NFL Draft Starts Thursday
4/26/2023 4:25:00 PM | Football
The NFL Draft begins on Thursday night, as Syracuse fans await to hear the latest 'Cuse alums to join a long list of successful pro Orange players.
The first player off the board from Syracuse this year will be the 207th member of the program selected in the NFL Draft. The Orange are poised to see Matthew Bergeron and Garrett Williams both come off the board in the early rounds, according to most mock drafts. Teammates Sean Tucker and Mikel Jones are projected to be the next players selected, with a bevvy of others projected to receive free agent contracts or camp invites.
Bergeron, a team captain, spent his offseason with strong performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. An All-ACC and AP All-ACC selection, he graded out as one of the top-15 pass blocking tackles in college football last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Williams had his redshirt sophomore season cut short due to injury after just six games, but still earned All-ACC honors this year, making him a three-time all-conference selection in his career. He led the ACC in pass breakups in both 2020 and 2021.
Tucker shattered Syracuse's single-season rushing record as a sophomore in 2021, before doubling down and becoming the first player in program history to post back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ rushing and 250+ receiving yards. A two-time All-ACC selection, he was also an All-American in 2021.
Jones, a three-time All-ACC linebacker, two-time team captain, and semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2022, registered over 300 career tackles in a Syracuse uniform. The Miami, Florida, native appeared in 46 career games with 38 starts at 'Cuse.
Andre Szmyt, Aaron Bolinsky, DeVaughn Cooper, Chris Elmore and CJ Hayes are the other departing Orange players who participated in Pro Day and are pursuing careers in professional football.
The draft begins on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network for the first round. The second and third rounds will be on Friday night, with the remaining four rounds taking place on Saturday.
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The first player off the board from Syracuse this year will be the 207th member of the program selected in the NFL Draft. The Orange are poised to see Matthew Bergeron and Garrett Williams both come off the board in the early rounds, according to most mock drafts. Teammates Sean Tucker and Mikel Jones are projected to be the next players selected, with a bevvy of others projected to receive free agent contracts or camp invites.
Bergeron, a team captain, spent his offseason with strong performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. An All-ACC and AP All-ACC selection, he graded out as one of the top-15 pass blocking tackles in college football last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Williams had his redshirt sophomore season cut short due to injury after just six games, but still earned All-ACC honors this year, making him a three-time all-conference selection in his career. He led the ACC in pass breakups in both 2020 and 2021.
Tucker shattered Syracuse's single-season rushing record as a sophomore in 2021, before doubling down and becoming the first player in program history to post back-to-back seasons with 1,000+ rushing and 250+ receiving yards. A two-time All-ACC selection, he was also an All-American in 2021.
Jones, a three-time All-ACC linebacker, two-time team captain, and semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2022, registered over 300 career tackles in a Syracuse uniform. The Miami, Florida, native appeared in 46 career games with 38 starts at 'Cuse.
Andre Szmyt, Aaron Bolinsky, DeVaughn Cooper, Chris Elmore and CJ Hayes are the other departing Orange players who participated in Pro Day and are pursuing careers in professional football.
The draft begins on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network for the first round. The second and third rounds will be on Friday night, with the remaining four rounds taking place on Saturday.
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Players Mentioned
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