Five University of Georgia players were picked on the second night of the 2026 NFL Draft, led by Christen Miller to the Saints.
PITTSBURGH — The second night of the 2026 NFL Draft turned Heinz Field into a Georgia homecoming, with five Bulldogs hearing their names called on Friday evening.
The focus quickly centered on Christen Miller. a defensive lineman selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round with the 10th pick of the round (42nd overall).. Soon after. inside linebacker CJ Allen went to the Indianapolis Colts in the second round as well. taken at 21st in the round (53rd overall).. The run on Georgia talent continued into the third round. where tight end Oscar Delp was picked by the Saints (73rd overall). wide receiver Zachariah Branch landed with the Atlanta Falcons (79th overall). and defensive back Daylen Everette was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers (85th overall).
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That tight-end streak matters because it reflects a broader identity the program has leaned into for years—tight ends who can contribute in multiple phases. not just as pass targets.. Delp’s profile fits that mold.. He appeared in 54 games for Georgia, started 34 at tight end, and was a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.. The stat line from his last season—20 catches for 261 yards and a touchdown—may be familiar to fans. but what stands out is the way his blocking helped keep offenses humming.. Georgia’s quarterback and running-game production during the season included a 69.7 completion percentage for QB Gunner Stockton and 947 rushing yards for RB Nate Frazier. with Delp involved in the play-by-play protection and scheme execution.
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Allen. taken by the Colts. brought a different kind of leverage—speed. coverage instincts. and inside run-and-react ability packaged as linebacker toughness.. The 6-0, 233-pound Barnesville native finished as the 2025 team leader with 88 stops and eight tackles for loss, adding 3.5 sacks.. His recognition didn’t come quietly: he was a First Team All-American. a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. and he served as a captain seven times.. On the field, his finishing plays included two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2025.. Over a Georgia career built on consistency, Allen totaled 30 starts and more than 200 tackles.
Meanwhile, the Falcons added a receiver who made his one season in red and black feel like a statement.. Zachariah Branch, listed at 5-9 and 176 pounds, delivered a Georgia single-season record 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns.. He was a Coaches Second Team All-SEC selection as a receiver and also earned Third Team recognition as an all-purpose threat.. Branch didn’t limit his impact to routes. either—he contributed in the return game. adding 180 punt return yards on 15 attempts and producing a 44-yard return in Georgia’s win over No.. 10 Texas.
For Pittsburgh. the Steelers selected Everette. a defensive back with a track record of making big moments happen against top competition.. At 6-1 and 198 pounds, Daylen Everette recorded 50 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery in his final season.. The Coaches Third Team All-SEC pick was named the 2024 SEC Championship Game MVP after an interception against No.. 2 Texas.. He also earned a reputation for stacking plays versus the Longhorns. including three career interceptions against UT—one of them during the regular season when the program was top-ranked.
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For the players. the practical impact is immediate—new coaching staffs. new schemes. and the daily grind of proving they can translate college instincts into NFL reads and timing.. For fans and recruits. it’s also a message: Georgia doesn’t just produce draft-day highlights; it consistently produces draft-day readiness.
And for the NFL clubs involved. it’s a bet that the traits Georgia coached up will keep showing themselves—whether it’s Miller’s pressure production. Allen’s relentless inside play. Delp’s two-phase value at tight end. Branch’s skill after the catch. or Everette’s ability to convert big-game opportunities into turnovers.
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If you’re following this draft as a broader trend. Georgia’s second-night haul is a reminder that NFL franchises keep coming back to programs that build repeatable NFL profiles.. The Bulldogs didn’t just show up in one position group—they spread the draft impact across the line of scrimmage and the secondary. reinforcing why this kind of run tends to sustain year after year.
For now, the five selected on Friday night have a new chapter waiting. The question isn’t whether the names were called—it’s how quickly they adapt to the speed, precision, and pressure that come with the next level.