15 SEC players projected to go in first round in latest Sporting News mock draft

In one week, the order for the 2020 NFL Draft will be officially set.

The Cincinnati Bengals have already secured the No. 1 overall pick, and it seems likely at this point that they’ll use the selection on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati needs a new franchise quarterback and Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner, has been the most impressive player in college football this season. So it seems likes a natural fit.

But Burrow won’t be the only SEC player taken early on the first night of the draft in April. There should be plenty of talented players from the conference coming off the board and quickly finding out their new NFL home.

Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News is currently projecting 15 SEC players to go in the first round. That includes three in the top five — Burrow at No. 1, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Washington Redskins at No. 2 and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagavailoa to the Miami Dolphins at No. 5.

Here are all the SEC players who Iyer is projecting to go in the first round:

• No. 1 — Joe Burrow, QB, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 2 — Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama — Washington Redskins
• No. 5 — Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama — Miami Dolphins
• No. 6 — Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn — Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 10 — Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia — New York Jets
• No. 12 — Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama — Cleveland Browns
• No. 17 — Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• No. 18 — Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU — Oakland Raiders
• No. 20 — Grant Delpit, S, LSU — Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 22 — Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama — Minnesota Vikings
• No. 23 — Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU — Buffalo Bills
• No. 25 — Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama — Philadelphia Eagles
• No. 30 — Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama — New England Patriots
• No. 31 — D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia — San Francisco 49ers
• No. 32 — C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida — Baltimore Ravens

Jake Rill

Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.