The SEC's streak of four consecutive NFL drafts with double-digit first-round picks is over. So is its four-year reign as the conference with the most first-round picks overall.
But all things must come to an end. The ACC and Pac-12, with nine each, beat out the SEC, which had seven former players have their names called on Wednesday night in Chicago.
Overall, it was an up and down start to the draft for the SEC. After starting out hot with three picks in the top 10, things went quiet. Then came Cincinnati at No. 21 with Cedric Ogbuehi, followed by three straight former SEC stars. Even former Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, who was said to be slipping on many draft boards because of a foot injury and a citation for marijuana, was taken No. 23 by Denver.
The only surprises were that Alabama's Landon Collins and LSU's La'el Collins were not selected. And considering the fact that La'el Collins is being sought for questioning by police, it’s no wonder that teams were scared away.
The first round didn't go the SEC's way, but we've got a long way to go before the draft is over. There are still plenty of prominent names still left on the board.
Round 1 selections
No. 3, Jacksonville: Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr.
No. 4, Oakland: Alabama WR Amari Cooper
No. 10, St. Louis: Georgia RB Todd Gurley
No. 21, Cincinnati: Texas A&M OT Cedric Ogbuehi
No. 22, Pittsburgh: Kentucky OLB Bud Dupree
No. 23, Denver: Missouri DE Shane Ray
No. 24, Arizona: Florida OT D.J. Humphries
ESPN’s top 50 prospects still available from the SEC
No. 22: LSU OT La'el Collins
No. 33: Alabama S Landon Collins
No. 43: Mississippi State DE Preston Smith
No. 45: LSU CB Jalen Collins