Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest NFL Mock Draft includes 9 SEC stars selected in Round 1
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off next week, which means mock draft season in in full swing.
NFL Draft expect Mel Kiper Jr. joined the fray on Wednesday, revealing his updated mock draft for Rounds 1 and 2. Several former SEC stars — 9, to be exact — landed in the first round of Kiper’s mock draft, with 16 more slated to be selected in Round 2.
To no major surprise, LSU’s Mansoor Delane is the first SEC player off the board, selected at No. 10 by the Cincinnati Bengals. He and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor are the only 2 SEC players projected to be selected in the top half of the first round.
Notably, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee all have 2 first round selections according to Kiper’s mock draft. Here’s a full look at Kiper’s first round SEC selections:
- No. 10 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals
- No. 12 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Cleveland Browns (trade via DAL)
- No. 17 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — Detroit Lions
- No. 24 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Cleveland Browns
- No. 25 — Zion Young, DL, Mizzou — Chicago Bears
- No. 26 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn — Buffalo Bills
- No. 28 — Christen Miller, DL, Georgia — Houston Texans
- No. 29 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Kansas City Chiefs (trade via LAR)
- No. 30 — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama — Arizona Cardinals
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
