Honestly, looking back at the 2025 NFL Draft, it feels like the Southeastern Conference just decided to treat the entire event as a private party in Green Bay. We always expect dominance from the SEC. It's the standard. But what happened last April was a total flex that even some seasoned scouts didn't see coming in quite this specific way.
The SEC tied its own 2020 record by shoving 15 players into the first round. That’s nearly half the opening night. Think about that for a second. If you were sitting in the crowd at Lambeau Field, you were basically watching an SEC highlight reel with a few other schools occasionally interrupting.
The First Round Monopoly
When the New England Patriots took LSU’s Will Campbell at No. 4, it set a tone. Campbell is a mountain of a man at 6'5" and over 320 pounds, and he didn't allow a sack for what felt like an eternity in Baton Rouge. He wasn't the only big body moving early, though. The New York Jets grabbed Missouri’s Armand Membou at No. 7, and the New Orleans Saints took Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9.
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Basically, the NFL looked at the SEC offensive lines and said, "Yeah, we'll take all of those, please."
People usually fixate on the skill positions, but the real story of the sec players drafted 2025 was the absolute raid on the trenches. It wasn't just the O-line, either. You had Mykel Williams from Georgia going to the 49ers at 11, and Walter Nolen—the Ole Miss disruptor—landing with the Arizona Cardinals at 16. It’s funny because some people thought Nolen might slip due to his transfer history, but his raw power was just too much for the Cardinals to pass up.
SEC First Round Selections (The Highlights)
- Will Campbell (LSU) – No. 4 to Patriots
- Armand Membou (Mizzou) – No. 7 to Jets
- Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) – No. 9 to Saints
- Mykel Williams (Georgia) – No. 11 to 49ers
- Tyler Booker (Alabama) – No. 12 to Cowboys
- Jalon Walker (Georgia) – No. 15 to Falcons
- Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) – No. 16 to Cardinals
- Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) – No. 17 to Bengals
- Jahdae Barron (Texas) – No. 20 to Broncos
- Matthew Golden (Texas) – No. 23 to Packers
- Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) – No. 25 to Giants
- James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) – No. 26 to Falcons
- Malaki Starks (Georgia) – No. 27 to Ravens
- Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) – No. 30 to Bills
- Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) – No. 31 to Eagles
The New Kids on the Block
You've gotta talk about Texas. This was their first real "SEC year" in the draft, and they didn't just participate—they dominated. Steve Sarkisian’s crew had three guys go in the first round alone. Kelvin Banks Jr., Jahdae Barron, and Matthew Golden.
Golden's selection was actually a pretty wild moment. The Packers hadn't taken a wide receiver in the first round since the early 2000s. When they finally broke that streak with a Longhorn, the Green Bay crowd went absolutely nuclear. It was one of those "you had to be there" vibes.
Texas ended up with 12 total players drafted. That is the school's highest mark since 1987. If anyone was worried about how the Longhorns would handle the jump to the SEC, the NFL scouts just gave them a massive vote of confidence.
Why Some Big Names Slipped
The draft is never perfect. It’s messy. You had guys like Luther Burden III from Missouri and Jalen Milroe from Alabama who some projected as top-15 locks. They didn't go on Thursday.
Burden eventually went No. 39 to the Chicago Bears in the second round. Honestly, getting a talent like Burden at 39 feels like highway robbery for Chicago. He’s got that "it" factor that usually translates to immediate production. Then you have Jalen Milroe, who had to wait until the third round (No. 92) to hear his name called by the Seattle Seahawks.
Scouts were clearly split on Milroe’s consistency, but the SEC speed he brings is undeniable. It’ll be interesting to see if he can pull a Russell Wilson-style career path in Seattle.
The Depth Nobody Talks About
While everyone focuses on the first round of sec players drafted 2025, the real strength of the conference is in the "middle class" of the draft. Georgia led everyone in the conference with 13 total picks. 13! Kirby Smart has essentially turned Athens into a professional developmental league.
On Day 2 and Day 3, we saw names like Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) go to the Seahawks and Tre Harris (Ole Miss) head to the Chargers. These aren't just depth pieces. These are guys who were arguably the best players on the field every Saturday in the toughest conference in the country.
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Even schools like South Carolina and Kentucky showed out. The Gamecocks had five players taken, including T.J. Sanders to the Bills. It’s a testament to the coaching in this league that even the teams not playing for national titles are still churning out Sunday talent.
Total Picks by School (SEC Leaders)
- Georgia: 13
- Texas: 12
- Ole Miss: 8
- Alabama: 7
- LSU: 7
- Florida: 7
It's sorta crazy to see Alabama down at seven picks. For the Saban era, that would have been a "down" year, but under Kalen DeBoer, the streak of having a first-rounder continued (now 17 years long).
What This Means for Your Dynasty Team
If you’re a fantasy football nerd or just a die-hard fan, the 2025 class of SEC players is heavy on value.
Matthew Golden in Green Bay is a name to circle. Jordan Love likes to spread the ball around, and Golden’s speed fits that system perfectly. Also, don't sleep on Trevor Etienne. He went to the Panthers in the fourth round. With Carolina's offense constantly needing playmakers, he could see the field much sooner than people expect.
The biggest "boom or bust" pick has to be Jaxson Dart to the Giants. New York is desperate for a long-term solution at QB. Dart has the swagger and the arm, but the jump from Lane Kiffin’s offense to a pro-style system is a mountain to climb.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking these guys as they enter their rookie camps, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the O-Line Snap Counts: Guys like Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr. are expected to start Day 1. If they struggle early, it affects the entire offense’s fantasy value.
- The "Georgia" Factor: History shows Georgia defenders (like Malaki Starks and Jalon Walker) usually adjust to the NFL faster because of the complex schemes they ran in college.
- Draft Value: If you're in a dynasty rookie draft, Luther Burden III at the top of the second round is a much safer bet than some of the first-round receivers from other conferences.
The 2025 draft reinforced one simple truth: if you want to play in the NFL, you probably should have played in the SEC. The conference continues to act as the primary feeder system for the league, and the 2025 class might go down as one of the most physically gifted groups we've seen in a long time.