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No conference places more players in the NFL than the SEC. Over the past decade, 460 SEC players were selected in the NFL Draft.
Interestingly, 89 of those selections happened in the first round, which is the highest amount of SEC players taken in any of the seven rounds during the past 10 years.
Some of these players have developed into All-Pros, while others have been labeled as draft busts. The draft is a reflection of a player’s college accomplishments and the potential he still possesses, but it only provides an opportunity. It’s up to each player to determine his career.
With the draft just hours away, it’s time to look back and select the best SEC draft pick over the past decade from each round, knowing there are more right answers than incorrect ones.
First round – Patrick Peterson, LSU (2011)
Accolades: 6 Pro Bowls, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 96 starts, 20 INTs
Although the SEC has had some very talented players taken in the first round, none have made the kind of impact from Day 1 that Peterson has. Taken with the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, Peterson has started every single game of his NFL career and made the Pro Bowl each season.
His three First Team All-Pro selections are tied with Eric Berry for the most among SEC players drafted in the past decade, and his 20 interceptions are tied for third since entering the league. Peterson narrowly edged out Patrick Willis, because he projects to have a lengthier, more impactful career than the former Ole Miss star.
Honorable mention: Cam Newton (2011), Patrick Willis (2007)
Second round – Landon Collins, Alabama (2015)
Accolades: 1 Pro Bowl, First Team All-Pro, 32 starts, 180 TKLs, 6 INTs
The second round is one of the SEC’s weaker rounds over the past 10 years. Collins has only been in the NFL for two seasons, yet he is the only First Team All-Pro among the second-round players in our criteria. Consideration was given to Jarvis Landry at this spot, but Collins became one of the NFL’s best safeties in 2016 and his value is arguably greater than Landry’s.
Honorable mention: Jarvis Landry (2014)
Third round – Justin Houston, Georgia (2011)
Accolades: 4 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro, 69 starts, 60 SKs, 9 FF
There have been several third-round SEC draft picks who have emerged as stars in the pros, but Houston has reached a higher peak than his counterparts. When healthy, Houston is one of the most feared edge rushers in the league. He has three double-digit sack seasons, despite starting a full 16 games only twice. His 22 sacks in 2014 are the second-most in NFL history and just a half-sack short of tying the all-time mark. An argument could be made that his inability to stay on the field should hurt his value, but Houston’s on-field impact is too good to ignore.
Honorable mention: Tyrann Mathieu (2013)
Fourth round – Geno Atkins, Georgia (2010)
Accolades: 5 Pro Bowls, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 89 starts, 52 Sks, 8 FF
Atkins is far and away the best fourth-round selection from the SEC over the past decade. He and Houston, his former Georgia teammate, are the only non-first-round SEC picks to make more than two Pro Bowls during that time. Atkins has emerged as one of the league’s true impact defensive tackles and a steal in the fourth round.
Keep an eye on Dak Prescott, though.
Honorable mention: K.J. Wright (2011), Dak Prescott (2016)
Fifth round – Reshad Jones, Georgia (2010)
Accolades: 1 Pro Bowl, 80 starts, 16 INTs, 421 TKLs, 40 PD
It might not reflect well on Mark Richt that three mid-to-late-round draft picks from Georgia emerged as stars at the next level. Once again, Jones was an easy choice for this spot. Very few fifth-round SEC picks are still in the league, let alone playing at a Pro-Bowl level. Jones has become a reliable starter for the Miami Dolphins and one of the best tackling safeties in the league.
Honorable mention: Kendrick Lewis (2010)
Sixth round – Greg Hardy, Ole Miss (2010)
Accolades: 1 Pro Bowl, 52 starts, 40 SKs, 8 FF, 165 TKls
Off-field problems aside, Hardy was a dominant defensive end for a couple of seasons. Before he was charged with domestic violence in 2014, Hardy had posted back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks. The former Rebel was not re-signed by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2016 season and is now pursuing an MMA career.
Honorable mention: Danny Trevathan (2012)
Seventh round – Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina (2009)
Accolades: 80 starts, 11 INTs, 5 TDs, 353 TKls
This was a close call between Munnerlyn and former Auburn offensive tackle King Dunlap, but Munnerlyn has 15 more starts and played in nearly 30 more games. In Carolina, Munnerlyn emerged into a solid starting cornerback. After a stint in Minnesota, he’s returning to the Panthers for his ninth NFL season. Not bad for a seventh-round pick.
Honorable mention: King Dunlap (2008)
