NFL Draft 2022: Four former Georgia high school stars selected in the first round

The state of Georgia is home to some of the best high school football in the country, so naturally the state churns out NFL players on a yearly basis.

Headlined by first overall pick Travon Walker, four Georgia natives were taken in the first round of the NFL draft, which began Thursday night in Las Vegas. 

The mark ties Texas for the second-most by a state and trails California by one.

The draft continues Friday and Saturday with rounds two through seven, and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (Roswell) is expected to be among the first names called Friday after unexpectedly falling out of the first round.

Here are the players from Georgia who had their names called on Day One.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, DL, Upson-Lee

For the second year in a row, a Georgia native went first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last year it was Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville), and now Walker joins the elite club. The former multi-sport star at Upson-Lee in Thomaston is the first player from the University of Georgia to go No. 1 overall since Matthew Stafford in 2008. As the top pick in the draft, Walker can expect a four-year contract worth about $37.3 million with a signing bonus of about $24.3 million.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, DB, Marist

A versatile, hard-hitting safety, Hamilton might have Ravens fans getting flashbacks of Ed Reed when he starts roaming the field for Baltimore’s defense. As soon as Hamilton took the field at Notre Dame, he grabbed the attention of NFL scouts with his range and playmaking ability.

22. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Crisp County

The Packers made it two straight years picking a homegrown Georgia Bulldog in the first round, and this year they doubled down on the Dawgs. The outside linebacker reunites with cornerback Eric Stokes (Eastside), who was the No. 29 overall pick in 2021, and another former college teammate who heard his name called shortly after Walker.

28. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DL, Towers

The pride of Towers continues to leave his legacy and make his hometown proud as he became a first-round draft pick Thursday night. With Quay Walker heading to Green Bay and Eric Stokes already there, Wyatt will have some familiar faces in the locker room as he begins his professional career.

Top Georgia natives remaining

Malik Willis, QB, Roswell

Andrew Booth Jr., DB, Archer

Kingsley Enagbare, DL, Hapeville Charter

Jamaree Salyer, OL, Pace

Dameon Pierce, RB, Bainbridge

Jason Poe, OL, Fitzgerald

Justin Shaffer, OL, Cedar Grove

Smoke Monday, DB, Carver-Atlanta

Jordan Tucker, OL, Roswell