Georgia football 2025 NFL Draft Expert projections: How high will Carson Beck, Trevor Etienne, Malaki Starks, and others go?
The Bulldogs loaded up Round 1 with players from the past three drafts, which included a lot of early picks. And while the depth chart includes 19 players with draftable grades, the quality has fallen off recently.
Georgia football 2025 NFL Draft preview
#1 Trevor Etienne 2025 NFL Draft projection
The top Bulldogs prospect is running back Trevor Etienne, who moved north of the border by transferring to Georgia from the rival Florida Gators. Trevor has many of the same qualities as his brother Travis, a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. The younger sibling is incredibly quick, creative, and fast. He’s a multi-cut ball carrier who makes defenders miss at the line of scrimmage and in the open field.
Etienne has the speed to run to daylight and is also a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. I project Trevor in the same general area where Travis ended up in the draft, which is the late part of Round 1.
#2 Carson Beck 2025 NFL Draft projection
Carson Beck did a great job taking over the quarterback position for Georgia, and he’s a passer with great upside. Beck has terrific size, an NFL arm, and does not make poor decisions.
He’s an accurate passer who can make all the throws and possesses a downfield arm. He may not be as polished as former Georgia passer Stetson Bennett, but he possesses the physical skills the NFL desires.
#3 Malaki Starks 2025 NFL Draft projection
Safety Malaki Starks is explosive, athletic, and rated higher than Beck in some areas of the scouting community. He shows great speed and is a heavy hitter. He’s a dominant run defender who does need to improve his ball skills and ability in coverage.
#4 Mykel Williams 2025 NFL Draft projection
Edge rusher Mykel Williams is a disruptive pass rusher who comes out of a three-point stance and stands over tackle. He’s fast in every direction of the field and easily gets into space chasing the action. Williams has an upside, but he needs a lot of work on his game and must add bulk, as he’s a liability against the run.
#5 Smael Mondon Jr. 2025 NFL Draft projection
I grade Smael Mondon Jr. higher than most scouts, as on film he proves himself as a three-down linebacker with great instincts and football aptitude. Mondon tips the scale around 225 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.65 seconds, which are not top-flight computer numbers, yet he makes a lot of plays with his brain and hustle.
#6 Dylan Fairchild 2025 NFL Draft projection
Dylan Fairchild is a massive blocker who absolutely dominates opponents. He’s powerful, plays with a nasty attitude and consistently finishes off opponents. Though he’s not a pure zone blocker, Fairchild does offer scheme versatility.
#7 Rara Thomas 2025 NFL Draft projection
Receiver Rara Thomas received second-round grades from scouts, but his season is now in flux. Thomas is a well-built pass catcher with great hands, playing strength and concentration. He consistently wins out for the contested pass, and though he’s not a deep threat, Thomas is a terrific athlete.
Thomas was arrested in late July on one felony count of second-degree cruelty to children and two family violence misdemeanor charges. He was subsequently dismissed from the Georgia football team. Thomas has a lot on his plate and could be in big trouble.
Yet should he receive a legal reprieve, it will be interesting to see what becomes of his football future.
NFL Draft guru Tony Pauline's expert projections for Georgia football in 2025