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SEC set to break first-round record in NFL Draft
SEC set to break first-round record in NFL Draft
Another year, another NFL Draft, another slew of broken records.
The SEC's history of setting and then passing benchmarks is expected to continue tonight as the first round of the professional draft begins at 7 o'clock. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow will kick things off as the No. 1 selection, and a flurry of SEC stars are expected to follow.
The SEC is projected to easily tie or break the first-round record for selections from a conference (12), which it already did twice (2013 and 2017) in the previous decade. Up to 17 players from the SEC have been projected to be selected in 22 mock drafts gathered by 247Sports.
The expectation for a record night was set more than one month ago, when online sportsbooks began setting odds on whether the SEC would be represented by 15 or more players in the first round. The better betting line might be whether to pick the SEC or the field in the first round.
ESPN's Mel Kiper lists 11 SEC players in his top 18 players available, and 12 of the top 21 hail from the conference. No conference has has had more than eight players selected in the first 20 picks.
"The SEC could have 12 and tie the entire first round record in the Top 20," ESPN analyst Chris Fallica told 247Sports.
The spotlight will be on Burrow and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, along with defensive beasts like Auburn's Derrick Brown and South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw. The big stars might be the three receivers hailing from Alabama (Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy) and LSU (Justin Jefferson). The proliferation of spread offenses in the SEC, particularly at LSU and Alabama in recent years, should provide general managers and coaches more confidence to select the conference's receivers.
All eight SEC receivers selected in the first round since 2011 were on an NFL roster in 2019 and five of them have recorded more than 5,000 yards receiving in their professional careers.
"All but (former Ole Miss receiver Laquon) Treadwell have had a huge impact in the NFL and there's no reason to think Jeudy, Ruggs or Jefferson will be any different," Fallica said.
Retention hasn't been an issue for players out of the SEC, no matter the position. Only eight of a nation-leading 69 players selected in the first round since college re-alignment in 2013 are no longer in the NFL. The retention rate since 2006 ranks second among its Power 5 brethren, with 72.9 percent of the SEC players on NFL rosters in 2019.
LSU or Alabama will lead the way for the SEC tonight and could challenge the record for most first-round picks from one school. Miami owns the record with six in 2004.
The SEC may also break its own record for total players in the seven-round draft, which it set in 2019 with 69. The SEC has led the country in NFL Draft representatives in each of the last 13 years. The SEC has led the nation in first-round selections in eight of the last nine years.
"It really shouldn't be much of a surprise the conference that has had the best recruiting classes and been the best conference in the sport is about to set this record," Fallica said.
SEC first-round projections in 2020 NFL Draft
Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com: 18 (6 from LSU)
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 17 (5)
Tom Fornelli, CBSSports: 16 (6)
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports: 16 (5)
Cynthia Frelund, NFL.com: 16 (5)
Dan Schneier, CBSSports: 15 (6)
Ryan Wilson, CBSSports: 16 (5)
Pete Prisco, CBSSports: 15 (5)
R.J. White, CBSSports: 15 (5)
Mel Kiper, ESPN: 15 (4)
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus: 15 (5)
Brad Kelly, Pro Football Network: 15 (6)
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: 15 (6)
Peter Schrager, NFL.com: 15 (4)
Charles Davis, NFL.com: 15 (4)
Charley Casserly, NFL.com: 15 (5)
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: 14 (4)
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: 14 (4)
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: 14 (4)
Will Brinson, CBSSports: 13 (4)
Josh Edwards, CBSSports: 13 (4)
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: 12 (4)
SEC projections in first round (Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports)
1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU (Cincinnati Bengals)
4. Jedrick Wills, OL, Alabama (New York Giants)
5. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama (Miami Dolphins)
7. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn (Carolina Panthers)
9. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida (Jacksonville Jaguars)
11. Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia (New York Jets)
13. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama (San Francisco 49ers)
15. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama (Denver Broncos)
16. Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina (Atlanta Falcons)
17. K'Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU (Dallas Cowboys)
18. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama (Miami Dolphins)
22. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU (Minnesota Vikings)
27. Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn (Seattle Seahawks)
28. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU (Baltimore Ravens)
29. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (Tennessee Titans)
31. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama (San Francisco 49ers)
First-round selections since conference realignment (2013 NFL Draft)
SEC: 69
ACC: 41
Pac 12: 34
Big Ten: 32
Big 12: 15
Retention of first-rounders in the NFL since 2006
Pac 10/12: 70.7%
SEC: 66.9% (124 selections leads all Power 5 conferences)
Big Ten: 65.2%
ACC: 56.8%
Big 12: 52.9%
SOURCE: Marcello, Brandon. "SEC set to break first-round record in NFL Draft." 247Sports.com,
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