Picture: Kaiir Elam; Credit score: Ben Inexperienced (BuffaloBills.com)

In its historical past, the Florida Gators had despatched a complete of 361 gamers into the NFL by way of the draft.

After the 2022 NFL Draft wrapped up on Saturday, that quantity elevated by three because the crew despatched cornerback Kaiir Elam (decide No. 23, Buffalo Payments), defensive lineman Zachary Carter (decide No. 95, Cincinnati Bengals) and working again Dameon Pierce (decide No. 107, Houston Texans).

The Gators despatched a defensive lineman to the NFL by way of the draft for the eleventh straight 12 months, tied for the second-longest streak. Carter’s choice additionally tied Florida for the lead (25 picks) amongst DLs from SEC colleges within the first three rounds since 1967. 

Elam, in the meantime, stored Florida’s streak of first-round picks alive at three years in a row. Florida has now had a participant picked within the first spherical in 9 of the final ten years because of the Payments’ buying and selling up for Elam.

Let’s check out the picks themselves and the way they match with their new houses.

Spherical 1, twenty third general: CB Kaiir Elam – Buffalo Payments

The Gators despatched a cornerback to the NFL by way of the primary spherical for the third time since 2016. The final nook to go within the first spherical out of Florida was CB CJ Henderson, who was taken ninth general by the Jacksonville Jaguars within the 2020 NFL Draft.

Now, Elam turns into the most recent to get the decision and is likely to be one of the best of the previous few to achieve this degree of soccer when it is all mentioned and performed.

Elam, 6-foot-1, 191 kilos is an extended, bodily outdoors cornerback who will in the end pair properly with All-Professional CB Tre’Davious White within the Payments’ defensive system. He excels in press-man protection and has a knack for locating the soccer — though his interception numbers seem low, his variety of defended passes are encouraging.

In 2020, Elam’s greatest 12 months at Florida, he accounted for 2 interceptions and 11 cross breakups, not often being targetted because the crew struggled in opposition to the cross in all different areas of the sphere. For the Payments, Elam will seemingly grow to be a fast starter after the crew misplaced CB Levi Wallace in free company.    

He accounted for 26 whole cross breakups in three years at Florida, together with six interceptions and 78 whole tackles.  

Spherical 3, ninety fifth general: DL Zachary Carter – Cincinnati Bengals

Carter, maybe some of the revered Florida gamers on the roster over the previous a number of seasons, is a flexible lineman who will slot in quite a lot of positions on the subsequent degree with the Bengals.

In 5 years at Florida, Carter would go on to play in 41 video games, accounting for 107 whole tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 profession sacks. He performed quite a lot of roles whereas at Florida, together with as a defensive finish, five-technique, and inside at defensive deal with, three-technique.

The added versatility was seemingly an attraction for the Bengals, who makes use of a 3-4 hybrid scheme, led by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

“He is proven he can beat guards, but in addition tackles,” Anarumo mentioned by way of the crew’s web site. “He is a defensive lineman by and thru. He provides urgency to the room. Not that we do not have already got it. As soon as he crosses the white strains, he is a tricky man.”

Spherical 4, 107th general: RB Dameon Pierce – Houston Texans

As predicted by our Zach Goodall, Pierce’s match with the Texans is clear. The crew lacks depth on the place with solely Rex Burkhead and Marlon Mack at the moment on the roster together with Dare Ogunbowale. Mack and Ogunbowale have been each free-agent signees this offseason.

Here’s a snippet of what Goodall famous about Pierce and his suits with the Texans per week in the past:

The working again room — frankly, each place on the Texans’ offense — wants some younger expertise, even after re-signing one and signing two veterans in free company to cheap offers. Houston’s speeding offense ranked lifeless final within the league final 12 months and wishes huge enchancment.

Pierce presents good worth within the fourth spherical when the Texans personal back-to-back picks, particularly since Houston is about to have made 5 picks by this level.

Pierce developed into an especially well-rounded working again at Florida over time. He all the time impressed as a bodily, downhill rusher who had a knack for making defenders miss, however Pierce grew immensely as a receiver and cross protector throughout the 2020-21 seasons when he took on a bigger function within the Gators’ offense. In 2021, Pierce scored a landing each 7.4 instances he touched the ball.

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Honorable Point out:

Although he wasn’t on the crew final season, Jackson State linebacker James Houston IV was chosen by the Detroit Lions as an edge rusher at decide No. 217. Switching to primarily an edge participant, Houston accounted for 70 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks.  

Houston, after all, performed for the Gators from 2017 to 2020. He was suspended throughout his freshman season in 2017 however would go on to look in 35 video games over the next three years.  

Houston accounted for 103 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4 pressured fumbles throughout his time at Florida. He did his work with the Gators as an off-ball linebacker, enjoying in the midst of the protection, whereas including versatility as a cross rusher.   

Keep tuned to AllGators for steady protection of Florida Gators soccer, basketball and recruiting. Comply with alongside on social media at @SI_AllGators on Twitter and Florida Gators on Sports activities Illustrated on Fb.