Top 10 NFL players from Florida
Florida’s football program has enjoyed its best success since the millennium, winning national championships in 2006 and 2008, but they have also prepared multiple starters for the NFL.
Urban Meyer’s successes in those two seasons followed the Gators’ only other national success. This came in 1996 under Steve Spurrier.
The years since 2008 have been lean for the program. However, they continue to prepare players for the top level.
As of the beginning of the 2022 season, there are 45 former Gators active in the NFL. Below we will rank the top 10 from that group.
Top 10 current NFL players from Florida
10. Kaiir Elam, CB, Buffalo Bills
Kaiir Elam is one of the newest players to be drafted into the NFL from the University of Florida. He was selected in the first-round of the 2022 draft by the Buffalo Bills.
His potential is exceedingly high. He is already forming a key part of the Bills’ league-leading defense.
In the eight games he has started, Elam has made two interceptions. He has three successful pass defenses and has made 24 solo tackles.
Elam is developing gradually and will rise up this ranking in the coming years.
9. Jawaan Taylor, RT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jawaan Taylor has been a solid right tackle in his three full seasons in the NFL. He has never missed a single game, and is a reliable presence for the Jaguars’ offensive line.
Trevor Lawrence needs protection. Taylor can offer just that. His career has been a slow journey. After being drafted in the second round in 2019, Taylor has only started showing his Pro Bowl potential in 2022.
In the opening three games, he allowed just one QB pressure in 112 dropbacks, which was the fewest allowed of any offensive tackle in the league. Taylor’s performance has allowed Lawrence to flourish in his second year, and their partnership will only continue to grow.
8. Jonathan Greenard, DE, Houston Texans
A lack of availability has hindered Jonathan Greenard’s progress in the NFL. His natural talent coming out of the Gators program was immense, but he hasn’t had the time on the field to build on it.
As a rookie, he only started one game and recorded a sole sack for the Houston Texans. However, this was as a linebacker.
Twenty-twenty-one looked to be the start of a breakout year for Greenard in his preferred defensive end position. In 12 starts, he recorded eight sacks and 12 quarterback hits. He also had four successful pass defenses when dropping into a linebacker role.
Twenty-twenty-two has been injury-ravaged for Greenard, but he will be back in the future to continue his excellent form.
7. Dante Fowler Jr, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Dante Fowler was one of the most prodigious defensive talents to come out of Florida. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars third overall in 2015.
His dominance came early on with four sacks in his first active year and eight sacks in his second year. It’s important to note that he missed the entirety of the 2015 season after tearing his ACL.
Production from Fowler has diminished since he left Jacksonville.
A switch to linebacker with the Los Angeles Rams brought him a career-year in 2019 as he recorded 11.5 sacks.
In 2022, he signed with Dallas and has four sacks in eight games, despite not being a starter. Fowler can still harass offensive lines and make things happen. He could add vital depth to the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl run.
6. Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Florida has historically produced more defensive stars than offensive playmakers. However, Van Jefferson is a real success story from the Gators’ offensive structure.
It took until his second year with the Rams to become a regular starter. Twenty-twenty-one was a year where Cooper Kupp took a lot of targets for the Rams’ Super Bowl winning offense, yet Jefferson played a valuable slot role.
He caught six touchdown passes for 802 yards and averaged nine yards per reception.
Jefferson was set to make an even bigger jump in terms of his ranking in the Rams’ offense in 2022. Odell Beckham Jr. was no longer on the team, and Jefferson was ready to be WR2. However, an injury in Week 2 has kept him out for almost the entire season.
5. Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
Dameon Pierce should never have lasted until the fourth round in the 2022 NFL Draft.
A slow 40 time damaged his pre-draft grade, but he is a brilliant running back, and the Houston Texans got a bargain.
Since being selected by the struggling franchise, Pierce has exploded onto the scene.
In eight starts, he has rushed for 678 yards and scored three touchdowns. What has been even more impressive has been his 40 first-downs collected.
The Texans may not have fully explored this avenue yet, but given the success of Deebo Samuel, it won’t take long. Pierce can also work as a receiver. He has been targeted 24 times in 2022, and he has 98 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Pierce is an all-action offensive weapon and will be a future Pro Bowler in the NFL.
4. Marcus Maye, FS, New Orleans Saints
Marcus Maye has been a player that has been effective in the backfield since being drafted into the NFL.
His highlight came in his second year with a 104-yard interception return, a record in the league in 2018.
Initially being used as a free safety, Maye dominated in 2019 and 2020. He had a total of 18 successful pass defenses and two sacks in those two seasons. He also had two forced fumbles.
Maye switched to strong safety in 2021, and he started well. His two successful pass defenses and one sack were promising, but injury derailed his season.
A change of environment in 2022 has been positive. In New Orleans, Maye has 34 total tackles and one forced fumble. He is a tough-tackling safety suited to the SS role and will get better once he is fully healthy.
3. Trent Brown, LT, New England Patriots
A one-time Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Raiders, Trent Brown is an excellent offensive tackle.
Bill Belichick doesn’t sign players without talent, and there is a reason he went after Brown in 2021.
He had worked with the player in a Super Bowl-winning year in 2018, as Brown protected Tom Brady expertly.
He turned to Brown because he knew he could produce. Drafting Mac Jones was a risk for the Patriots, and he needed veteran protection.
Brown is a guarantee of protection on the O-Line and is one of the best in his position in 2022, especially now that his calf problems are behind him.
2. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, SS, Philadelphia Eagles
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has achieved success that nobody at Florida saw coming. After being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth-round, Gardner-Johnson has turned into a superstar in Philadelphia.
The Eagles have the best record in the NFL through Week 9, and their defense is one of the best in the league.
Gardner-Johnson is one of the main reasons why. Just why it has taken so long to move him into the backfield is a mystery, but it has changed the trajectory of his career.
Used as a linebacker by the Saints in 2021, he was discarded as the team didn’t want to pay him beyond his rookie deal.
As such, the Eagles have picked up a bargain that could help them win a Super Bowl.
In eight starts, he has a league-leading five interceptions and has six successful pass defenses.
1. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
It seems bizarre that a team with the defensive reputation that the Florida Gators have would produce an offensive player to lead this list.
However, Kyle Pitts is just so exciting. The NFL has become a much more friendly place toward tight ends than it used to be. Rob Gronkowski changed the opinion of the position. No longer are tight ends thought of as expensive full backs, they’re seen as cheap receivers.
Pitts was selected fourth-overall in the 2021 draft by the Atlanta Falcons, with Belichick cursing his luck at not being able to get hold of the 6'6" tight end.
He has added a new dimension to the Falcons’ offense since arriving. He was voted into the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
He caught for 1,026 yards and made 43 first-downs. He also averaged 15.1 yards per reception.
Twenty-twenty-two has been a slower year due to a dip in form from the entire Atlanta offense. However, Pitts remains a superstar, and there is nobody like him at the TE position in the league.
Florida has produced a superstar with serious talent and he will one day be on a Super Bowl-winning team.