The 2025 NFL Draft starts on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the 32 first-round picks. AL.com is counting down to the event by highlighting the best choice – overall, from the SEC and of players from Alabama high schools and colleges — made with each of the first 32 picks in the 89 NFL drafts.

Best No. 20 pick: SMU offensive lineman Forrest Gregg by the Green Bay Packers in 1956

The Packers began laying the foundation for their dynasty in the 1956 NFL Draft. Green Bay chose Gregg at No. 20 and Alabama quarterback Bart Starr at No. 200. They would be on the team through a run of five NFL championships in a seven-season span, with the final two followed by victories in the first two Super Bowls.

In his first three seasons, Gregg started three games and missed an entire campaign in the military. In 1959, when Vince Lombardi became the Packers’ coach, Gregg went into the lineup at right tackle and was a Pro Bowl selection for nine of the next 10 seasons. He also made first-team All-Pro seven times in that span.

Gregg finished his career with Dallas in the 1971 season, when the Cowboys completed the season with a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI on Jan. 16.

Gregg entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1977. Defensive end Jack Youngblood, the No. 20 pick in 1971, and safety Steve Atwater, the No. 20 pick in 1989, also are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2019, when the NFL chose an all-time team for its centennial season, Gregg was among the seven offensive tackles.

Last year’s No. 20 pick was Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Best No. 20 pick from the SEC: Florida defensive end Jack Youngblood by the Los Angeles Rams in 1971

After the Rams drafted Youngblood, he spent the next 14 seasons with Los Angeles. Youngblood made the Pro Bowl every season from 1973 through 1979 and was a first-team All-Pro selection in five of those campaigns on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2001.

Sacks became an official NFL stat in 1982, and Youngblood recorded 24 in the final three seasons of his career. But a review of game books before then puts Youngblood’s career sack total at 151.5, which is the sixth-most since 1960.

Youngblood also had 8.5 sacks in 17 playoff games. He famously played in the NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl for the 1979 season after breaking his left leg in the Rams’ opening playoff contest.

The most recent of the 15 SEC players picked at No. 20 is Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney by New York Giants in 2021.

Best No. 20 pick with Alabama football roots: Georgia Tech linebacker Maxie Baughan by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960

Baughan earned Pro Bowl recognition and an NFL championship ring in his first season with Philadelphia.

Baughan went on to receive a Pro Bowl invitation in nine of his first 10 NFL campaigns – five times with the Eagles and four times with the Los Angeles Rams. Baughan was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1964 for Philadelphia.

An All-State player for Bessemer High School, Baughan had a College Football Hall of Fame career at Georgia Tech.

The Denver Broncos hold the No. 20 pick in the NFL Draft on April 24.

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