NFL Draft: The SEC’s No. 1 No. 23
The 2023 NFL Draft starts on April 27 with the first-round picks at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The SEC has produced 395 first-round selections and another 108 choices among the top 32 picks who were not first-rounders. AL.com is counting down to the draft by highlighting the SEC players
Ozzie Newsome was an All-American end for Alabama who spent 13 seasons as Cleveland’s tight end after the Browns chose him with the 23rd selection in the 1978 NFL Draft.
When Newsome retired, the former Colbert County High School star had more receptions for more yards than any tight end in NFL history and only three wide receivers had more receptions.
Newsome has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1999 and the Browns’ all-time receiving leader even longer.
When the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 to become the Ravens, Newsome came with them as the team’s vice president of player personnel and de facto general manager. He didn’t officially take the general-manager title until 2002, when he became the first African American to hold that position with an NFL team. Newsome continued in that role through the 2018 NFL Draft.
Baltimore won the Super Bowl twice during that span, and Newsome selected Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher with the 23rd choice in the 2009 draft.
The 14 SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 23 pick include:
· Alabama tight end Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns, 1978
· Florida tackle David Williams, Houston Oilers, 1989
· Tennessee defensive end Chris Mims, San Diego Chargers, 1992
· Florida guard Mo Collins, Oakland Raiders, 1998
· Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints, 2001
· LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs, 2007
· Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens, 2009
· Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Minnesota Vikings, 2013
· Auburn defensive end Dee Ford, Kansas City Chiefs, 2014
· Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, Denver Broncos, 2015
· Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings, 2016
· Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, New York Giants, 2017
· Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots, 2018
· Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam, Bufalo Bills, 2022
The first round of the NFL Draft has included at least 23 selections annually since 1967. The three SEC players drafted with the No. 23 pick who were not first-rounders include:
· Alabama back Charley Holm, Washington Redskins, 1939
· Tulane back Buddy Banker, Washington Redskins, 1940
· Georgia Tech guard Ray Beck, New York Giants, 1952
McAllister recorded four 1,000-yard rushing seasons and received two Pro Bowl invitations in eight years with the Saints.
Bowe went to the Pro Bowl in 2010, when he led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions.
Ford went to the Pro Bowl in 2018, when he led the NFL wth seven forced fumbles.
Treadwell, Engram (a Pro Bowl selection in 2020), Wynn and Elam played during the 2022 season.
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(The list includes only players selected in the regular NFL draft. The drafts from other leagues are not included nor are any supplemental drafts that have been held by the NFL.)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.