The 2023 NFL Draft starts Thursday night 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 chosen in the first 32 picks.

Fourteen of the 74 eligible players who have been the fourth pick in an NFL Draft are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That includes two former SEC stars – Alabama guard John Hannah, who was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1973, and linebacker Derrick Thomas, who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989.

Hannah and Thomas also were chosen for the Pro Bowl nine times apiece. Hannah was a first-team All-Pro selection seven times, and Thomas received the recognition twice.

The NFL 100th anniversary team included Hannah, while Thomas was an honorable-mention choice.

The 16 SEC players drafted with the No. 4 pick include:

· Georgia Tech back Eddie Prokop, Boston Yanks, 1945

· Alabama back Lowell Tew, Washington Redskins, 1948

· Kentucky quarterback Babe Parilli, Green Bay Packers, 1952

· Kentucky defensive end Lou Michaels, Los Angeles Rams, 1958

· Alabama guard John Hannah, New England Patriots, 1973

· Alabama defensive end Jon Hand, Indianapolis Colts, 1986

· Auburn running back Brent Fullwood, Green Bay Packers, 1987

· Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs, 1989

· Alabama linebacker Keith McCants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990

· Kentucky defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, New York Jets, 2003

· Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders, 2008

· Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals, 2011

· Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders, 2015

· LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2017

· Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, New York Giants, 2020

· Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons, 2021

Parilli was a AFL all-star three times, the All-AFL quarterback in 1964 and Joe Namath’s backup when the New York Jets won Super Bowl III.

Michaels reached the Pro Bowl twice, and Fullwood did so once.

A.J. Green is a seven-time Pro Bowler and Cooper a four-time Pro Bowler. Each has six 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Pitts also has a 1,000-yard receiving season and one Pro Bowl selection.

McFadden and Fournette have two 1,000-yard rushing seasons apiece.

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· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 22 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 23 PICK

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· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 25 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 26 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 27 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 28 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 29 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 30 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 31 PICK

· THE SEC’S BEST NO. 32 PICK

(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.)

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.