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Sun Belt Duo Drafted; Georgia State Sets Record Pick

4/26/2026

Summary

Sun Belt Players Drafted

The Sun Belt Conference had two players chosen in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (84th overall), the highest draft slot in school history.
Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (154th overall) after posting 125 tackles, 13 for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

Summary

Patriots Draft

The Patriots traded picks No. 63, 131, and 202 to the Chargers for No. 55.
They used No. 55 to draft Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who posted a 1.59-second 10-yard split and 11 sacks last season.
In the third round, New England selected Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon at No. 95, posting 81st-percentile 40-yard dash and vertical scores, an 88th-percentile broad jump, and 32 catches for 482 yards (15.1 yd/catch).

Summary

First-Round Contracts

The rookie wage scale guarantees first-round picks receive non-negotiated contracts.
The last five No. 1 picks such as Cam Ward and Caleb Williams earned massive contracts.
Teams use later rounds for special-teams value, as the Texans chose safety Kamari Ramsey and the Titans selected interior-line lineman Fernando Carmona.
The transfer portal and NIL opportunities raise draft stock, shown by Buccaneers tight end Bauer Sharp, a former transfer who leveraged NIL exposure.

History

Historical Context

In early 2010 owners and commissioner Roger Goodell pushed a new CBA, leading to a lockout that ended July 25 2011 and an agreement signed August 5 2011. The deal created a rookie wage scale capping the first-round pool at $12.5 million and fixing salaries near $5 million, forcing teams to value later picks. The 2026 selections of Ted Hurst and Gabe Jacas show the system’s lasting impact.

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Sun Belt Players Drafted

The Sun Belt Conference had two players chosen in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (84th overall), the highest draft slot in school history.
Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (154th overall) after posting 125 tackles, 13 for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

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