SEC's Top Prospects : SEC Daily, May 2, 2025

The Southeastern Conference produced 15 first round picks in last week's NFL Draft. The conference dominance didn't stop with the first round, instead, the SEC set an NFL Draft record by seeing 79 of its players selected in the seven-round event.

As the NFL rookies now join new teams we turn our attention back to the SEC as the league prepares for a blockbuster 2025 season. The conference will be dripping with draft-eligible talent once again, starting with the most important position on the field, quarterback.

The Texas Longhorns have the most intriguing NFL prospect entering the 2025 season in signal-caller Arch Manning. The redshirt sophomore has limited experience but creates exciting day-dreams as his potential and pedigree are off the charts.

South Carolina's redshirt sophomore LaNorris Sellers and LSU's redshirt senior Garrett Nussmeier have more experience than Manning and present as worthy challengers for best draft-eligible quarterback in the conference.

2026 SEC First Round Mock Draft Quarterback Prospects

Arch Manning

The Texas quarterback has the name, the size and the backing of the big brand. Can the first year starter lead the Longhorns to the College Football Playoffs? Doing so will likely ensure QB-needy teams will fight to draft the next Manning, but given the familial history could he spurn the league for more time in Austin?

Mock Drafts: Danny Parkins, Fox Sports - #1 overall to the New Orleans Saints.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports - #1 overall to the New Orleans Saints.
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report - #2 overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, PFF - #2 overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic - #1 overall to the New Orleans Saints.

LaNorris Sellers

The South Carolina quarterback battled through an ankle injury as a first year starter and still managed 2534 passing yards with 18 touchdowns with 674 rushing yards and seven more scores on the ground to prove he's one of the top dual-threat quarteback in the upcoming draft cycle.

Mock Drafts: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports - #6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report - #1 overall to the New York Jets.
Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, PFF - #26 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic - #2 overall to the New York Jets.

Garrett Nussmeier

The redshirt senior enters the season as the most experienced of the draft eligible quarterbacks. He passed for 4,052 with 29 touchdowns as a true pocket quarterback.

Mock Drafts: Danny Parkins, Fox Sports - #2 overall to the Cleveland Browns.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports - #12 overall to the Los Angeles Rams
Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, PFF - #5 overall to the New Orleans Saints.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic - #16 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Other SEC Prospects Mocked in 2026 NFL Draft First Round

Danny Perkins, Fox Sports

No. 6 Indianapolis Colts - Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama
No. 8 Miami Dolphins - Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
No. 9 Las Vegas Raiders - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

No. 3 New York Giants - Anthony Hill Jr. LB, Texas
No. 4 New York Jets - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 13 Miami Dolphins - Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama
No. 15 Arizona Cardinals - LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
No. 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
No. 20 Los Angeles Chargers - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 22 Minnesota Vikings - Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
No. 24 Green Bay Packers - Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
No. 25 Cincinnati Bengals - CJ Baxter, RB, Texas
No. 26 Washington Commanders - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
No. 27 Los Angeles Rams - Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
No. 29 Kansas City Chiefs - Cayden Green, OG, Missouri
No. 31 Baltimore Ravens - Christen Miller - DT, Georgia

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report

No. 5 New York Giants - Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama
No. 8 Cleveland Browns - Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina
No. 12 Arizona Cardinals - Roderick Kearney, OG, Florida
No. 13 Miami Dolphins - Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
No. 16 Chicago Bears - Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
No. 17 Houston Texans - Jaeden Roberts, OG, Alabama
No. 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
No. 28 Detroit Lions - LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
No. 29 Buffalo Bills - Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs - Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, PFF

No. 1 New York Giants - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 6 Carolina Panthers - Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
No. 15 Miami Dolphins - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 19 Denver Broncos - Eric Singleton Jr., WR, Auburn
No. 20 Houston Texans - Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
No. 21 Green Bay Packers - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
No. 22 Tampa Bay Bucanners - Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
No. 23 Los Angeles Chargers - Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
No. 24 Washington Commanders - LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
No. 25 Cincinnati Bengals - Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, OG, Texas A&M
No. 28 Kansas City Chiefs - Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
No. 32 Buffalo Bills - Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

No. 6 Carolina Panthers - Keldric Faulk, DT, Auburn
No. 8 Indianapolis Colts - Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama
No. 9 Cleveland Browns - Austin Barber, LT, Florida
No. 11 Los Angeles Rams - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 12 Seattle Seahawks - Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 15 Arizona Cardinals - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
No. 21 Minnesota Vikings - Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
No. 22 Los Angeles Chargers - Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
No. 25 Washington Commanders - Whit Weeks, LB, LSU