Seventeen Georgia Bulldogs have declared for the NFL draft. In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s first official 2025 NFL mock draft, three Bulldogs were selected in the top 20 picks including two in the top 10.
Here are the three Georgia players selected in Mel Kiper’s mock draft.
Mykel Williams, 8th pick, New York Jets
In Kiper’s draft, Mykel Williams gets selected 8th overall by the Jets. New York suffered a disastrous 5-12 record and while the offensive side didn’t deliver on the hype, the defense was a major sore spot after head coach Robert Saleh was fired.
The Jets already have a great one-two punch of pass rushers with Will McDonald and former Georgia transfer Jermaine Johnson III, but Johnson III suffered a torn ACL. Will McDonald has a weakness in run defense, which is one of Mykel Williams’s strengths.
Jalon Walker, 9th pick, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers had one of the worst defenses in the NFL and a big reason for that was their pass rush, which was bottom five in sacks production. Getting Georgia’s most accomplished pass rusher will be a boon for them. Walker is considered by many as a Swiss-Army-Knife linebacker, even getting comparisons to Micah Parsons in the past. Walker could change the Carolina defense overnight.
Malaki Starks, 13th pick, Miami Dolphins
This could be the second year two high-profile Georgia players end up getting drafted to rival teams. In Mel Kiper’s mock draft, it’s a reality with Starks and Mykel Williams both going to AFC East teams. Starks is a rangy safety and the ultimate ballhawk.
He can cover the slot, with some experience at nickelback and he can play free safety, something the Dolphins could need considering the uncertainty around pending free agents Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer.
Here’s the rest of Kiper’s mock draft:
