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The 2026 NFL Draft was another success for the Georgia Bulldogs, as another player was selected in the first round and eight were taken by the time the draft concluded Saturday afternoon. ESPN's Jordan Reid has three Georgia players being selected in the first round of the 2026 draft, according to his first mock draft posted last week. That starts with cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, who goes No. 12 overall to the New York Jets, the second cornerback taken.
Considering the Jets didn't record a single interception last season, becoming the first team in NFL history to accomplish that feat, they desperately need playmakers in the secondary. New York also allowed 36 touchdown passes. Robinson is an excellent athlete who is capable of making plays on the ball, finishing with four interceptions in 2025. He still needs to sharpen his technique, but Robinson will be a top-15 pick if he's able to take the next step.
The AP preseason All-America First Team selection is coming off being named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, the first Georgia player to win the Defensive Freshman of the Year award, which is in its third year. Robinson made 12 starts during the 2025 season, totaling 20 tackles, a shared tackle for loss, seven pass breakups, and a team-leading four interceptions, tied for the SEC lead.
KJ Bolden goes No. 23 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, the second safety projected in the mock.
The Bengals are facing a secondary conundrum, with Dax Hill, DJ Turner II and Jordan Battle each entering the final year of their contracts. It's fair to assume at least one of them will be elsewhere next season, so defensive back could be the play. Bolden is a jack-of-all-trades for Georgia, but his best NFL outlook is as a center-field safety who can roam the back end. He has a slight frame (6 feet, 180 pounds), but he is still a willing downhill player and physical tackler.
Bolden started all 14 games for Georgia in 2025, finishing second on the team with 76 tackles, along with 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass defenses, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick, earning SEC Coaches All-SEC Second Team honors.
Finally, Chris Cole comes off the board with the very next pick, No. 24 overall to the Dallas Cowboys as the only linebacker taken in the first round projection.
The Cowboys expect to have an improved defense this season, but they still need more youthful reinforcements on that side of the ball. Cole is set to be the next of the long line of quality linebackers that Georgia has produced under Kirby Smart. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, he has the size, range and physicality that teams covet. Cole needs to improve his take-on strength in the box and coverage awareness but would be a nice fit in Dallas, especially with Dee Winters set to be a free agent after the season.
Cole was Georgia's most consistent pass rusher in 2025. He ended the season with 59 tackles, a team-high 4.5 sacks, and 2 pass break-ups. His 7 tackles for loss were the second-highest mark on the team behind CJ Allen (8.0).
Looking at Georgia's schedule, the Dawgs are set to face four players projected as first-round picks, South Carolina edge defender Dylan Stewart (No. 6 overall), Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles (No. 9 overall), Oklahoma defensive tackle David Stone (No. 15 overall), and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy (No. 20 overall). For comparison, there were nine players on Georgia's 2025 schedule on this list a year ago, and six on Georgia's 2024 schedule two years ago.