ATHENS — The ink has yet to dry on the contracts of the latest group of Georgia football players in the NFL, and already, next year’s projections are coming out.
Georgia had seven players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, the most under coach Kirby Smart.
But five Bulldogs players are projected to go in the first two rounds of next year’s draft, alone — if teams select according to rankings from CBS sports NFL draft reporter Chris Trapasso.
RELATED: How Georgia football will produce record draft picks in 2020
In fact, Georgia is projected to have two first-round 2020 NFL Draft picks with junior left tackle Andrew Thomas ranked No. 2 overall and junior quarterback Jake Fromm at No. 15 overall.
Tailback D’Andre Swift, who has indicated he is going pro after his junior season, is ranked No. 42 overall and junior offensive guard Ben Cleveland is No. 53 overall.
Senior safety J.R. Reed, who could have gone in the first three rounds of this year’s draft, is rated No. 61.
RELATED 3 takeaways from the 2019 NFL Draft
A DawgNation story last week asserted the Bulldogs will break the school record for most draft picks in a season (eight) by producing a double-digit number of selections in the 2020 NFL Draft.
WalterFootball.com has already published the first two rounds of its 2020 NFL Mock Draft and has the following Georgia players projected in the first two rounds:
No. 2 overall, OT Andrew Thomas
No. 6 overall, QB Jake Fromm
No. 60 overall RB D’Andre Swift
The DraftSite.com mock draft lists Georgia players in the 2020 draft in this order:
No. 4 overall, OT Andrew Thomas
No. 10 overall, QB Jake Fromm
No. 57 overall, OG Solomon Kindley
No. 61 overall, SS J.R. Reed
No. 66 overall RB D’Andre Swift
No. 131 overall OG Ben Cleveland
No. 138 overall DT Tyler Clark
No. 203 overall PK Rodrigo Blankenship
Players not projected who are already on the Senior Bowl’s roster – a strong indication a player is likely draft worthy, include incoming WR Lawrence Cager and RB Brian Herrien.
The Bulldogs have other draft-eligible players worth noting, such as: WR J.J. Holloman, OT Isaiah Wilson, WR Demetris Robertson, FS Richard LeCounte and CB Eric Stokes.
DawgNation 2019 NFL Draft coverage
Holyfield and Ledbetter among UGA free-agent signees
Rashad Baker goes 30th overall to the New York Giants
Kansas City Chiefs grab Mecole Hardman in second round
Riley Ridley fourth-round pick of Chicago Bears
Tennessee Titans pick up D’Andre Walker in fifth round
Lamont Gaillard sixth-round choice of Arizona Cardinals
Detroit Lions find value in Isaac Nauta in seventh round
Terry Godwin gets picked in seventh round by Carolina Panthers