PITTSBURGH – Five members of the University of Georgia football team heard their names called on the second night of the 2026 NFL Draft Friday evening at Heinz Field.
In the second round, defensive lineman
Christen Miller was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 10
th pick (42
nd overall), followed by inside linebacker
CJ Allen going to the Indianapolis Colts with 21
st pick (53
rd overall).
In the third round, tight end
Oscar Delp was selected with the ninth pick (73
rd overall) by the Saints, followed by wide receiver
Zachariah Branch with the 15
th pick (79
th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons. Defensive back
Daylen Everette then went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21
st pick (85
th overall).
Head coach
Kirby Smart has now produced 82 NFL Draft picks during his 10 seasons at the helm of the Georgia program, including 13 linebackers. Delp’s selection marked the seventh time in eight seasons in which a Bulldog tight end was chosen. The six selections through three rounds tied for the third-most in program history with 2021 and 2025.
Miller, a 6-4, 328-pound native of Ellenwood, spent four seasons on the Georgia defensive line and started 24 games over the 2024-25 seasons. Miller finished with four sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss over his last three years while also posting a team-leading 23 quarterback pressures last season. He was part of a senior class that tallied 51 wins, was 25-1 at home, won three SEC titles and advanced to three College Football Playoffs.
Allen, a native of Barnesville who is 6-0, 233 pounds, was the 2025 team leader with 88 stops and eight tackles for loss while adding 3.5 sacks. The First Team All-American who was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy was a captain seven times for the Bulldogs last season. Adding two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2025, Allen finished his career with 30 starts and more than 200 tackles.
Delp, a 6-5, 245-pound native of Cumming, suited up in 54 games for the Bulldogs, starting 34 of those at tight end while competing for playing time against a number of other top-rated teammates at his position. The Campbell Trophy semifinalist was fourth on the team last season with 20 catches for 261 yards and a score. Delp was a force in the blocking game as well last year, protecting QB
Gunner Stockton en route to a 69.7 completion percentage and RB
Nate Frazier to 947 yards on the ground.
Branch, a 5-9, 176-pound native of Las Vegas, Nevada, made his single season as a Bulldog a memorable one as he snagged a single season record 81 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns. A Coaches Second Team All-SEC selection as a receiver and a Third Team selection as an all-purpose threat, Branch added 180 punt return yards on 15 attempts (12.0 average) and 205 yards on 10 attempts (20.5 average), including a 44 yarder in the win over No. 10 Texas.
Everette, a 6-1, 198-pound native of Norfolk, Virginia, complemented his 50 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery during his final season. The Coaches Third Team All-SEC selection was named the 2024 SEC Championship Game MVP after collecting an interception versus No. 2 Texas, which marked his third pick against the Longhorns after snagging a pair at top-ranked UT during the regular season. Everette was named a captain three times in 2025 while helping hold opponents to only 17.6 points/game.
Miller and Delp were the 11
th and 12
th Bulldogs to be selected by the Saints and first since defensive back Damian Swann went in the fifth round in 2015. Allen was the 13
th Bulldog to be selected by the Colts and first since linebacker Amarlo Herrera went in the sixth round in 2015.
Branch was the 14
th Bulldog ever selected by the Falcons, marking three straight seasons with a selection (Jalon Walker, 2025 and Zion Logue, 2024). Everette was the 21
st Bulldog chosen by the Steelers and the first since Darnell Washington in 2023.
The 2026 NFL Draft concludes Saturday in Pittsburgh with the final four rounds, beginning at noon EDT. Live coverage of the Draft will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network, with continuous coverage online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
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