette | CB | 6'1 | 196 | 4.38 | Rd 2-4 | 85 | PIT |
| Micah Morris | OG | 6'5 | 334 | 5.09 | Rd 3-4 | ||
| Oscar Delp | TE | 6'5 | 245 | 4.49 | Rd 3-5 | 73 | NO |
| Dillon Bell | WR | 6'1 | 209 | 4.50 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Colbie Young | WR | 6'5 | 218 | 4.49 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Noah Thomas | WR | 6'5 | 205 | 4.60 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Jordan Hall | DT | 6'4 | 320 | 5.45 | Rd 6-UFA |
2026 NFL Draft: Georgia Bulldogs news
Reported on April 19 via ESPN, Zachariah Branch was arrested on misdemeanor obstruction for failing to comply with lawful commands. In the history of pre-Draft off the field concerns, this one is, in a word, "confusing." Essentially, Branch was arrested and later released on $39 bond for standing on a sidewalk a police officer did not want him standing on or blocking.
Can't remember a single example of a player arrested for doing something he would be celebrated for if it were on a football field. This news could affect his draft stock, but this should not be a Laremy Tunsil situation.
Former Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens signed his franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the NFL Draft. He now becomes an immediate trade candidate.
Monroe Freeling had been projected to land with the Detroit Lions with the 17th pick per Mel Kiper, Matter Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates round 1-3 mock draft. The Lions select Clemson OT Blake Miller instead.
Monroe Freeling Selected: The Carolina Panthers select Georgia OT Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick.
The best Freeling@budlight | #NFLDRAFT pic.twitter.com/oi9eDrZChi
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 24, 2026Congrats @FreelingMonroe! It has been awesome watching you grow over the past three years. The @Panthers are getting a great leader and a force in the trenches. GO DAWGS!! pic.twitter.com/SQHAPOOosk
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) April 24, 2026Christen Miller Selected: The New Orleans Saints select Georgia DT Christen Miller with the 42nd pick in the second round.
With the 42nd pick in the NFL Draft, the #Saints select Georgia DT Christen Miller! pic.twitter.com/ZkbyM3NFWD
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 24, 2026CJ Allen Selected: The Indianapolis Colts select Georgia LB CJ Allen with the 53rd pick in the second round.
CJ ALLEN YOU'RE AN INDIANAPOLIS COLT ‼
@GeorgiaFootball | #NFLDRAFT pic.twitter.com/VTgJLSHxND
Oscar Delp Selected: The New Orleans Saints select Georgia TE Oscar Delp with the 73rd pick in the third round.
With the 73rd pick in the NFL Draft, the #Saints select Georgia TE Oscar Delp! pic.twitter.com/o82y6ll5VK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2026Zachariah Branch Selected: The Atlanta Falcons select WR Zachariah Branch with the 79th pick in the third round.
HOW 'BOUT ZACHARIAH BRANCH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cS1FCOL8KM
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 25, 2026Daylen Everette Selected: The Pittsburgh Steelers select Georgia CB Daylen Everette with the 85th pick in the third round.
With the 85th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, we select CB Daylen Everette. pic.twitter.com/grRJUF9JEp
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 25, 20262026 NFL Draft: Georgia reactions and impressions
Here are the top six Georgia players to watch ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Monroe Freeling is expected to be the first UGA player off the board tonight.
Final NFL draft projections for the Georgia Bulldogs https://t.co/Z05aJE7HYN
— Dawgs247 (@Dawgs247) April 23, 2026Tackles Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa go to the Browns and Giants, respectively, at Nos. 9 and 10.
We'll see if there is more of a run at the position, but next two on many boards -- Monroe Freeling and Kadyn Proctor -- need to be available for several more picks if the…
Monroe Freeling finishes his season in Athens as the no. 19 overall pick, allowing 1 sack with 0 hits and 5 total pressures on 747 offensive snaps in 13 starts this season#GoDawgs #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/qSQEC6yPpq
— Sammy Profeta (@profeta_sammy) April 24, 2026KEEP POUNDING‼️@FreelingMonroe is headed to the @Panthers #GoDawgs | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/w9rsDdqXuU
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) April 24, 2026Following the Freeling selection, linebacker CJ Allen is the next Georgia Bulldogs player up, according to ESPN's best available. Defensive tackle, Christen Miller follows as the only two remaining UGA players in the top-50 best available.
Georgia WR Zachariah Branch is another name to watch going into Day 2.
His combination of elite speed/quickness, return ability and electric playing style is enticing. One comparison I’ve heard for his potential upside is two-time Ravens Pro Bowler Zay Flowers. https://t.co/OsDIBHqzMa pic.twitter.com/p142Fhe8lQ
Christen Miller heads to the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the NFL Draft. Played three seasons for Georgia, totaling 64 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 4 sacks.
Everything you work for @fatchr7s ⭐️#GoDawgs | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ecaxPecFDK
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) April 25, 2026The Indianapolis Colts are getting one of the most well rounded linebackers in CJ Allen. In three years for the Bulldogs, Allen totaled 205 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 3.5 sacks, and 1 interception.
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) April 25, 2026The next level! So proud of you CJ. You have led the LB room with so much fire and that will only continue in Indy. @Colts got a great one. GO DAWGS !! pic.twitter.com/W8EBKe48n5
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) April 25, 2026Oscar Delp is the fourth Georgia Bulldogs player off the board with the New Orleans Saints selecting him in the third round. In four years at Georgia, Delp hauled in 70 receptions for 851 yards and 9 touchdowns.
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) April 25, 2026Make that five Georgia Bulldogs selected in the first three rounds. Branch played just one season at Georgia after two years at USC and led the Bulldogs with 81 receptions for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Zachariah Branch stays in the Peach State to the Atlanta Falcons #RiseUp #NFLDraft
— Sammy Profeta (@profeta_sammy) April 25, 2026Daylen Everette becomes the third Georgia Bulldog selected in the third round in third in the last 15 picks as well. Everette had 149 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, 5 interceptions, 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles in four years in Athens.
Cam Heyward announcing selection of Daylen Everette #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/VVqxu8jD30
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) April 25, 2026Georgia saw five players, including Christen Miller, CJ Allen, Oscar Delp, Zachariah Branch, and Daylen Everette, all selected on day two of the NFL Draft. Both Miller and Allen were selected in the second round, while the rest came in the third.
Remaining on the board for Georgia are WR Colbie Young, WR Dillon Bell, OG Micah Morris, WR Noah Thomas, and DT Jordan Hall. All of who've had draft projections anywhere between the fourth and seventh rounds. Long snapper Beau Gardner and punter Brett Thorson are other Georgia players who are projected to go undrafted.
2026 NFL Draft How to Watch
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network-- available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
More Georgia Bulldogs Football news
- Georgia OT Monroe Freeling: 2026 NFL Draft profile, latest mock predictions
- 2026 NFL Draft: Top 6 prospects for Georgia Bulldogs
- Kirby Smart sends clear message to NIL check-cashers about skipping Georgia
- Super Bowl champion’s son hit with 11 felony charges tied to UGA TikTok challeng
- Georgia lands nation's top RB Kemon Spell in 2027 class
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