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Florida football: 5 Gators that could be drafted early in the 2022 NFL Draft

By Jeremy Klump

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 28: Kaiir Elam #5 of the Florida Gators looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Towson Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 28: Kaiir Elam #5 of the Florida Gators looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Towson Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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The 2021 NFL Draft was here, and now it is gone. It has a lot of build-up, but before you know it, the final pick is in, and we are moving on to the next topic. Florida football fans were happy to see eight of their former Florida Gators get selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Former Gators’ tight end and No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft Kyle Pitts was the first Gator off the board when the Atlanta Falcons took Pitts No. 4 overall. Former Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney was next, getting picked by the New York Giants with the 20th overall pick.

Then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Kyle Trask with the 64th overall pick, and the Arizona Cardinals took cornerback Marco Wilson at pick 136. Kicker Evan McPherson was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals with pick 139, and safety Shawn Davis went to the Indianapolis Colts at pick 165. Defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton was taken by the Green Bay Packers at pick 173, and offensive tackle Stone Forsythe went to the Seattle Seahawks at pick 208.

We wish those Gators well in the NFL, but which current Gators will get drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Here is a list of five current Gators we could see going early in the 2022 NFL Draft?

CB Kaiir Elam

Elam has started to flash as the next first-round corner from Florida. He already has four career interceptions in two seasons. He enters 2021 as a true junior and will likely enter the NFL Draft after a solid season. If he progresses like I think he will, Elam will be a first-round pick, and has a chance to one of the top cornerbacks in the draft.

LB Ventrell Miller

I think if Ventrell Miller entered the 2021 NFL Draft, he would’ve been drafted within the first three rounds. If he can have another solid year, Miller has a chance to cement himself as a first-round linebacker.

EDGE Brenton Cox Jr.

The former 5-star Georgia transfer Breton Cox Jr. will enter Year 2 as a Florida Gator and has a chance to cement himself as one of the top defensive players in the draft with a big season. He had ten tackles for a loss and three and a half sacks last year, so look for him to make a big jump and show why he was such a high recruit coming out of high school.

QB Emory Jones

This name may surprise some people to see, but I think the world of Emory Jones. I believe he will have a monster year in 2021, and he could see his draft stock skyrocket because of it. Do not be surprised if Jones shows that he is a weapon with his legs, but he can make all the throws as well.

WR Justin Shorter

Former 5-star recruit and Penn State transfer Justin Shorter has all the physical tools to be a beast at the next level. He needs to put them all together, and I think he will do that in 2021. Shorter and fellow wide receiver Jacob Copeland should both have big years for the Gators.

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