The all-time all-SEC NFL Draft first round - AL.com

What if NFL teams could pick only SEC players in the first round of the league’s annual draft?

They were almost halfway there in last year’s first round. In the 2020 NFL Draft, teams chose 15 SEC players among the first 32 selections. That set a record for players from one conference in the first round, breaking the mark of 12 established by the ACC in 2006 and matched by the SEC in 2013 and 2017.

The SEC might be closer to the old record than the current mark in this year’s first round, which will be held on Thursday in Cleveland. The most generous mock drafts for the SEC appear to have 13 players from the conference as possible first-round selections.

The SEC players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft will join the 461 conference alumni who have been among the first 32 players picked in one of the league’s annual events.

Not all those players were first-round picks. The NFL Draft’s first round has included 32 picks annually since 2002. It’s been growing in length as the NFL has added teams through the years since its first draft in 1936, when nine players were picked in the first round.

Of the 461 SEC players chosen with picks 1 through 32, 90 were not selected in the first round.

Seventeen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are former SEC players who were drafted among the first 32 picks. Three slots – No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 – have produced two Hall of Famers apiece. In contrast, a few of the other slots have hardly produced a Pro Bowler from among the SEC selections.

Which SEC player has panned out the best in the pros and enjoyed the top career from each of the first 32 draft slots? Here’s a list of possibilities pick-by-pick for an all-SEC first round in an NFL fantasy draft:

First pick: Peyton Manning, quarterback, Tennessee

Frank Sinkwich and Cam Newton have been NFL MVPs, Eli Manning was the Super Bowl MVP twice and Charley Trippi is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and all were the first players picked in an NFL draft. So was Peyton Manning, going to the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, and he also was the NFL MVP (five times), Super Bowl MVP and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining the sport’s shrine as a member of the Class of 2021.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 1 pick include:

· Tennessee fullback George Cafego, Cardinals, 1940;

· Georgia back Frank Sinkwich, Lions, 1943;

· Georgia halfback Charley Trippi, Cardinals, 1945;

· Alabama quarterback Harry Gilmer, Redskins, 1948;

· Vanderbilt quarterback Billy Wade, Rams, 1952;

· Georgia end Harry Babcock, 49ers, 1953;

· LSU running back Billy Cannon, Rams, 1960;

· Tulane running back Tommy Mason, Vikings, 1961;

· Auburn running back Tucker Frederickson, Giants, 1965;

· Auburn running back Bo Jackson, Buccaneers, 1986;

· Auburn linebacker Aundray Bruce, Falcons, 1988;

· Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, Colts, 1998;

· Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, Browns, 1999; Ole

· Miss QB Eli Manning, Chargers, 2004; LSU quarterback

· JaMarcus Russell, Raiders, 2007; Georgia quarterback

· Matthew Stafford, Lions, 2009;

· Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Panthers, 2011;

· South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Texans, 2014;

· Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, Browns, 2017;

· LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Bengals, 2020

Second pick: Cornelius Bennett, linebacker, Alabama

Quarterback Bert Jones would seem to hold a trump card over the rest of the SEC players picked with the second selection in the NFL Draft: He was the league’s MVP in 1976, the middle campaign of a three-year run of sterling seasons for the Baltimore Colts. But Jones played in 102 NFL regular-season games. Cornelius Bennett played in 206, and the former Ensley High School star was invited to the Pro Bowl five times. Jones had one Pro Bowl invitation. And while Jones never played in a postseason victory, Bennett went to the Super Bowl five times (although his team lost each).

The SEC players drafted with the No. 2 pick include:

· Alabama back Riley Smith, Redskins, 1936;

· Florida back Paul Duhart, Steelers, 1945;

· LSU halfback Dub Jones, Cardinals, 1946;

· Georgia quarterback John Rauch, Lions, 1949;

· LSU back Jerry Stovall, Cardinals, 1963;

· Tennessee center Bob Johnson, Bengals, 1968;

· Ole Miss QB Archie Manning, Saints, 1971;

· LSU quarterback Bert Jones, Colts, 1973;

· Kentucky defensive end Art Still, Chiefs, 1978;

· Mississippi State linebacker Johnie Cooks, Colts, 1982;

· Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett, Colts, 1987;

· Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, Dolphins, 2005;

· Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel, Jaguars, 2013;

· Auburn tackle Greg Robinson, Rams, 2014

Third pick: Johnny Robinson, safety, LSU

Johnny Robinson had a great career, just not with the Detroit Lions, who selected him with the third pick in the 1960 NFL Draft. He also wasn’t a safety for the first two years of his pro career, when he played flanker. Robinson turned down the Lions to sign with the Dallas Texans of the new AFL. In 1962, Dallas put him on defense. In 1963, the Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1965, Robinson made the first of five straight appearances on the All-AFL team. In 1970 -- the season after the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV -- the AFL-NFL merger was completed, and Robinson earned a spot on the NFL All-Pro team. Robinson is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s AFL all-time team and joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, but even with all those accolades he wasn’t head and shoulders above other No. 3 picks, such as 1939 NFL MVP Parker Hall, six-time Pro Bowler Chris Samuels, four-time Pro Bowler Wes Chandler and four-time 1,000-yard rusher Garrison Hearst.

But what about Y.A. Tittle? He was a No. 3 pick, and he’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For an explanation, see Pick No. 6.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 3 pick include:

· Ole Miss tailback Parker Hall, Rams, 1939;

· Tulane back Joe Renfroe, Yanks, 1945;

· Florida halfback Chuck Hunsinger, Bears, 1950;

· LSU quarterback Y.A. Tittle, 49ers, 1951;

· Mississippi State defensive back Bill Stacy, Cardinals, 1959;

· LSU defensive back Johnny Robinson, Lions, 1960;

· Ole Miss defensive tackle Jim Dunaway, Vikings, 1963;

· Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier, 49ers, 1967;

· Florida wide receiver Wes Chandler, Saints, 1978;

· Georgia running back Garrison Hearst, Cardinals, 1993;

· Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler, Redskins, 1994;

· Alabama offensive tackle Chris Samuels, Redskins, 2000;

· Florida defensive tackle Gerald Warren, Browns, 2001;

· LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson, Chiefs, 2009;

· Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, Bills, 2011;

· Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Browns, 2012;

· Florida linebacker Dante Fowler, Jaguars, 2015;

· Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, Jets, 2019

Fourth pick: John Hannah, guard, Alabama

What a dilemma at No. 4: John Hannah, the fourth pick of 1973, and Derrick Thomas, the fourth pick of 1989, are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and each player was picked for the Pro Bowl nine times. Give the edge to Hannah, who was a first-time All-Pro seven times. Thomas was a first-team All-Pro twice.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 4 pick include:

· Georgia Tech back Eddie Prokop, Yanks, 1945;

· Alabama back Lowell Tew, Redskins, 1948;

· Kentucky quarterback Babe Parilli, Packers, 1952;

· Kentucky defensive end Lou Michaels, Rams, 1958;

· Alabama guard John Hannah, Patriots, 1973;

· Alabama defensive end Jon Hand, Colts, 1986;

· Auburn running back Brent Fullwood, Packers, 1987;

· Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas, Chiefs, 1989;

· Alabama linebacker Keith McCants, Buccaneers, 1990;

· Kentucky defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, Jets, 2003;

· Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Raiders, 2008;

· Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, Bengals, 2011;

· Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Raiders, 2015;

· LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Jaguars, 2017;

· Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, Giants, 2020

Fifth pick: Steve Van Buren, halfback, LSU

Future lists like this one might have cornerback Patrick Peterson as the SEC’s best No. 5 selection. He has eight Pro Bowl selections and has been a first-team All-Pro three times so far in his NFL career. Another No. 5 pick, Eric Berry, was a first-team All-Pro three times, and yet another, Jamal Lewis, rushed for 2,066 yards for the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, when he won the Pro Football Writers of America’s NFL MVP Award. But Steve Van Buren is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, led the NFL in rushing four times, was All-Pro five times and scored 11 more touchdowns than Lewis on 1,222 fewer carries.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 5 pick include:

· LSU halfback Steve Van Buren, Eagles, 1944;

· Alabama center Vaughn Mancha, Yanks, 1948;

· Kentucky defensive tackle Bob Gain, Packers, 1951;

· Mississippi State defensive back Art Davis, Steelers, 1956;

· Auburn end Red Phillips, Rams, 1958;

· Vanderbilt halfback Tom Moore, Packers, 1960;

· Alabama linebacker E.J. Junior, Cardinals, 1981;

· Alabama defensive end John Copeland, Bengals, 1993;

· Tennessee running back Jamal Lewis, Ravens, 2000;

· Auburn running back Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers, 2005;

· LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Chiefs, 2008;

· Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry, Chiefs, 2010;

· LSU defensive back Patrick Peterson, Cardinals, 2011;

· LSU linebacker Devin White, Buccaneers, 2019;

· Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, 2020

Sixth pick: Y.A. Tittle, quarterback, LSU

NFL teams have hardly gone wrong when spending the sixth pick in the draft on an SEC player. The 18 players picked in this spot have combined for 38 Pro Bowl invitations and 12 first-team All-Pro honors. Nine of the No. 6 picks played at least 10 NFL seasons, and five are still playing. Richard Seymour was a Pro Bowler five times and All-Pro three times in 11 seasons. Lee Roy Jordan was a Pro Bowler five times and All-Pro once in 14 seasons. Lomas Brown was a Pro Bowler seven times and All-Pro once in 18 seasons. Julio Jones has seven Pro Bowl invitations and two All-Pro selections in 10 seasons so far. Y.A. Tittle has two big honors that the rest of Pick Six’s illustrious lineup doesn’t: He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was the NFL MVP in 1963, in addition to being a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro in 17 NFL seasons.

But how did Tittle wind up being picked in the first round of two NFL drafts? In 1948, the Detroit Lions chose the QB at No. 3. Tittle instead signed with the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference. After two seasons, the Colts joined the NFL as it absorbed the rival league. In 1950, Tittle led the NFL in completions, but Baltimore folded at the end of the season. Instead of holding a dispersal draft or turning the Colts players into free agents, the league made them eligible for its 1951 draft, and the 49ers spent the sixth pick on Tittle.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 6 pick include:

· LSU quarterback Y.A. Tittle, Lions, 1948;

· Alabama linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, Cowboys, 1963;

· Tennessee defensive end Steve DeLong, Bears, 1965;

· Alabama quarterback Richard Todd, Jets, 1976;

· Kentucky tackle Warren Bryant, Falcons, 1977;

· Alabama linebacker Barry Krauss, Colts, 1979;

· Florida tackle Lomas Brown, Lions, 1985;

· Alabama defensive end Eric Curry, Buccaneers, 1993;

· Florida defensive end Kevin Carter, Rams, 1995;

· Georgia defensive end Richard Seymour, Patriots, 2001;

· Georgia defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, Saints, 2003;

· LSU defensive back LaRon Landry, Redskins, 2007;

· Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, Bengals, 2009;

· Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, Falcons, 2011;

· LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne, Cowboys, 2012;

· LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo, Browns, 2013;

· Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews, Falcons, 2014;

· LSU safety Jamal Adams, Jets, 2017

Seventh pick: Champ Bailey, cornerback, Georgia

In 15 NFL seasons after being drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1999, Champ Bailey received 12 Pro Bowl invitations, made first-team All-Pro three times and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 7 pick include:

· Auburn back Travis Tidwell, Giants, 1950;

· LSU defensive back Ebert Van Buren, Eagles, 1951;

· Georgia Tech linebacker Larry Morris, Rams, 1955;

· Auburn back Joe Childress, Cardinals, 1956;

· Georgia running back Tim Worley, Steelers, 1989;

· Tennessee tackle Charles McRae, Buccaneers, 1991;

· Florida wide receiver Ike Hilliard, Giants, 1997;

· Georgia defensive back Champ Bailey, Redskins, 1999;

· South Carolina wide receiver Troy Williamson, Vikings, 2005;

· Florida defensive back Joe Haden, Browns, 2010;

· Alabama safety Mark Barron, Buccaneers, 2012;

· Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, Buccaneers, 2014;

· Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen, Jaguars, 2019;

· Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, Panthers, 2020

Eighth pick: Ken Rice, offensive tackle, Auburn

The eighth pick just hasn’t panned out when the NFL has reached into the SEC. Only one went on to become a big star – Bobby Marlow, but he became a big star in Canadian football. Of the 13 SEC players picked in this slot, seven have failed to play more than five seasons in the NFL, and the longest career is eight seasons by Michael Haddix. The only player to earn a postseason accolade is Ken Rice. He was second-team All-AFL in 1961 for the Buffalo Bills after signing with the upstart league instead of the team that drafted him in the NFL, the St. Louis Cardinals.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 8 pick include:

· Ole Miss fullback Merle Hapes, Giants, 1942;

· Alabama back Bobby Marlow, Giants, 1953;

· Kentucky end Steve Meilinger, Redskins, 1954;

· Auburn tackle Ken Rice, Cardinals, 1961;

· Florida running back Larry Smith, Rams, 1969;

· Georgia guard Royce Smith, Saints, 1972;

· Mississippi State running back Michael Haddix, Eagles, 1983;

· Vanderbilt defensive back Leonard Coleman, Colts, 1984;

· Tennessee tackle Antone Davis, Eagles, 1991;

· Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson, Falcons, 2007;

· Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, Jaguars, 2008;

· Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, Raiders, 2010;

· Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith, Bears, 2018

Ninth pick: Fred Taylor, running back, Florida

In 13 NFL seasons after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998, Fred Taylor ran for 11,695 yards – 17th in NFL history – and 66 touchdowns and caught 290 passes for 2,384 yards and eight touchdowns. Taylor had at least 1,100 rushing yards in seven seasons.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 9 pick include:

· Georgia end Dan Edwards, Steelers, 1948;

· Alabama back Butch Avinger, Steelers, 1951;

· LSU defensive back Wendell Harris, Colts, 1962;

· Kentucky tight end Tom Hutchinson, Browns, 1963;

· Alabama running back Wilbur Jackson, 49ers, 1974;

· Tennessee defensive back Terry McDaniel, Raiders, 1988;

· Alabama cornerback Antonio Langham, Browns, 1994;

· Florida running back Fred Taylor, Jaguars, 1998;

· Tennessee defensive tackle John Henderson, Jaguars, 2002;

· Auburn defensive back Carlos Rogers, Redskins, 2005;

· Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Jets, 2013;

· Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, Bears, 2016;

· Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson, Jaguars, 2020

10th pick: Willie Anderson, offensive tackle, Auburn

Willie Anderson, who was a prep star at Vigor, spent 13 seasons as a right offensive tackle in the NFL after being drafted in 1996 by the Cincinnati Bengals. He earned Pro Bowl invitations in four straight seasons and was an All-Pro three years in a row.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 10 pick include:

· Vanderbilt fullback Jack Jenkins, Redskins, 1943;

· Tennessee defensive back Bert Rechichar, Browns, 1952;

· Ole Miss center Ed Beatty, Rams, 1954;

· Ole Miss split end Bobby Crespino, Browns, 1961;

· Georgia Tech guard Rufus Guthrie, Rams, 1963;

· Mississippi State defensive tackle Jimmy Webb, 49ers, 1975;

· LSU linebacker Eric Hill, Cardinals, 1989;

· Auburn tackle Willie Anderson, Bengals, 1996;

· Florida wide receiver Travis Taylor, Ravens, 2000;

· South Carolina defensive back Dunta Robinson, Texans, 2004;

· Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, Patriots, 2008;

· South Carolina defensive back Stephon Gilmore, Bills, 2012;

· Alabama guard Chance Warmack, Titans, 2013;

· Georgia running back Todd Gurley, Rams, 2015;

· Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., Browns, 2020

11th pick: Doug Atkins, defensive end, Tennessee

Doug Atkins played 17 seasons in the NFL, but his best ones didn’t come with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in 1953. He earned eight Pro Bowl invitations in a nine-season span with the Chicago Bears on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bill Stanfill, Wilber Marshall, Patrick Willis and Minkah Fitzpatrick also have earned All-Pro recognition after starting their NFL careers from the No. 11 draft slot.

The SEC players drafted with the No. 11 pick include:

· Tennessee defensive end Doug Atkins, Browns, 1953;

· Vanderbilt back Charlie Horton, Rams, 1956;

· Ole Miss defensive end Stan Hindman, 49ers, 1966;

· Georgia defensive end Bill Stanfill, Dolphins, 1969;

· Tennessee wide receiver Anthony Hancock, Chiefs, 1982;

· Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall, Bears, 1984;

· Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler, Broncos, 2006;

· Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis, 49ers, 2007;

· Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, Chargers, 2013;

· Florida defensive back Vernon Hargreaves, Buccaneers, 2016;

· Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dolphins, 2018;

· Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams, 2019

12th pick: Joe Namath, quarterback, Alabama

There might have been “Gateway Arch Joe” if Joe Namath had signed with the NFL team that drafted him, the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965. Instead, he chose to sign with the New York Jets’ offer of the most lucrative contract to that point in pro football history. Namath earned two AFL Player of the Year awards and secured a place in NFL lore by guaranteeing the Jets’ victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, then winning the game’s MVP honor. “Broadway Joe” is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 12 pick include:

· Auburn back Dave Middleton, Lions, 1955;

· Vanderbilt halfback Phil King, Giants, 1958;

· Auburn center Jackie Burkett, Colts, 1959;

· Kentucky guard Irv Gooden, Cardinals, 1962;

· Alabama quarterback Joe Namath, Cardinals, 1965;

· LSU defensive tackle George Rice, Bears, 1966;

· LSU running back Charles Alexander, Bengals, 1979;

· Florida defensive end Trace Armstrong, Bears, 1989;

· Tennessee wide receiver Alvin Harper, Cowboys, 1991;

· Tennessee defensive end Shaun Ellis, Jets, 2000;

· Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno, Broncos, 2009;

· Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, Eagles, 2012;

· LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham, Giants, 2014;

· Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, Raiders, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 12 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· LSU end Gaynell Tinsley, Cardinals, 1937;

· Tulane end Ralph Wenzel, Steelers, 1940;

· Georgia end Lamar Davis, Eagles, 1943;

13th pick: John Abraham, defensive end, South Carolina

Two of the 15 SEC players drafted with the 13th pick had especially long and productive NFL careers – John Abraham and Takeo Spikes. Spikes played in 219 games in 15 seasons, earned two Pro Bowl invitations and was All-Pro once. Abraham also appeared in 15 NFL seasons, playing in 192 games. He made the Pro Bowl five times and All-Pro twice, and his 133.5 sacks rank 13th on the NFL’s all-time list.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 13 pick include:

· LSU defensive tackle Earl Leggett, Bears, 1957;

· LSU linebacker A.J. Duhe, Dolphins, 1977;

· Georgia wide receiver Lindsay Scott, Saints, 1982;

· Florida fullback James Jones, Lions, 1983;

· Mississippi State defensive back Walt Harris, Bears, 1996;

· Auburn linebacker Takeo Spikes, Bengals, 1998;

· South Carolina defensive end John Abraham, Jets, 2000;

· Georgia defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, Jaguars, 2001;

· Tennessee wide receiver Donte Stallworth, Saints, 2002;

· Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, Lions, 2011;

· Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, Jets, 2013;

· Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, Dolphins, 2016;

· Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne, Redskins, 2018

The SEC players drafted with the No. 13 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama back Joe Kilgrow, Dodgers, 1938;

· Mississippi State back Blondy Black, Dodgers, 1943;

14th pick: Thomas Davis, linebacker, Georgia

Several of the 20 SEC players picked at No. 14 have had dependable NFL careers that lasted a decade or more. But they combined for only five Pro Bowl invitations and one All-Pro selection. Thomas Davis has three of the Pro Bowl selections and was All-Pro in 2015. Davis, who played safety at Georgia, retired following the 2020 season after overcoming three ACL tears in three years earlier in his career.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 14 pick include:

· Auburn end Jerry Wilson, Cardinals, 1959;

· LSU fullback Earl Gros, Packers, 1962;

· Tennessee defensive tackle Dick Evey, Bears, 1964;

· Florida quarterback John Reaves, Eagles, 1972;

· Florida linebacker Glenn Cameron, Bengals, 1975;

· Tennessee defensive back Roland James, Patriots, 1980;

· Alabama defensive end Marty Lyons, Jets, 1979;

· Auburn defensive end Gerald Robinson, Vikings, 1986;

· Georgia tackle Bernard Williams, Eagles, 1994;

· Florida tackle Kenyatta Walker, Buccaneers, 2001;

· Georgia linebacker Thomas Davis, Panthers, 2005;

· Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams, Bears, 2008;

· LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, Rams, 2012;

· Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett, Eagles, 2017;

· South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, 49ers, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 14 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama guard Tarzan White, Giants, 1937;

· Tennessee tackle Abe Shires, Rams, 1941;

· Auburn back Lloyd Cheatham, Cardinals, 1942;

· Tennessee halfback Bob Cifers, Lions, 1944;

· LSU defensive back Ken Konz, 1951;

15th pick: Jim Taylor, fullback, LSU

Jim Taylor was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a career that included five NFL championships as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Taylor turned in five straight 1,000-yard seasons for Green Bay, peaking in 1962, when he led the NFL with 1,474 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns and earned the league’s MVP Award. Taylor was not a first-round pick. At No. 15 in 1958, he was the second player picked in the second round.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 15 pick include:

· Kentucky tackle Sam Ball, Colts, 1966;

· Auburn center Forrest Blue, 49ers, 1968;

· Florida fullback John Williams, Seahawks, 1986;

· Tennessee wide receiver Anthony Miller, Chargers, 1988;

· Florida linebacker Huey Richardson, Steelers, 1991;

· Auburn tackle Wayne Gandy, Rams, 1994;

· Florida defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, Colts, 1995;

· LSU defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, Buccaneers, 1999;

· Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Titans, 2002;

· LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton, Buccaneers, 2004;

· Florida guard Mike Pouncey, Dolphins, 2011;

· Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Broncos, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 15 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama back Eddie Salem, Redskins, 1951;

· LSU fullback Jim Taylor, Packers, 1958;

· LSU quarterback Warren Rabb, Lions, 1960;

16th pick: Jevon Kearse, defensive end, Florida

The NFL hasn’t gotten an equitable return from the 10 SEC players who have been the No. 16 selection. Three have been Pro Bowlers and All-Pros – Jevon Kearse, Shawn Andrews and Marlon Humphrey. Andrews’ career lasted six seasons. Humphrey is only four seasons into his career, but he’s been a Pro Bowler twice and an All-Pro once. Kearse started like a Hall of Famer, making All-Pro as a rookie and earning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for 1999. He added two more Pro Bowl seasons in successive years, then settled in for an 11-year NFL career.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 16 pick include:

· Alabama defensive end Mike Pitts, Falcons, 1983;

· Florida wide receiver Reidel Anthony, Buccaneers, 1987;

· Florida defensive end Jevon Kearse, Titans, 1999;

· Arkansas tackle Shawn Andrews, Eagles, 2004;

· Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen, Dolphins, 2006;

· Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell, Packers, 2007;

· Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Ravens, 2017

The SEC players drafted with the No. 16 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Mississippi State end Lamar Blount, Giants, 1944;

· Mississippi State defensive back Harper Davis, Steelers, 1949;

· Auburn tackle Frank D’Agostino, Eagles, 1956;

17th pick: Emmitt Smith, running back, Florida

Emmitt Smith was a four-time All-Pro, led the NFL in rushing four times, turned in 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and is the league’s all-time leader in rushing yards with 18,355 and rushing touchdowns with 164. He also played for three Super Bowl winners and earned the NFL’s MVP Award for the 1993 season. Needlessly to say, Smith is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 17 pick include:

· Tennessee wide receiver Clyde Duncan, Cardinals, 1984;

· Florida running back Emmitt Smith, Cowboys, 1990;

· Georgia linebacker David Pollack, Bengals, 2005;

· Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss, Broncos, 2007;

· Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, Bengals 2012;

· Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, Steelers, 2013;

· Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, Ravens, 2014;

· Florida defensive back Keanu Neal, Falcons, 2016;

· Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, Redskins, 2017

The SEC players drafted with the No. 17 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Tennessee back Bob Foxx, Cardinals, 1941;

· Auburn back Monk Gafford, Eagles, 1943;

· LSU back Red Knight, Redskins, 1947;

· Georgia quarterback Zeke Bratkowski, Bears, 1953;

18th pick: Bruiser Kinard, tackle, Ole Miss

A two-way star for a team that doesn’t exist today – the Brooklyn Dodgers – Bruiser Kinard was legendary for his unwillingness to come off the field. World War II did take Kinard off the field, though. But when he came back, he signed on with the New York Yankees of the All-American Football Conference and became the first player to have All-NFL and All-AAFC on his record. Kinard is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 18 pick include:

· Alabama guard Bob Cryder, Patriots, 1978;

· Tennessee wide receiver Willie Gault, Bears, 1983;

· Ole Miss defensive end Freddie Joe Nunn, Cardinals, 1985;

· Ole Miss defensive end Tony Bennett, Packers, 1990;

· South Carolina tackle Ernest Dye, Cardinals, 1993;

· LSU wide receiver Eddie Kennison, Rams, 1996;

· Georgia running back Robert Edwards, Patriots, 1998;

· Georgia guard Matt Stinchcomb, Raiders, 1999;

· Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers, Broncos, 2009;

· Florida center Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers, 2010;

· South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, Chargers, 2012;

· LSU defensive back Eric Reid, 49ers, 2013;

· Alabama center Ryan Kelly, Colts, 2016

The SEC players drafted with the No. 18 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· LSU center Marv Stewart, Bears, 1937;

· Ole Miss tackle Bruiser Kinard, Dodgers, 1938;

· Kentucky quarterback Ermal Allen, Cardinals, 1947;

· Tulane defensive end Don Joyce, Cardinals, 1951;

· LSU defensive end George Tarasovic, Steelers, 1952;

· Florida fullback Rick Casares, Bears, 1954;

19th pick: Shaun Alexander, running back, Alabama

Shaun Alexander earned the NFL MVP Award for the 2005 season, when he led the NFL with 1,880 rushing yards and set a single-season mark with 27 rushing touchdowns. He ran for another 236 yards and two TDs in the postseason as the Seattle Seahawks reached the Super Bowl. The season was the high point of a five-year stretch in which Alexander ran for 7,504 yards and 87 touchdowns.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 19 pick include:

· Auburn wide receiver Terry Beasley, 49ers, 1979;

· Kentucky running back George Adams, Giants, 1985;

· Tennessee running back James Stewart, Jaguars, 1995;

· Alabama running back Shaun Alexander, Seahawks, 2000;

· Tennessee tackle Ja’Wuan James, Dolphins, 2014;

· Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, Buccaneers, 2017;

· Mississippi State defensive end Jeffery Simmons, Titans, 2019

The SEC players drafted with the No. 19 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Georgia Tech quarterback Frank Broyles, Bears, 1946;

· Florida guard Larry Gagner, Steelers, 1966;

20th pick: Jack Youngblood, defensive end, Florida

After the Rams drafted Jack Youngblood with the 20th pick in 1971, he spent the next 14 seasons with Los Angeles. Youngblood made the Pro Bowl every season from 1973 through 1979 and was a first-team All-Pro selection in five of those campaigns on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That gives him the edge on former Bessemer prep star Maxi Baughan, who had nine Pro Bowl invitations and two first-team All-Pro selections, and Eddie Price, who led the NFL in rushing in 1951 and had two first-team All-Pro seasons.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 20 pick include:

· Alabama wide receiver Dennis Homan, Cowboys, 1968;

· Florida defensive back Steve Tannen, Jets, 1970;

· Florida defensive end Jack Youngblood, Rams, 1971;

· Vanderbilt tackle Will Wolford, Bills, 1986;

· Ole Miss defensive tackle Kelvin Pritchett, Cowboys, 1991;

· Tennessee defensive back Dale Carter, Chiefs, 1992;

· Ole Miss defensive tackle Tim Bowens, Dolphins, 1994;

· Alabama linebacker Dwayne Rudd, Vikings, 1997;

· Tennessee defensive back Terry Fair, Lions, 1998;

· Georgia tackle George Foster, Broncos, 2003;

· LSU defensive end Marcus Spears, Cowboys, 2005;

· Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson, 2010;

· Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, Lions, 2018;

· LSU outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 20 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Tulane fullback Eddie Price, Giants, 1950;

· LSU guard Sid Fournet, Rams, 1955;

· Georgia Tech linebacker Maxie Baughan, Eagles, 1960;

· Georgia tackle Ray Rissmiller, Eagles, 1965;

21st pick: Richie Petitbon, safety, Tulane

Richie Petitbon, who was a Pro Bowler four times, is the only No. 21 pick from the SEC who has been first-team All-Pro, earning the recognition in 1963, when he intercepted eight passes for the Chicago Bears’ NFL championship team. Petitbon spent 14 seasons as a player in the NFL.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 21 pick include:

· Alabama defensive back Don McNeal, Dolphins, 1980;

· Tennessee wide receiver Tim McGee, Bengals, 1986;

· LSU running back Harvey Williams, Chiefs, 1991;

· Florida linebacker Clifford Charlton, Browns, 1988;

· Arkansas wide receiver Matt Jones, Jaguars, 2005;

· Florida defensive back Reggie Nelson, Jaguars, 2007;

· Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers, 2014;

· Texas A&M tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, Bengals, 2015;

· Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis, Lions, 2017

The SEC players drafted with the No. 21 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Auburn back Rufus Deal, Redskins, 1942;

· Mississippi State guard Dub Garrett, Bears, 1948;

· Georgia Tech center George Morris, 49ers, 1953;

· Tulane defensive back Richie Petitbon, Bears, 1959;

· Georgia Tech tight end Bill Martin, Bears, 1964;

No. 22 pick: Jack Reynolds, linebacker, Tennessee

As the 22nd player picked in the 2020 NFL Draft, former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson began his pro career as though he’s coming for this spot. Jefferson caught 88 passes for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings as a rookie. But Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds spent 15 seasons in the NFL living up to his nickname. After 11 years and two Pro Bowl seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, Reynolds finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers, picking up two Super Bowl rings.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 22 pick include:

· Tennessee linebacker Jack Reynolds, Rams, 1970;

· LSU defensive back Mike Williams, Chargers, 1975;

· Georgia defensive back Ben Smith, Eagles, 1990;

· LSU tight end David LaFleur, Cowboys, 1997;

· Florida quarterback Rex Grossman, Bears, 2003;

· Arkansas running back Felix Jones, Cowboys, 2008;

· Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, Vikings, 2009;

· Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Browns, 2014;

· Kentucky outside linebacker Bud Dupree, Steelers, 2015;

· Missouri outside linebacker Charles Harris, Dolphins, 2017;

· Alabama inside linebacker Rashaan Evans, Titans, 2018;

· LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Vikings, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 22 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· LSU end Ken Kavanaugh, Bears, 1940;

· Auburn tackle M.L. Brackett, Bears, 1956;

23rd pick: Ozzie Newsome, tight end, Alabama

Ozzie Newsome was an All-American split end for the Crimson Tide who spent 13 seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ tight end. When Newsome left the game, the former Colbert County High School star had more receptions for more yards than any player in NFL history at that position. Newsome has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1999 and the Browns’ all-time receiving leader even longer.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 23 pick include:

· Alabama tight end Ozzie Newsome, Browns, 1978;

· Florida tackle David Williams, Oilers, 1989;

· Tennessee defensive end Chris Mims, Chargers, 1992;

· Florida guard Mo Collins, Raiders, 1998;

· Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister, Saints, 2001;

· LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs, 2007;

· Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher, Ravens, 2009;

· Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Vikings, 2013;

· Auburn defensive end Dee Ford, Chiefs, 2014;

· Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, Broncos, 2015;

· Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, Vikings, 2016;

· Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, Giants, 2017;

· Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, Patriots, 2018

The SEC players drafted with the No. 23 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama back Charley Holm, Redskins, 1939;

· Tulane back Buddy Banker, Redskins, 1940;

· Georgia Tech guard Ray Beck, Giants, 1952;

24th pick: James Brooks, running back, Auburn

In his first two seasons in the NFL, James Brooks led the league in all-purpose yards. His chances in the return game declined after that, especially following his trade to the Cincinnati Bengals after three seasons with the San Diego Chargers. In Cincinnati, Brooks became the Bengals’ top ball-carrier, running for at least 929 yards five times in six seasons, producing three 1,000-yard campaigns and earning four Pro Bowl invitations.

The 24th slot has outproduced some of the selection positions ahead of it where SEC players are concerned. Rodney Hampton was a five-time 1,000-yard rusher, John Gordy and Eric Moulds were three-time Pro Bowlers and the 2019 No. 24 pick, Josh Jacobs, has started his NFL career with two 1,000-yard seasons.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 24 pick include:

· Auburn running back James Brooks, Chargers, 1981;

· Tennessee linebacker Alvin Toles, Saints, 1985;

· Georgia running back Rodney Hampton, Giants, 1990;

· Mississippi State wide receiver Eric Moulds, Bills, 1996;

· Florida defensive tackle Reggie McGrew, 49ers, 1999;

· South Carolina defensive end Johnathan Joseph, Bengals, 2006;

· Ole Miss defensive tackle Peria Jerry, Falcons, 2009;

· Florida tackle D.J. Humphries, Cardinals, 2015;

· Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, Raiders, 2019

The SEC players drafted with the No. 24 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Vanderbilt center Charley Hoover, Lions, 1947;

· Ole Miss fullback John Dottley, Bears, 1950;

· Tennessee guard John Gordy, guard, Lions, 1957;

· Ole Miss guard Marvin Terrell, Colts, 1960;

· Alabama back Butch Wilson, Colts, 1963;

· Kentucky tackle Herschel Turner, Cardinals, 1964;

25th pick: Stanley Morgan, wide receiver, Tennessee

When the Patriots picked Stanley Morgan in 1977, they had obtained a field-stretching pass-catcher for 13 years. Morgan led the NFL in yards per catch for three straight seasons, and his career average of 19.2 yards per reception ranks 10th in NFL history. Morgan was a Pro Bowler in 1979 and 1980 and again in 1986 and 1987.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 25 pick include:

· Tennessee wide receiver Stanley Morgan, Patriots, 1977;

· Auburn tight end Reese McCall, Colts, 1978;

· Alabama defensive end Emanuel King, Bengals, 1985;

· Florida defensive back Louis Oliver, Dolphins, 1989;

· Georgia defensive end Charles Grant, Saints, 2002;

· Arkansas defensive back Ahmad Carroll, Packers, 2004;

· Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell, Redskins, 2005;

· Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Broncos, 2010;

· Alabama offensive tackle James Carpenter, Seahawks, 2011;

· Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower, Patriots, 2012;

· South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst, Ravens, 2018

The SEC players drafted with the No. 25 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama tackle Fred Davis, Redskins, 1941;

· LSU back Alvin Dark, Eagles, 1945;

· Ole Miss defensive back Billy Kinard, Browns, 1956;

· Florida guard Charley Mitchell, Browns, 1958;

· Georgia defensive back Charley Britt, Rams, 1960;

26th pick: Alan Faneca, guard, LSU

In 10 seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ left guard, Faneca was a first-team All-Pro selection six times. He was a Super Bowl winner with the Steelers in 2005. And as a member of the Class of 2021, he’s now a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Over his 13 seasons, Faneca missed two games while starting 201 and earning nine Pro Bowl invitations.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 26 pick include:

· Mississippi State defensive end Glen Collins, Bengals, 1982;

· Auburn wide receiver Alexander Wright, Cowboys, 1990;

· Arkansas defensive end Henry Ford, Oilers, 1994;

· LSU guard Alan Faneca, Steelers, 1998;

· Alabama cornerback Fernando Bryant, Jaguars, 1999;

· Florida defensive back Lito Sheppard, Eagles, 2002;

· Ole Miss center Chris Spencer, Seahawks, 2005;

· Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, Cardinals, 2010;

· Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley, Falcons, 2018;

· Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat, Redskins, 2019

The SEC players drafted with the No. 26 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Vanderbilt end Bucky Curtis, Browns, 1951;

· Florida fullback Mal Hammack, Cardinals, 1955;

· Florida tackle Frank Lasky, Giants, 1963;

· LSU tight end Billy Truax, Browns, 1964;

· Kentucky tight end Bob Windsor, 49ers, 1966;

· Alabama running back Leslie Kelly, Saints, 1967;

· Kentucky wide receiver Randy Burke, Colts, 1977;

27th pick: Neal Anderson, running back, Florida

From 1988 through 1991, Anderson was a Pro Bowler each season for the Chicago Bears. During those four seasons, Anderson ran for 4,206 yards and 39 touchdowns and caught 178 passes for 1,657 yards and 10 TDs.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 27 pick include:

· Tennessee center Robert Shaw, Cowboys, 1979;

· Florida running back Lorenzo Hampton, Dolphins, 1985;

· Florida running back Neal Anderson, Bears, 1986;

· Florida wide receiver Ricky Nattiel, Broncos, 1987;

· LSU wide receiver Wendell Davis, Bears, 1988;

· Tennessee linebacker Todd Kelly, 49ers, 1993;

· Auburn tackle Victor Riley, Chiefs, 1998;

· Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem, Saints, 2007;

· LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White, Bills, 2017;

· Raiders safety Johnathan Abram, Raiders, 2019

The SEC players drafted with the No. 27 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Vanderbilt back Jimmy Butler, Cardinals, 1959;

· Georgia Tech tackle Ed Nutting, Browns, 1961;

· Georgia guard Pete Case, Eagles, 1962;

· Vanderbilt tackle Bob Asher, Cowboys, 1970;

28th pick: Mark Ingram, running back, Alabama

Mark Ingram has three Pro Bowl and three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner is the only one of the SEC No. 28′s who has played in the NFL’s all-star game without being a member of the championship team (from the days when the league champ played a team of all-stars from the rest of the NFL to wrap up the season).

Dick Plasman did that twice as a member of the champion Chicago Bears and also played on three NFL title teams. The first SEC player drafted at No. 28 also was the last NFL player to play without a helmet. That came in the 1940 NFL championship game. A teammate said Plasman “had a piece of cement for a head.”

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 28 pick include:

· Tennessee linebacker Keith DeLong, 49ers, 1989;

· Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Saints, 2011;

· LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, Ravens, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 28 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Vanderbilt end Dick Plasman, Bears, 1937;

· Alabama center Joe Domnanovich, Dodgers, 1943;

· Tennessee guard Bob Dobelstein, Cardinals, 1945;

· LSU defensive back Dan Sandifer, Redskins, 1948;

· Georgia halfback Billy Mixon, 49ers, 1951;

· Georgia Tech back Stan Flowers, Redskins, 1958;

· LSU center Bo Strange, Eagles, 1961;

29th pick: Fran Tarkenton, quarterback, Georgia

In their first NFL Draft after joining the league as an expansion team, the Minnesota Vikings selected Tulane running back Tommy Mason with the No. 1 pick in 1961 and took North Carolina linebacker Rip Hawkins with the 15th choice. But it was at No. 29 where the Vikings hit the jackpot. They drafted Fran Tarkenton, sending him on his way to an 18-year career as an NFL starting quarterback and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When he retired, Tarkenton had more passing yards, touchdown passes, victories and rushing yards than any quarterback in NFL history.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 29 pick include:

· Alabama defensive back George Teague, Packers, 1993;

· Ole Miss running back John Avery, Dolphins, 1998;

· Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, Ravens, 2007;

· Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings, 2013;

· Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley, Patriots, 2014;

· Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, Cardinals, 2016;

· Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan, Jaguars, 2018;

· Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, Titans, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 29 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Tennessee end Al Hust, Cardinals, 1943;

· Florida center Roger Adams, Steelers, 1945;

· Georgia Tech guard Bill Healey, Yanks, 1948;

· Georgia Tech halfback Frank Ziegler, Eagles, 1949;

· Tulane linebacker Bill Svoboda, Cardinals, 1950;

· Kentucky defensive end Walt Yowarsky, Redskins, 1951;

· Georgia Tech tackle Lum Snyder, Eagles, 1952;

· Tulane tackle Dalton Truax, Packers, 1957;

· Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton, Vikings, 1961;

· Kentucky quarterback Rick Norton, Browns, 1966;

· LSU defensive back Tommy Casanova, Bengals, 1972;

· Florida linebacker Ralph Ortega, Falcons, 1975;

· Florida linebacker Sammy Green, Seahawks, 1976;

· Auburn running back Joe Cribbs, Bills, 1980;

· Auburn defensive end Doug Smith, Oilers, 1984;

· LSU running back Garry James, Lions, 1986;

· Auburn guard Ed King, Browns, 1991;

30th pick: Joseph Addai, running back, LSU

Only one of the 12 SEC players picked at No. 30 has received a Pro Bowl invitation. Joseph Addai got that in 2007, the second of the two 1,000-yard rushing seasons that started his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Reggie Cobb, the 1990 No. 30 pick, ran for 1,171 yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992; Kendall Simmons, the 2002 No. 30 pick, was a starting guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl winner in 2005; and Willie Teal, the 1980 No. 30 pick, and Alex Ogletree, the 2013 No. 30 pick, are the only SEC players taken in the slot who have lasted eight seasons in the NFL.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 30 pick include:

· Tennessee wide receiver Marcus Nash, Broncos, 1998;

· Auburn guard Kendall Simmons, Steelers, 2002;

· LSU running back Joseph Addai, Colts, 2006;

· LSU wide receiver Craig Davis, Chargers, 2007;

· Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree, Rams, 2013;

· Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker, Giants, 2019;

· Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 30 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama tackle Bob Wood, Rams, 1940;

· Georgia Tech center Paul Duke, Giants, 1946;

· Florida running back Jimmy DuBose, Buccaneers, 1976;

· LSU defensive back Willie Teal, Vikings, 1980;

· Tennessee running back Reggie Cobb, Buccaneers, 1990;

31st pick: Al Wilson, linebacker, Tennessee

The first NFL Draft in 1936 featured an SEC player as the No. 31 pick – Alabama end Paul “Bear” Bryant. Bryant never played in the NFL, going into coaching instead. The most recent NFL Draft picked at No. 31 is Georgia running back Sony Michel in 2018.

But the best SEC player picked at No. 31 has been Al Wilson. In his eight NFL seasons, Wilson collected more Pro Bowl invitations and All-Pro selections than the rest of the SEC’s No. 31 picks put together. After joining Denver in 1999, Wilson was a Pro Bowler for the Broncos five times, including his final two seasons, and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2005. Two other former Tennessee players – Bill Anderson and Carl Pickens – split the spot’s four remaining Pro Bowl invitations.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 31 pick include:

· Tennessee linebacker Al Wilson, Broncos, 1999;

· Texas A&M guard Germain Ifedi, Seahawks, 2016;

· Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, 49ers, 2017;

· Georgia running back Sony Michel, Patriots, 2018

The SEC players drafted with the No. 31 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Alabama end Bear Bryant, Dodgers, 1936;

· Auburn center Walter Gilbert, Eagles, 1937;

· Georgia end Weyman Sellers, Packers, 1948;

· Tennessee end Bill Anderson, Redskins, 1958;

· Auburn tackle Billy Wilson, Cardinals, 1961;

· LSU running back Dalton Hilliard, Saints, 1986;

· Auburn wide receiver Lawyer Tillman, Browns, 1989;

· Tennessee wide receiver Carl Pickens, Bengals, 1992;

32nd pick: Ray Donaldson, center, Georgia

Ray Donaldson didn’t start a game during his rookie season after the Baltimore Colts drafted him in 1980. In the next 16 seasons, he started 228 of them – every game he played for the rest of his career with the Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. Donaldson earned six Pro Bowl invitations along the way, including in each of his final two seasons.

The SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 32 pick include:

· Georgia tight end Ben Watson, Patriots, 2004;

· Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod, Packers, 2011;

· Florida defensive back Matt Elam, Ravens, 2013;

· LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs, 2020

The SEC players drafted with the No. 32 pick who were not first-rounders include:

· Tulane back Bucky Bryan, Cardinals, 1937;

· Tulane back Gaston Bourgeois, Yanks, 1946;

· Kentucky end Al Bruno, Eagles, 1951;

· Auburn center Lee Gross, Saints, 1975;

· Georgia center Ray Donaldson, Colts, 1980;

The list includes only players selected in the regular NFL draft. The drafts from other leagues are not included nor are any supplemental drafts that have been held by the NFL.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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