Twelve more SEC stars were selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Some will become All-Pros.

Who has the best chance to be great out of the gate?

That’s something we’ve been debating since Thursday night.

Connor O’Gara, senior national columnist

Ja’Marr Chase. I rarely go with receivers in this spot because I think the craftiness needed to play the position at the next level usually humbles rookies making that transition, but let’s think about what the former LSU star has working in his favor. Can he get separation at an elite level? Um, yeah. He did that as a 19-year-old sophomore, and he did so at a level that was arguably higher than any Power 5 receiver who came before him. Yes, the NFL is a different beast than the SEC, but all signs point to him being physically ready to make that transition. Hence, why his pro day cemented that he’d be the first receiver picked in the top 10 since 2017 — even though he opted out of the 2020 season.

There’s also the well-documented thing that Chase has working in his favor compared to a typical rookie receiver — he’s back with Joe Burrow. Those 2 were about as in sync as any quarterback-receiver duo in college football history. Burrow is still coming off his torn ACL, but that learning curve isn’t nearly as steep as it could be for a rookie wideout like Chase. And the other thing? The Bengals already have 2 solid receivers in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, which was why some said that Penei Sewell made more sense because it was more a position of need than receiver. Chase won’t be lined up against No. 1 corners to start his NFL career.

He might not come out and break all the records from the jump, but is Chase the best bet to explode as a rookie just like his former LSU receiver teammate Justin Jefferson? Absolutely.

Adam Spencer, newsletter editor

I’m going with Mr. Heisman himself, former Alabama WR DeVonta Smith. He was chosen No. 10 overall after the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to get him. Now, it’s going to be up to new Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to make the most of him.

I don’t like to agree with ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky too often, but I 100% agree with him here:

Smith’s size was a concern during the pre-draft process. That’s silly because it didn’t bother him at all in the SEC. As Orlovsky showed, that’s because Steve Sarkisian put him in positions to succeed. If Sirianni puts Smith in the slot, sends him in motion or gets creative with him in other ways, Smith will succeed. He has the desire to be a star and the work ethic to do everything necessary to compete at the highest level.

Sirianni spent the last 3 years as the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive coordinator, working with T.Y. Hilton. Hilton is 5-10 and 180 pounds, but it didn’t hurt his production. Smith can have a similar impact with former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts and the Eagles this fall.

Neil Blackmon, Florida columnist

The two “safest” picks in the first round of the NFL Draft were both (surprise, surprise) SEC players: Kyle Pitts of Florida and Patrick Surtain II of Alabama. Both players’ professional floor is a very productive NFL player and their ceiling is a gold jacket ceremony enshrining them in Canton.

Of the two, give me Surtain II, or PS2, if you prefer his handle of choice, as the one who will be the most polished and productive as a rookie.

Surtain II was the best corner I’ve ever seen in college at jamming routes at the line of scrimmage, a must in the modern NFL. A film room junkie, Surtain II often seems to recognize routes before a receiver finishes running them, making him an elite closer on the ball consistently in position to play the ball first. Because he played in Nick Saban’s complex coverage schemes, his learning curve will be shorter because he’s played in multiple looks. That will also help him contribute immediately in a secondary that just signed Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency and specifically drafted Surtain to move him around in their preferred nickel and dime packages. From a fit and football standpoint, he’s in a tremendous spot.

Finally, Surtain II is simply more polished and prepared for the NFL’s mental demands than any other football player in the country. He grew up around a Pro Bowl father, was coached by former pros and college stars like Mike Rumph and Chad Wilson and he understands that the NFL will bring adversity the likes of which he never saw at Alabama. Saban’s program is as demanding as any college outfit that has ever existed, of course, but players don’t lose more than 3 or 4 games in a career at Alabama. In the NFL, you can lose 3-4 games in a month. Surtain II is built to weather the struggle that often goes into building a winner. He has a quiet humility about him and a work ethic famous by even Saban’s Alabama standards.

Chris Wright, executive editor

I can make a strong All-Rookie case for about half of this year’s SEC draft class, but I’ll narrow it Kyle Pitts (Falcons), Kadarius Toney (Giants) and Najee Harris (Steelers).

Why those three?

Opportunity. And situation.

Pitts could not have landed in a better spot. Seriously. Hayden Hurst, who is a fine tight end, caught 56 balls last season and scored 6 TDs. The Falcons declined his 5th-year option, which means they’ve already turned the page. Pitts is much more of a play-maker and he’ll feast as defenses have to account for Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Even if he begins the season sharing snaps with Hurst, he’ll quickly separate because he’s much more of an offensive weapon.

Similarly, Toney landed in an offense with a (young, emerging) franchise QB, but Daniel Jones also is desperate to find playmakers. Toney, with his versatile skill-set, has a huge opportunity to be involved in myriad formations and situations. And we know, if he gets his hands on the ball with any type of frequency, good things happen.

I believe Pitts will have a fantastic rookie season, but Harris might have an even better opportunity to earn a prominent role out of fall camp and become an All-Rookie performer. We know Pittsburgh wants to run the football, but the Steelers must replace James Conner, their leading rusher the past 2 seasons. Benny Snell will get carries, but he’s not a feature back, and he’s only caught 13 passes in 2 seasons. Harris obviously has the size, skills and potential to become a permanent building block.

And if there is one position NFL teams are fearless about force-feeding the young, it’s running back. Even more so with a veteran QB who can navigate a rookie’s occasional missed block.

For the past 9 seasons, at least 1 rookie running back topped 1,000 yards.

Najee Harris has the best chance to make it 10 consecutive years and will have the best rookie season among the SEC’s 12 first-round draft picks.