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Florida sees notable draft streak end, drought extend into Day 3
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Florida has had an unusually quiet first 2 days of the NFL Draft.
As noted by OnlyGators.com, the 2025 NFL Draft marks the first time in over a decade that the Gators did not have a player selected in the first 3 rounds. As of Sunday morning, the most recent UF player to be drafted was Ricky Pearsall, a first-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Florida football’s draft drought is now at 9 rounds entering Day 3 of the 2025 draft.
Florida #Gators have not had a player selected in first 3 rounds of an NFL Draft for first time since 2012, second time since 1993.
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) April 26, 2025
UF has gone 9 straight NFL Draft rounds without a selection after only Ricky Pearsall was picked in 2024. Team's longest drought of modern era.
Florida’s 2025 draft class includes starters and key contributors such as WR Elijhah Badger, WR Chimere Dike, LB Shemar James, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., DB Jason Marshall Jr., QB Graham Mertz and DL Desmond Watson. The Gators were a notably young team in 2024 and return many pieces for 2025.
The 2025 class is the third group of Gator players to be coached by Billy Napier. This is the first year that players signed to Florida out of high school by Napier became eligible to declare for the draft. James was a key commitment for Napier in the 2022 transition class.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
