South Carolina didn’t have a player drafted in 2017, and only tight end Hayden Hurst was selected in this year’s NFL Draft, a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens.

Hurst was the eighth Gamecock to be selected in the first round since 2000. He hopes to add his name to the 10 best active Gamecocks in the NFL. Several of these players starred during the recent golden era of Gamecocks football at the height of the Steve Spurrier era.

A.J. Cann is one of the players on that bubble.

The right guard is entering the final year of his rookie contract after he was drafted in the third round by Jacksonville in 2015. Cann’s started 31 games the past two seasons, but his future with the Jaguars appears unclear, though coach Doug Marrone has praised him.

“He’s had some ups and downs with some consistency,” Marrone said, according to the Florida Times-Union. “I’m sure he would have liked to play (better), but we are happy with him. He’s one of those guys you can rely on. He’s always out there, plays every game and (is available) at every practice. He keeps trying to get better.”

10. S D.J. Swearinger (Redskins)

After a big 2016 season, Swearinger signed a 3-year contract with Washington last offseason. He has played with Houston, Tampa Bay and Arizona, but arguably had his best season in 2017. That’s when he had career-highs with 4 interceptions and 79 tackles. He also started every game for the first time.

9. K Ryan Succop (Titans)

In February, Succop signed a 5-year contract to remain in Tennessee after he’s already been there for 4 years, and 9 years overall in the NFL. He began his career with the Chiefs. He has made 90 of 104 field goal attempts with Tennessee, an 85.5 percent clip, good for ninth in the league. Succop is 12th among active players with 913 career points.  He was “Mr. Irrelevant” in the 2009 draft.

8. DB Captain Munnerlyn (Panthers)

In the 2017 offseason, Munnerlyn returned to Carolina on a 4-year contract after he played the previous 3 years in Minnesota. The veteran nickel cornerback has 9 years of experience in the NFL, including 6 with the Panthers. He has 11 career interceptions, but none since 2015. Though he had 29 tackles and 2 sacks last season with 4 passes defended.

7. DB Johnathan Joseph (Texans)

The veteran and 2-time Pro Bowl cornerback recently signed a 2-year contract with the Texans. Joseph was drafted by the Bengals No. 24 overall in 2006, and played for them for 5 years. Last season, he started 16 games, had 47 tackles, 2 interceptions and 9 passes defended.

6. WR/KR Pharoh Cooper (Rams)

One of the more dangerous special teams players around, Cooper was seventh in league last season in kick returns at 27.4 yards per return, and made his first Pro Bowl after he was picked in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. CB Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)

Drafted by Buffalo 10th overall in 2012, Gilmore signed with New England before last season, but also missed a month because of an injury. Overall, the cornerback had 50 tackles with 9 passes defended and 2 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and started for the Patriots in the Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia.

4. TE Jared Cook (Raiders)

The veteran tight end is set to begin his 10th season after stints with the Titans, Rams, Packers and Raiders. He’s coming off his second most productive season, and best since 2014, when he turned in 688 yards yards on 54 receptions with 2 TDs.

3.  WR Alshon Jeffery (Eagles)

A key cog in the Eagles’ march to the Super Bowl, Jeffery caught 57 passes for 789 yards and 9 touchdowns in the regular season. He had 12 catches for 219 yards and 3 scores in the playoffs, including 3 for 73 yards and a TD in the Super Bowl. He battled Gilmore throughout the game. The yards are the most compiled by an Eagles wide receiver in the playoffs. He signed a 4-year contract in December after signing a 1-year deal last offseason to join the Eagles.

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

2. LB Melvin Ingram (Chargers)

Ingram had 10.5 sacks last season, reaching double figures for the second time in three seasons. He’s one of the key players on one of the top defenses in the NFL and was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl appearance. Ingram reached a 4-year deal with the Chargers after they placed the franchise tag on him last offseason.

1. DE Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft shook off early injury concerns to turn into one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and poised to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Clowney has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons, and had 9.5 sacks last season.