Jeffery Simmons knew he’d have questions to answer coming into this draft, with the arrest that occurred prior to his enrollment at Mississippi State, then a ACL injury as he was in preparation for the draft. The biggest question was where would he end up? The answer, the Tennessee Titans, as Simmons was selected with the 19th pick of the NFL Draft.
A dream come true.
With the 19th pick in the 2019 #NFLDraft, the @Titans select Jeffery Simmons.#HailState🐶 | #FromStateToSundays pic.twitter.com/OzRz54HwhH
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) April 26, 2019
Welcome to Nashville, Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94)! #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/bZ5zppjTTS
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 26, 2019
Simmons was a dominant force for Mississippi State each of his two seasons, controlling the middle of a defensive line that finished #1 in the nation in his final year. Simmons was a five star recruit out of high school, then followed up by become a two time first team All-SEC selection.
Tennessee's No. 8 DEF gets even stronger
Titans select Jeffery Simmons No. 19 overall pic.twitter.com/HSXGgeJLHd
— Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) April 26, 2019
Simmons’s d-line teammate had to wait a lot longer than he probably anticipated, but Montez Sweat has heard his name called, heading to the Washington Redskins with the 26th pick.
Welcome to D.C., @_sweat9 #SkinsDraft | #HTTRhttps://t.co/nStw0dcOyK pic.twitter.com/9Qn4G5gCcz
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) April 26, 2019
The next stop in the journey.
Montez Sweat is headed to the @Redskins as the 26th pick in the 2019 #NFLDraft!
💪 @_sweat9#HailState🐶 | #FromStateToSundays pic.twitter.com/wB2Tyf0YO5
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) April 26, 2019
Sweat was the best pass rusher in the SEC the past two seasons, racking up 23 sacks and 30 tackles for loss. A two time All-SEC selection, Sweat was dominant at the NFL Combine, but a medical issue put his status in question, an issue that would be recanted earlier today.
QB to score ✔️
Pass rusher to stop opponents QBs from scoring ✔️Redskins select Montez Sweat No. 26 overall pic.twitter.com/HKE7wGJ8Nv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2019
From our NFL pre-draft coverage: #MSU pass-rusher Montez Sweat may have been misdiagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Two sources say the thickness of Sweat's heart wall is actually 1.5 cms, not nearly 2.0. I explain below why the risk could be much lower. pic.twitter.com/PUVsbO2tDw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019
Sweat will look to fill the role left by another former Bulldog, Preston Smith, who was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers.
Mississippi State got its three first rounders, as Oakland selected safety Johnathan Abram with the 27th pick.
Total playmaker.
With the 27th pick, we have selected S @JohnathanAbram1 from @HailStateFB. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/YSo38RraHa
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) April 26, 2019
BACK-TO-BACK BULLDOGS.
The @Raiders are getting the BEST safety in the #NFLDraft in @JohnathanAbram1 with the 27th pick!#HailState🐶 | #FromStateToSundays pic.twitter.com/vgfmJmaeVy
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) April 26, 2019
Abram had a breakthrough season in his final year at Mississippi State, becoming the enforcer of the top ranked Bulldog defense. He showed the ability to work against the run, be prolific in coverage, and having a keen sense for when to blitz. He should fit in perfectly when you consider the Oakland legacy of hard hitters going back to guys like Jack Tatum, Willie Brown, and Ronnie Lott.
Johnathan Abram is a Safety who could step in and play immediately
– Not afraid to make a tackle
– 4.45 40-time @JohnathanAbram1 and Adrian Amos would form a fearsome duo and solidify the Packers secondary Look for him at the back of round 1 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/zT6imowc7y— IKE Packers (@IKE_Packers) April 25, 2019
We’ll update this thread as more Bulldogs are selected in the draft. All photos courtesy of Mississippi State athletics.
