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Florida football: Will Gators have 3 first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft?

By Jeremy Klump

Sep 26, 2020; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2021 NFL Draft wrapped up one week ago, but that hasn’t stopped NFL Draft analysts from dropping their 2022 NFL mock drafts. Florida football fans should love some of the big named analyst’s mock drafts because two of them featured a Gator going in the top ten, and one of them featured two Gators in the top ten.

One of the players in the top ten is Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam. The junior cornerback has shown he has the potential to be the next great Gators cornerback, and if he can keep progressing, he should be a lock as a first-round pick.

The other Gators player in the top ten was quarterback Emory Jones. This name may have surprised some fans, but we said that Jones could go early in the 2022 NFL Draft if he has a big year. Jones is taking over an offense that will fit his abilities perfectly, and fans should expect a great season from him in 2021.

However, in the 2022 NFL mock draft by Mike Renner of PFF that had Jones going No. 6 overall and Elam going No. 8 overall, another Gators player was selected.

Edge defender Brenton Cox Jr. was selected No. 32 overall to the Kansa City Chiefs. The former five-star Georgia transfer showed last season that he has the talent to be an impact player for the Gators. We also highlighted Cox Jr. as a player that can go early in the 2022 NFL Draft, and we think after he progresses even more in 2021, he will solidify himself as a first-round pick.

Will Florida football fans see three Gators go in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft?

Florida football fans saw two Gators go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, when tight end Kyle Pitts went No. 4 overall and wide receiver Kadarius Toney went No. 20 overall to the New York Giants.

Florida is no stranger to having first-round picks, and it’s been back-to-back years with top picks with Pitts this year and former Gators cornerback CJ Henderson last year (No. 9 overall to Jacksonville Jaguars).

So it’s definitely not crazy to say Florida could have three first-round picks, and honestly, it looks pretty likely.

Florida also has some other guys that can get into that first-round conversation, especially if they have a big year as a team. With that said, three seems like the right answer right now, but do not be surprised if Florida has more than three after their 2021 season.

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