For the second year in a row, the Auburn football team had no players selected in the first or second rounds of the NFL Draft— the first time this has happened since 1983. Auburn has not had a first-round pick since 2020 (Derrick Brown). Still, three former Tigers heard their names called on the big day.
The first to go was star running back Jarquez Hunter. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the No. 117 overall pick in the fourth round. He was the 11th running back chosen in the draft, and he is the second Auburn running back to be drafted in the last three years following Tank Bigsby. After four years on the Plains, Hunter recorded 3,371 rushing yards, the fourth-most in program history.
The next Auburn Tiger to hear his name called was wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers as the No. 158 overall pick in the fifth round. Lambert-Smith was the 21st wide receiver to be picked in the draft. Though he spent only one year on the Plains, KLS quickly became a fan favorite and a major contributor on the Auburn offense. He had 50 receptions for 98 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
The third and final Tiger to be drafted was linebacker Jalen McLeod. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the No. 194 overall pick in the sixth round. He was the 18th linebacker off the board, and will join former Auburn running back Tank Bigsby in the league. McLeod transferred from Appalachian State and spent two years on the Plains during which he recorded 105 tackles and 13 sacks.
11 more Auburn football players signed contracts as free agents once the draft ended, including linebacker Eugene Asante and quarterback Payton Thorne.