Georgia football UDFA tracker: Who’s signed? Who’s available?

A look at which Georgia football players have signed undrafted free agent deals following the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Georgia Bulldogs had seven players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

#4 OT Andrew Thomas to the Giants

#29 OT Isaiah Wilson to the Titans

#35 RB D’Andre Swift to the Lions

#111 OG Solomon Kindley to the Dolphins

#167 QB Jake Fromm to the Bills

#190 TE Charlie Woerner to the 49ers

#255 (very last pick) LB Tae Crowder to the Giants

It took until the very last pick of the NFL Draft for a Georgia defender to get taken — surprising considering UGA’s 2019 defense ranked first in America.

But plenty of Georgia Bulldogs did not hear their name called during the draft.

I would have bet you that safety JR Reed, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, defensive tackle Tyler Clark and wide receiver Lawrence Cager would have went.

But in the end, they did not.

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A majority of the undrafted Dawgs have signed undrafted free agent deals.

Here is who they have signed with as undrafted free agents:

K Rodrigo Blankenship: Colts

WR Lawrence Cager: Jets

WR Tyler Simmons: Texans

RB Brian Herrien: Browns

S JR Reed: Jaguars

TE Eli Wolf: Ravens

Georgia players remaining include:

DL Tyler Clark

DL Michael Barnett

DL David Marshall

DL Justin Young

DB Tyrique McGhee

Report: Why Georgia S JR Reed did not get drafted

Twitter reactions to Georgia S JR Reed signing UDFA deal

Georgia safety JR Reed did not get picked in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he did sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the moments following the draft.

The fact that Reed went undrafted was a huge head scratcher. He started every game at safety for Georgia from 2017-2019, being named to the Associated Press All-SEC 2nd Team (2017) and Walter Camp All-America First Team (2019).

He has some of the best instincts I’ve seen from a collegiate defensive back, does not miss tackles and has a nose for the football.

Apparently, the reason Reed went undrafted is because of a torn ACL he suffered while at Prestonwood Christian High School in Plano, Texas.

His father, Jake Reed (former Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints WR), told Vikings beat writer Chris Tomasson that Reed was medically flagged as a result of that injury.

Tomasson writes for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a newspaper based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

 

 

Reed transferred to Georgia following his freshman season at Tulsa. After sitting out the 2016 season, he became a staple on the Bulldogs’ 2017 Rose Bowl championship team.

In 2019, Reed was named one of four permanent team captains.

Reed made a number of big plays during his career as a Bulldog, with big interceptions against Alabama, Florida and two career touchdowns as well.

Reed is also the nephew of Dale Carter, a four-time pro bowler and two-time All-Pro.

Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed signs with AFC South team

Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed has shockingly gone undrafted after being a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award.

Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed has shockingly gone undrafted. Now, he’s signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reed was a playmaking defensive back for the Dawgs last season. He elected to return for his senior season and did not disappoint.

Reed was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, awarded to the top defensive player in the country, during his 2019 campaign. Reed defended seven passes last season and intercepted a pass against Notre Dame. He forced seven turnovers over his career in Athens.

Reed will be playing at the next level in the NFL despite going undrafteed. He’ll be a priority free agent for NFL teams.

He has excellent anticipation and helped Georgia make three straight SEC Championships. During his senior season the Georgia Bulldogs had the best scoring defense in the NCAA.

Before the NFL Draft, Reed has been compared to a Dallas Cowboys safety. Reed is NFL-ready and is fully capable of starting. He’s a little older than most prospects, but his experience and solid fundamentals should help him adapt to the speed of the game in the NFL. Reed will be extremely motivated to prove his doubters wrong.

Sep 21, 2019; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back J.R. Reed reacts with head coach Kirby Smart reacts after intercepting a pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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Georgia and the NFL Draft: Who’s taken? Who’s available?

Looking at which Georgia football players have been taken in the 2020 NFL Draft and who is still available.

With the third round complete, Georgia has had three players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bulldogs had a pair of offensive tackles taken in the first round. Andrew Thomas went #4 to the New York Giants and Isaiah Wilson was selected at #29 by the Tennessee Titans.

Running back D’Andre Swift surprisingly fell out of the first round but was quickly drafted at the start of the second, going #35 overall to the Detroit Lions.

Then we waited, and we kept waiting. But quarterback Jake Fromm and offensive guard Solomon Kindley, both players who could have potentially been taken on Friday, remained undrafted.

So now we look ahead to rounds 4-7, which will take place on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.

Here’s a look at which Georgia players are still on the board:

QB Jake Fromm:

We thought Fromm may have gone on Friday night. Hopefully the accomplished Georgia signal caller hears his name called shortly. The Patriots continued to tease us, but never did pull the trigger in the third round.

OG Solomon Kindley:

It’s been hard to get a read on where and when Kindley may be taken. When healthy, he’s about as good as it gets.

S JR Reed:

Where’s the love for Reed? He has some of the best instincts I’ve seen from a collegiate defensive back, does not miss tackles and has a nose for the football.

K Rodrigo Blankenship:

If a team does take a kicker, which I suspect one will, it has to be Hot Rod.

WR Lawrence Cager:

If it were not for his injuries he suffered in 2019, I think Cager would be viewed as a third round guy. All he did was make big plays when healthy.

DL Tyler Clark:

He started 35 games between 2017-2019 and was a leader on the defensive line. A key player on college football’s best defense, Clark plays hard and physical.


Projected undrafted free agents:


RB Brian Herrien:

He likely will not be drafted, but whatever team signs him as an undrafted free agent is going to get one of the hardest workers in this class.

ILB Tae Crowder:

Another guy who likely will not be drafted, but Crowder, a former running back, plays nasty.

DL Michael Barnett

6-foot-4, 304 pounds. Barnett played against the toughest competition at a high level for five years.

DE David Marshall

He’s started plenty of games in the SEC. His lone tackle at Auburn was a big one — a fourth-down stop for a loss of 13 yards.

WR Tyler Simmons

Speed kills, and Simmons has it. He has a long ways to go, but he made some big plays during his time at Georgia. Oh, and he was onside.

TE Charlie Woerner

Woerner made some big time plays during his four years at Georgia. He had three catches vs Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

DE Justin Young

He plays scrappy and physical. He was also a leader on the best defense in America.

TE Eli Wolf

Remember this?

 

 

2020 NFL Draft: Which Georgia football players could go tonight?

Here are some Georgia football player we hope will be taken in either the first or second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Georgia Bulldogs had two players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Things got started when the New York Giants used the #4 overall pick to draft offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

Three hours later, Georgia saw another offensive tackle go as the Tennessee Titans took Isaiah Wilson with the 29th overall pick.

We kept waiting and waiting to hear D’Andre Swift’s name called, but that did not happen on night one. Most expected the Dolphins or the Chiefs to take Swift.

Instead, Miami traded down from #26 to #30 and took Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. But the real shocker came with the final pick of the first round when the Kansas City Chiefs took LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, making him the only ball carrier taken in the first round.

Edwards-Helaire is a great player, but he’s no Swift. Either way, Swift is going to make one team very happy when he hears his name called early on in the second round. He is currently the second best available player on Mel Kiper’s Big Board.

So, with rounds two and three quickly approaching, here’s a look at which Georgia Bulldogs we could expect to be selected tonight:

Running back D’Andre Swift:


 Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Swift should go very early in round two. The Dolphins and the Bucs hold the #7 and #13 picks, respectively, in the second round. They both may be forced to trade up in order to get Swift.

Offensive guard Solomon Kindley:


Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

I’d expect Kindley to go in either the late second or early third round.

Safety J.R. Reed:


Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

He’s one of the best safeties in the entire draft. Could he find his way into either the second or third round?

Quarterback Jake Fromm:


Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe a bit early Fromm, who analysts see as a fourth round guy.

Where Georgia Bulldogs rank on NFL Draft big board

A 2020 NFL Draft big board features eight Georgia Bulldogs including D’Andre Swift, Jake Fromm, Andrew Thomas, Solomon Kindley, and more.

With the NFL Draft ahead, let’s take a look at the 2020 NFL Draft big board. Several Georgia Bulldogs are projected to be selected including potential first round picks in Andrew Thomas and D’Andre Swift.

NFL Mock Drafts differ from big boards because they take into account team needs and potential trades. Big boards focus on the best players in the draft.

Here’s where Georgia Bulldogs rank on The Draft Wire’s big board:

7. Andrew Thomas OT (first round grade)

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Andrew Thomas. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

21. D’Andre Swift RB (first round grade)

Georgia Bulldogs running back D’Andre Swift. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia has NINE players selected in 7-round NFL mock draft

Georgia football has NINE players selected in USA TODAY’s recent seven-round NFL mock draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is just over one week away and a number of Georgia players are prepared to have their dream become a reality.

Twice has Georgia had eight players go in the same NFL Draft. Those years were in 2002 and 2013, where the Dawgs dumped a ton of talent into the pros.

But never has Georgia had nine players selected in the same draft. Luke Easterling of USA Today’s DraftWire sees that changing this year.

In his recent 7-round NFL mock draft, he has NINE Georgia players being taken in this year’s virtual event.

Here are his projected landing spots for these Bulldogs.

Six Georgia football players make DraftWire’s NFL Draft big board

Six Georgia football players were named to USA Today’s NFL Draft big board.

With the NFL Draft just one month away, multiple Georgia Bulldogs are preparing to take the next step in their careers.

Anywhere from 5-7 Bulldogs should hear their name called during the draft, and one, Andrew Thomas, is viewed as a first round lock.

As we prep for the NFL Draft, USA TODAY site DraftWire has released its big board, featuring the top 200 prospects in this year’s draft class.

Making the list were six Georgia players, starting with Thomas and ending with with safety J.R. Reed.

Here’s the top-five:

  1. Chase Young, DE, OSU
  2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
  3. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
  4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
  5. Jeff Okudah, CB, OSU

LSU led with 15 players on the big board.

Georgia players on the big board:

No. 7: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas

Georgia OT Andrew Thomas – Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Thomas should be a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s been compared to Ja’Wuan James, who was originally a first round pick of the Miami Dolphins.

The 6-5, 315 pounder, stepped into the lineup immediately at Georgia and received Freshman All-American honors after starting all 15 games at right tackle. During his sophomore year, He switched to left tackle and earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-SEC honors after starting 13 games. He started 13 games at left tackle and was awarded first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference accolades in 2019.

7 Georgia Bulldogs taken in CBSSports’ full NFL mock draft

CBS Sports released a full NFL mock draft that included 7 Georgia football players being taken.

Most NFL mock drafts that we’ve seen over the past couple of months have had 2-3 Georgia football players going in the first round.

However, in CBS Sports’ most recent 7-round mock draft, the outlet has just one Dawg taken in the first round, and that’s left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Analyst Chris Trapasso projects the New York Jets to take Thomas with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which is currently scheduled for April 23 in Las Vegas.

On Thomas, Trapasso wrote:

Jets GM Joe Douglas knows how vital an offensive line is after his time in Philadelphia. Thomas was outstanding the two seasons at Georgia and has length for days.

Trapasso has Thomas ranked as the 15th overall player in the draft class and 4th ranked offensive tackle.

In total, Trapasso has seven Georgia players going in the draft.

Round 2:

Several Georgia Bulldogs go in seven round NFL Mock Draft

University of Georgia football standouts Jake Fromm, D’Andre Swift, Andrew Thomas, and more find new homes in this CBS NFL mock draft.

The Georgia Bulldogs sent ten players to the 2020 NFL Combine. Will all of them get drafted? Probably not. Regardless, each former University of Georgia standout will get a shot to make an NFL roster.

According to CBS’s seven round NFL mock draft, seven Georgia Bulldogs will be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Looking at UGA’s recent draft history under head coach Kirby Smart, seven selections in right in line with what Georgia did in 2019’s seven draft picks and 2018’s six picks.

Georgia’s recent NFL Draft success is an uptick from the 2017 NFL Draft, where Isaiah McKenzie was the only Bulldog selected. So where are Georgia’s players projected to go in 2020?

First Round

11th Overall Selection: New York Jets

Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas– Thomas is rated as the 15th overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s ranked behind three other tackles.

Second Round

61st Overall Selection: Tennessee Titans

Offensive Tackle Isaiah Wilson– Wilson has the size to compete with the best in the NFL. He’d be joining one of the elite NFL offensive fronts in Nashville. Georgia great Ben Jones leads the Tennessee line from the center position.

December 8, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones (60) during the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum.  Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

63rd Overall Selection: Kansas City Chiefs

Running Back D’Andre Swift– The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs reunite Swift with his former UGA teammate Mecole Hardman. This would be an ideal situation for Swift.