In-state Auburn football product projected to be first Tiger taken in NFL Draft
Based on mock drafts leading up to the big weekend, this in-state Auburn football player will likely be the first Tiger off the board.
Based on mock drafts leading up to the big weekend, this in-state Auburn football player will likely be the first Tiger off the board
The big week is here! Thursday night, the 2024 NFL Draft will begin, and a number of former Auburn football players will be hoping to hear their names called in one of the rounds. Five Auburn Tigers were drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, and five more are likely to be selected this year.
According to Richard Silva of the Montgomery Advertiser, all roads are leading to in-state cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, from Jackson, Alabama, being the first Tiger to hear his name called in the draft. Three different mock drafts have slated Pritchett as going as early as the third round:
- Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball: Third round to the Detroit Lions (No. 73 overall)
- Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball: Third round to the Los Angeles Rams (No. 83 overall)
- Chad Reuter of NFL.com: Third round to the Green Bay Packers (No. 91 overall)
However, there are also arguments that DJ James — another in-state cornerback from Mobile, Alabama — could be the first former Auburn football to get called. He is predicted as early as the third round, too, and as late as the sixth round. Odds are, he will go in the fourth round.
- Tankathon staff: Third round to the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 95 overall)
- Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News: Fourth round to the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 105 overall)
- Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network: Fourth round to the Denver Broncos (No. 109 overall)
- Pro Football Focus staff: Fourth round to the Arizona Cardinals (No. 111 overall)
- Chad Reuter of NFL.com: Sixth round to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 215 overall)
Other former Auburn football players expected to be drafted are defensive linemen Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers and safety Jaylin Simpson.