Category: Dawgs In The NFL

3 Georgia Bulldogs selected early in first round of 2025 NFL mock draft

Three Georgia Bulldogs are projected to go in the top half of the first-round in a recent CBS NFL mock draft.

CBS writer Ryan Wilson recently released his newest 2025 NFL mock draft. Wilson projects that three Georgia Bulldogs will go in the top half of the first round of his mock draft.

All three of Wilson’s projected first-round picks from Georgia play defense. The Bulldogs are among the best defenses in the country, but still have room for improvement.

Jalon Walker, Miami Dolphins, 12th overall

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Jalon Walker has shown insane versatility, lining up as both an off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher. He’s a fast player that is great at block shedding, both in pass-rushing and run defense. He’s already drawn praise from NFL legends, such as Micah Parsons, who he’s received comparisons to. Walker would be an impact player for the Dolphins defense that sorely needs one in the front seven.

Mykel Williams, 14th overall, Chicago Bears

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Mykel Williams is a little further down from draft mocks earlier in the year. He was considered a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in September. However, he is still a one-of-one talent when he’s healthy.

Williams’ incredibly good against the run, showing elite upper-body strength and technique that helps him bulldoze offensive tackles. The Bears could use offensive lineman, but they could also use a second edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.

Malaki Starks, 16th overall, Seattle Seahawks

Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

Starks would fit perfectly in former Georgia assistant Mike McDonald’s system. Starks is a safety with excellent range. He is super effective at reading running gaps and is one of the best tacklers on Georgia’s defense. That could make a Seattle defense that is already 12th in tackling grade, according to PFF, even better.

Former Georgia RB promoted to be Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator

Former Georgia football running back receives promotion and is now the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator

The Chicago Bears promoted passing game coordinator Thomas Brown to be their new offensive coordinator. Brown, who is a former Georgia Bulldogs running back, replaces previous offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

The Bears fired Waldron after a rough start to the season despite having a very talented offense surrounding quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Chicago has the ninth-worst scoring offense in the NFL at 19.4 points per game.

Brown has previous experience as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for part (primarily the second-half of the season) of Carolina’s brutal 2-15 season.

Chicago interviewed Brown for their offensive coordinator role before the season. The Bears ended up hiring Brown as their passing game coordinator. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to prove himself and show he deserves to remain as offensive coordinator.

Brown served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before coming to Carolina and Chicago. He is highly respected throughout the NFL.

Georgia rookie DB has career night, exits with injury

Former UGA cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted a career-high two passes for the Houston Texans on Sunday

Houston Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted a pair of passes against the Detroit Lions in one of the best games of his young NFL career. Lassiter, who is a former Georgia Bulldog, was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Lassiter now has 29 tackles and three interceptions in his impressive rookie campaign. However, he left the Lions’ game with a concussion and was unable to return. Lassiter will have to pass concussion protocol before he can return to action.

Lassiter’s injury helped spark some life in Detroit’s offense. The Lions completed a dramatic 16-point comeback to win 26-23.

Detroit scored 13 fourth quarter points partially because Lassiter was not out their on the Texans’ defense. Houston intercepted Detroit quarterback Jared Goff five times, but it was not enough.

Here’s a look at Lassiter’s second interception against Detroit.

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Lassiter joins former Georgia Bulldogs Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey in the NFL rookie of the year conversation with Bowers being the most likely choice of the trio.

Former Georgia LB snares game-winning INT

Former UGA LB comes through in the clutch with an awesome interception in Philadelphia Eagles’ win

Former Georgia Bulldog Nakobe Dean made a clutch play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the end of the fourth quarter, with the Jaguars driving to score at the Philadelphia 13 yard-line, he intercepted former Clemson Tiger Trevor Lawrence, sealing the victory for the Eagles.

It was a tumultuous game for an Eagles team that has several Georgia Bulldogs on it. Philadelphia had a 22-0 lead by the second quarter, but Jacksonville, who also has a few Georgia Bulldogs as well, went on a 23-6 run and had the ball with 2:11 left in the game thanks to the Eagles missing a field goal, and they got all the way to the 13-yard line of Philadelphia before the aforementioned interception happened.

After a rough beginning of the season, Dean has come into his own as a linebacker, scoring a PFF grade (subscription needed) of 78 (well above average) or higher in the past three games, which Philadelphia has a 3-0 record in. The 2022 NFL draft third-round pick played sparingly in his first two seasons, but in his third season, signs were pointing towards him getting a more elevated role, and he might be turning a new leaf on his career.

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NFL legend requests jersey swap with Brock Bowers

One of the best tight ends in NFL history asked for Brock Bowers’ jersey after the Las Vegas Raiders’ latest game

Brock Bowers has been on a generational run in his rookie season for the Las Vegas Raiders. He is first in the NFL in receptions with 52 and is 10th in the league with 532 receiving yards. He is the only tight end inside of the top 10 in both of the categories.

Bowers, a former Georgia Bulldog, is proving worthy of a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

This past Sunday was National Tight Ends Day. The Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) lost to unbeaten division rival Kansas City, 27-20.

This game showcased two elite tight ends from different generations who were the leading receivers for their respective teams. Bowers topped the Raiders in receiving with five receptions with 58 yards. Travis Kelce led the Chiefs with 10 receptions, 90 yards and one touchdown.

At the end of the game, Kelce asked for Bowers’ jersey and made sure a jersey swap was in cards between the two tight ends.

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Bowers’ dominance for three years at Georgia was quite impressive. He continues being one of the best at his position in the NFL. The recognition from a great such as Kelce shows that Bowers is on his path to becoming one of the best the league has seen. Kelce has the fourth-most receptions and receiving yards of any tight end in NFL history.

Ladd McConkey has breakout 2 TD game vs Saints

Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Ladd McConkey records the first multiple touchdown game of his NFL career

Ladd McConkey was a standout in Week 8 NFL action as the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New Orleans Saints. The former Georgia Bulldog was selected 34th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

McConkey was a standout during training creating a connection with quarterback Justin Herbert that had the Chargers’ coaching staff were raving about him. McConkey put it on full display on Sunday during the best performance of his NFL career.

McConkey went on to have 6 receptions, 111 yards, and 2 touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. McConkey had a dazzling play where he hauled in and ran a pass for career long reception of 60 yards.

McConkey is the team’s leading receiver with 30 receptions and 376 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His efforts has helped the Chargers to a 4-3 record which has them third in the AFC West.

The NFL season is nearing the midseason point so this could be a turn of a positive trend where the Chargers have struggled with consistency. Expect the Los Angeles passing game to be implemented more over the next couple of weeks. The Chargers play the Cleveland Browns, who rank 21st and the Tennessee Titans, who rank 32nd in pass defense.

With this momentum expect the Chargers to involve McConkey more to help their offense with explosive plays.

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Los Angeles’ passing offense ranks 20th in the league.

Brock Bowers makes NFL history again

Former Georgia Bulldog Brock Bowers is already setting NFL records with the Las Vegas Raiders

Former Georgia Bulldog tight end Brock Bowers is already a sensation in the NFL. He was by far the best tight end of the 2024 NFL draft, and, so far, he’s been a generational talent from the first snap.

This past week, Bowers set an NFL record. With 47 receptions, Bowers has the most receptions of any rookie tight end through seven weeks in league history. It’s also the third most by any rookie since 2000 behind Puka Nacua (58) and Saquon Barkley (49).

His 477 yards leads all tight ends in the NFL and places him third in league history in receiving yards by a tight end (not just a rookie TE) through seven weeks. Only Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (505 in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (484 in 2021) are ahead of him in that span.

If Bowers keeps this pace, he would end the season with approximately 114 receptions and 1,158 receiving yards. The projected receptions total would put him only two away from the most receptions by a tight end ever, and the projected yards total would put him in the top 25 of highest total receiving yards by a tight end in a single season.

Of course, with the Raiders at 2-5 with sloppy quarterback play, the full potential still has yet to be reached for Bowers in this Raiders offense. The Raiders will likely be looking to pick a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck could be perfect for unlocking more of Bowers’ potential.

Bucs waive former Georgia Bulldog

Tampa Bay Buccaneers waive former Georgia Bulldogs, 2022 fourth-round NFL draft pick

On Tuesday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived a former fourth-round NFL draft pick, punter Jake Camarda. The former Georgia Bulldog specialist had been struggling this season.

Coach Todd Bowles released a statement on the decision via social media.

Camarda was averaging 45.3 yards per punt, which ranked a disappointing 31st in the league. He had only five punts that landed inside the 20, which was 29th. It was decision neither side wanted, but it seemed inevitable given the Buccaneers are looking to contend in the NFC. Tampa Bay has no room for error after it suffered multiple devastating injuries on Monday Night Football.

The former highly touted punter will look for a new NFL home. When he is on top of his game, he was one of the best punters throughout the league.

Camarda’s release seems rash based on the fact that he has a small sample size this season (13 punts) and averaged over 50 yards per punt in 2023.

Nick Chubb returning after 13 months of recovery

Former Georgia Bulldog running back Nick Chubb is set to return from gruesome injury 13 months later.

After months of tough recovery from a severe knee injury, former Georgia Bulldog running back Nick Chubb is finally set to take the field for the Cleveland Browns. Chubb will be the lead running back once again as the Browns go against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7.

This has been a long time coming for Chubb. In Week 2 of last season, he suffered a torn MCL after being tackled near the goal line against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. People were worried it was the same injury he suffered for Georgia in 2015, but fortunately, it was less severe than once thought.

Ever since then, he’s been taking steps to rehabilitate his left knee, even squatting a large amount just eight months after it. He started the season on the reserve/PUP list, but after seven weeks, the star running back will make his return.

Chubb is the heart of the Browns team. His return is about more than just football. “What’s amazing to me is how much support I had from the city of Cleveland,” said Chubb in a recent story detailing his recovery.

With Browns running back Jerome Ford confirmed out for Week 7, Chubb will more than likely be the lead back in carries this Sunday against the division rival Bengals.

Packers sign former Georgia, Falcons TE

The Green Bay Packers have signed former Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons TE to their active roster

The Green Bay Packers have signed former Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Falcons tight end John FitzPatrick to their active roster. FitzPatrick was previously a member of the Falcons’ practice squad.

Atlanta drafted FitzPatrick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end appeared in nine games with the Falcons in 2023, but has not appeared in a game this season. FitzPatrick played college football at the University of Georgia from 2018-2021.

FitzPatrick, who has one career NFL reception for 12 yards, joins former Georgia Bulldogs Eric Stokes, Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker and Javon Bullard on the Packers. He is primarily a blocking tight end and will help Green Bay while tight end Luke Musgrave is dealing with an ankle injury.

FitzPatrick is the second former Georgia Bulldogs draft pick to be signed off the Falcons’ practice squad this year. The Buffalo Bills previously signed 2024 sixth round draft pick Zion Logue to their active roster.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced Musgrave’s signing via social media.

Now, the Falcons have just three former Georgia Bulldogs on their roster in Charlie Woerner, Lorenzo Carter and Monty Rice (practice squad).