Which SEC draft picks have best chance to make NFL’s All-Rookie team?

Last year, 11 SEC rookies landed on the NFL’s All-Rookie Team, as voted on by the Pro Football Writers Association. Seven of those 11 were first-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft.

With 10 more first-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, there certainly will be some SEC players represented on the All-Rookie team.

In case you forgot, the first-round picks were:

• No. 8 — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia — Chicago Bears
• No. 11 — Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama — Miami Dolphins
• No. 13 — Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama — Washington Redskins
• No. 20 — Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas — Detroit Lions
• No. 22 — Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama — Tennessee Titans
• No. 23 — Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia — New England Patriots
• No. 25 — Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina — Baltimore Ravens
• No. 26 — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama — Atlanta Falcons
• No. 29 — Taven Bryan, DL, Florida — Jacksonville Jaguars
• No. 31 — Sony Michel, RB, Georgia — New England Patriots

So, which of those 10 are the safest bet to earn All-Rookie accolades when the 2018 season is done? And who among the later picks has the best chance? That depends on how you look at it.

Position scarcity

Based on the positions they play, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hurst (a tight end) and Ragnow (a center) honored after their rookie seasons, as there are only a few centers and tight ends selected every year.

Just look at last year’s All-Rookie tight end, for example. Ole Miss’ Evan Engram had a nice year, racking up 64 catches for 722 yards and 6 touchdowns, but he didn’t have much competition for All-Rookie honors.

Alabama’s O.J. Howard, who was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, only had 26 catches for 432 yards (though he also had 6 scores). Meanwhile, Cleveland Browns rookie TE David Njoku, also a first-round pick, only had 32 catches for 386 yards and 4 touchdowns. Therefore, it’s no surprise Engram got the nod.

This year, Hurst was the only first-round tight end taken, so that gives him an edge. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Dallas Goedert and the Miami Dolphins took Mike Gesicki in the second round, but the Eagles have Zach Ertz and Richard Rodgers ahead of Goedert on the depth chart, so Gesicki might be Hurst’s only major competition.

Week 1 opportunities

Naturally, though, the All-Rookie team takes position scarcity into account, so there are three linebacker spots, four defensive line slots and four openings for defensive backs. Therefore, all 10 players have a fair chance to make the All-Rookie team.

Then, the question becomes who is the most ready to play from Day 1. In that regard, I really like Roquan Smith. In 2017, he showed the sort of defensive brilliance that will translate immediately to the Chicago Bears. Much like Reuben Foster last year for the San Francisco 49ers, Smith can be an impact player in the middle of the Bears’ defense.

In the Bears’ 3-4 system, Smith and veteran Danny Trevathan should be the two Week 1 starters (barring injury) and Smith should thrive in that setting. In his senior year for the Bulldogs, Smith had 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 15 games. He might not get as many pass-rushing opportunities in Chicago, as fellow Georgia alum Leonard Floyd and other OLB Aaron Lynch will get those chances, but he should still be a tackling machine.

Other plug-and-play starters could include Minkah Fitzpatrick (potentially as a nickel corner) and Rashaan Evans.

Verdict on first-rounders

While there’s certainly no shame in taking a year or two to realize your potential in the NFL (as long as you aren’t a quarterback), this is about the 2018 season.

There should be plenty of impact players from the SEC this fall, including some who didn’t go in the first round. But, if I were a betting man, here’s how I’d rank the three best bets to land on the All-Rookie team:

1. Roquan Smith
2. Frank Ragnow
3. Rashaan Evans

Non-first round picks to keep an eye on

1. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals
2. Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
3. Derrius Guice, RB, Washington Redskins
4. Oren Burks, LB, Green Bay Packers
5. Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.