Where Auburn players are projected in 2023 NFL Draft with 1 week to go
The NFL draft is a week away, and a handful of Auburn players are expected to hear their names called from the stage in Kansas City.
Those who are selected in next week’s draft, which begins with the first round on Thursday, will join the group of 290 Auburn players all time who have been chosen in the NFL draft since 1936. That group includes four No. 1 overall picks and 30 first-round selections.
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While it’s unlikely that this year’s crop of prospects will add to that first-round total, Auburn is expected to have at least four players picked in next week’s draft: edge Derick Hall, running back Tank Bigsby, defensive lineman Colby Wooden and linebacker Owen Pappoe. That would be an improvement from a year ago, when the Tigers had just one player drafted (Roger McCreary in the second round to the Tennessee Titans). Others could be taken this year with late-round fliers or signed as priority undrafted free agents, while more may get a chance to prove themselves in offseason rookie camps.
With a week to go until the draft gets underway, here’s a look at where various NFL draft analysts project Auburn’s top prospects to be picked in their most recent mock drafts:
Derick Hall, edge
— First pick in Round 3, 64th overall to the Chicago Bears (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler)
— Round 2, 61st overall to the Chicago Bears (ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.)
— Round 3, 77th overall to the Los Angeles Rams (CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson)
— Round 2, 62nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles (CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso)
— Round 3, 65th overall to the Houston Texans (CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards)
— Round 3, 65th overall to the Houston Texas (NFL.com’s Chad Reuter)
— Round 2, 50th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN’s Jordan Reid)
— Round 2, 62nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer)
— Round 3, 98th overall to the Cleveland Browns (WalterFootball.com)
You can follow Derick Hall’s journey to the NFL in AL.com’s Emmy-winning documentary series “Road to the Pros” here:
Tank Bigsby, running back
— Round 3, 77th overall to the Los Angeles Rams, via the Miami Dolphins (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler)
— Round 3, 66th overall to the Arizona Cardinals (CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson)
— Round 3, 99th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, via the San Francisco 49ers (CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso)
— Round 4, 121st overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards)
— Round 4, 129th overall to the Dallas Cowboys (NFL.com’s Chad Reuter)
— Round 3, 88th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars (ESPN’s Jordan Reid)
— Round 3, 75th overall to the Atlanta Falcons (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer)
— Round 6, 213th overall to the Arizona Cardinals (WalterFootball.com)
Colby Wooden, defensive lineman
— Round 3, 100th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, via the New York Giants (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler)
— Round 3, 87th overall to the Minnesota Vikings (ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.)
— Round 3, 103rd overall to the Chicago Bears (CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson)
— Round 3, 71st overall to the Buffalo Bills, via the New Orleans Saints (CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso)
— Round 5, 137th overall to the Buffalo Bills (CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards)
— Round 4, 133rd overall to the Chicago Bears (NFL.com’s Chad Reuter)
— Round 5, 154th overall to the Seattle Seahawks (ESPN’s Jordan Reid)
— Round 3, 96th overall to the Arizona Cardinals (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer)
— Round 6, 208th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars (WalterFootball.com)
Owen Pappoe, linebacker
— Round 5, 143rd overall to the New York Jets (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler)
— Round 4, 109th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders (CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson)
— Round 3, 77th overall to the Los Angeles Rams, via the Miami Dolphins (CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso)
— Round 3, 98th overall to the Cleveland Browns (NFL.com’s Chad Reuter)
— Round 3, 87th overall to the Minnesota Vikings (ESPN’s Jordan Reid)
— Round 4, 134th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer)
— Round 6, 191st overall to the Los Angeles Rams (WalterFootball.com)
Eku Leota, edge
— Round 7, 251st overall to the Los Angeles Rams (CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards)
— Round 6, 205th overall to the Buffalo Bills (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer)
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.