Georgia made NFL Draft history in 2022, with 15 players from the Bulldogs' national championship team getting drafted. All Kirby Smart's team did was go back and win another title. Will the 2023 draft play out similarly?
The Bulldogs have been able to sustain this level of success because they don't rely on just a handful of players. No team wins a national championship game by 58 points without a remarkable collection of talent on both sides of the ball. When this group of Georgia draftees heads off to the NFL, you can bet Smart will have another crop of talent coming in right behind them.
While 15 players selected might be an unrealistic goal this time around, Georgia is poised to be well-represented in the 2023 NFL Draft.
MORE: Updated NFL Draft big board of top 140 players overall, position rankings
Here's a look at when Georgia's top prospects could come off the board, as forecasted by The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer.
Georgia NFL mock draft 2023
Georgia is projected to dominate the NFL Draft once again. Take a look at where each prospect is projected to land before the actual selections are made.
DT Jalen Carter: No. 5, Seahawks
- Big board ranking: No. 7 overall (No. 1 DT)
Carter was one of the best defensive talents in the country at Georgia, putting himself in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. He was arrested in March and charted with reckless driving and racing in connection with a crash that killed a Georgia teammate and recruiting staffer. That development has left his standing in the eyes of NFL evaluators unclear, but the defensive tackle might be too talented to fall very far.
With the case settled following a no contest plea, Carter appears destined to come off the board early in the first round. A team such as the Seahawks would be getting a true game-wrecker to plug into the defensive line.
OT Broderick Jones: No. 17, Steelers
Big board ranking: No. 30 overall (No. 3 OT)
Jones is one of the top offensive tackle prospects in this draft, perhaps only behind Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) and Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State).
The Steelers are one of a few teams in the middle of the first round that could use some offensive line help, and protecting Kenny Pickett is expected to be a top priority of GM Omar Khan in this draft. After helping Georgia win two championships, Jones could be a safe pick for a team hoping to contend this season.
CB Kelee Ringo: No. 24, Jaguars
Big board ranking: No. 23 overall (No. 4 CB)
Ringo will forever be known for the pick-six of Bryce Young that sealed Georgia's first national championship in 42 years, but he's yet another Bulldogs defender who can have a long NFL career.
While he didn't blossom as much as expected in 2022, Ringo's abnormal size (6-2) for the position is especially intriguing after another tall cornerback, Tariq Woolen, thrived as a rookie with the Seahawks. Marvin Harrison Jr. did have his way with Ringo in the Peach Bowl, which could raise red flags for teams.
EDGE Nolan Smith: No. 29, Saints
Big board ranking: No. 22 overall (No. 4 EDGE)
Smith entered 2022 as a projected first-round pick but saw his stock slip a bit between a lack of production and a season-ending injury. Smith turned the tide back in his favor with an outstanding NFL Combine performance, flashing ridiculous athleticism that separated him from the rest of the edge rushers in Indianapolis.
MORE: Nolan Smith lights up NFL Combine with blazing speed, ridiculous vertical jump
Smith could be the type of prospect one team falls in love with and drafts earlier than expected. His physical tools are intriguing, and the Saints already showed a willingness to take a gamble when they drafted raw but physically gifted edge rusher Marcus Davenport in 2018.
TE Darnell Washington: No. 41, Titans
Big board ranking: No. 44 overall (No. 3 DT)
Washington is arguably the top blocking tight end in one of the best tight end classes in recent memory. While he still has much room to grow as a receiver, his blocking abilities could give a hard-nosed Titans defense an immediate edge.
MORE: Year of the tight end? Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid lead loaded draft class
S Christopher Smith: No. 58, Cowboys
Big board ranking: No. 59 overall (No. 5 S)
Smith is a versatile defensive back who can function as a safety or a nickelback, according to Iyer. The Cowboys dealt with injuries in the secondary late last season and could use the additional depth.
OT Warren McClendon: No. 165, Saints
McClendon spent four seasons at Georgia, starting on both of the Bulldogs' championship teams. If you saw how smoothly Georgia ran its offense this past season, it won't be a surprise to see both of their starting tackles receive a call on draft weekend.
QB Stetson Bennett: No. 171, Rams
At 25, Bennett is older than the other quarterback prospects (and several established NFL QBs), has size concerns, and benefited from the team he had around him at Georgia, but the man just wins.
Bennett only improved as he received more snaps with the Bulldogs, and he made some throws during Georgia's most recent title run that forced NFL scouts to pay attention. Still, a Day 3 pick seems to be the likely result this year.
MORE: Who replaces Stetson Bennett at Georgia? Breaking down Bulldogs' QB depth chart for 2023
RB Kenny McIntosh: No. 192, Patriots
Just one piece of a loaded Georgia rushing attack, McIntosh broke through in 2022 with 829 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and added 505 yards through the air.
EDGE Robert Beal Jr.: No. 252, Buccaneers
Beal spent five seasons at Georgia, recording 10 sacks and 10 tackles for loss between the Bulldogs' two championship seasons. After playing in the shadow of some more heralded prospects, Beal will hope to make his own mark in the NFL.
K Jack Podlesny: No. 256, Packers
This is about where teams start taking chances on specialists. Podlesny finished 26-of-31 on field goal attempts in 2022 and was 82.4 percent across his three-year career while also converting 182 of 184 extra-point attempts.
