SEC Spotlight: Top NFL Draft picks from league since 2013

Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.

The NFL Draft is a couple of weeks away, so we thought it would be interesting to see who the highest-drafted prospects in each Power Five conference over the last five years have been. Here’s the SEC.

MORE NFL DRAFT: Big Ten draft history | Farrell's Mock Draft | QB busts | Five programs that'll make the biggest buzz | Five potential steals in the draft | Five potential first-round busts | Stock rising | Stock falling

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

The skinny: Garrett trimmed his list to Texas A&M and TCU before committing to the Aggies during his senior season. With the Aggies, Garrett’s impressive play quickly placed him in the national spotlight, while also making him an immediate target for the NFL. Not surprisingly, he was selected with the first overall pick in 2017 by Cleveland. After dealing with a nagging injury to begin his rookie season, Garrett began to shine with the Browns, finishing with 31 tackles and seven sacks. Even bigger things are expected from him this fall.

Farrell’s take: There was a heated debate over who was No. 1 in the class of 2014, with many believing it was Garrett. That debate is over. We picked the wrong guy. In the end, we decided Alabama’s Da’Shawn Hand should remain in the top spot with Garrett at No. 2. While Hand struggled to break out, Garrett went No. 1 overall. Garrett is a freaky athlete who has learned to hold the edge better and has to be accounted for on every down. NFL scouts were absolutely in love with him and he’s off to a good start for his NFL career.

The skinny: Clowney claimed South Carolina as his favorite from the start, so while both Alabama and Clemson were the other finalists, and he took an official visit to Death Valley, it came as no surprise when he committed to the Gamecocks. At South Carolina, Clowney quickly became a star while earning All-American honors after both the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Houston did the obvious and selected him with the first overall pick in 2014, where after a relatively slow start to his professional career he has impressed with 111 tackles and 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Farrell’s Take: Clowney was a freak, plain and simple, and was our No. 1 overall player out of high school. He is still the best high school player regardless of position that I’ve scouted in my nearly 20-year career. His speed off the snap was what set him apart but he had it all – length, power, speed, aggression, ability in pursuit and so on – which made him impossible to stop. Despite a weak junior year at South Carolina, he was still No. 1 overall and is now starting to play like it or at least show signs of that potential.

The skinny: Robinson narrowed his choices to Auburn and in-state LSU before surprising many by leaving the state of Louisiana. At Auburn, Robinson became the starter at left tackle in 2012 and earned All-SEC honors after the 2013 season. Selected with the second pick of the 2014 draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Robinson’s career never met expectations. He struggled with his weight and with his overall play, which eventually led to his trade to Detroit prior to the 2017 season. However, injuries hampered Robinson and he was waived in November. He currently remains a free agent.

Farrell’s take: Robinson was a four-star, so we liked him quite a bit. He had great feet, showed good arm extension, and was aggressive and physical. The fact that he turned into an NFL bust is puzzling because there was so much to like about him as a college prospect as well.

The skinny: Joeckel started 13 games as a true freshman for Texas A&M and never looked back, eventually winning the Outland Trophy and being named All-American after the 2012 season. Drafted with the second overall pick by Jacksonville in 2013, Joeckel spent a lackluster four seasons with the Jaguars while playing both left tackle and left guard. With Jacksonville deciding not to pick up his fifth-year option, he signed a one-year contract with Seattle, where he started 11 games for the Seahawks at left guard in 2017. He currently remains a free agent.

Farrell’s Take: We liked Joekel quite a bit as his No. 39 overall ranking attests because he had a great frame, long arms and good feet, along with excellent technique. Our No. 5 offensive tackle out of high school lived up to that ranking in college but has busted out as a pro, which is surprising. He and Robinson are both exceptional talents who didn’t translate to the pros for whatever reason.

The skinny: Fowler initially committed to Florida State, but then after months of rumors and back-and-forth he finally flipped to Florida on National Signing Day. Fowler began to flourish as a sophomore, earning second-team All-SEC honors, and then took his game to the next level during his final season in Gainesville. Selected with the third overall pick by Jacksonville in 2015, Fowler’s NFL career began with a torn ACL that caused him to miss his entire rookie season. Since his return in 2016, Fowler has been productive, yet unspectacular, totaling 53 tackles and 12 sacks over that time.

Farrell’s take: Fowler is the rare prospect who began as a five-star, dropped to a four-star and then regained his fifth star. He had a very average senior year in high school but elevated his game once again at Under Armour All-America week and got that fifth star back. A talented pass rusher with great speed, he’s been up and down as a pro and some wonder if he’s ever fully recovered from his rookie injury.