Georgia’s list of NFL Draft departures this year might not be as long as we’ve seen in the past, but the names on it still pack a punch. Just four underclassmen declared for the 2026 NFL Draft - linebacker CJ Allen, defensive tackle Christen Miller, wide receiver Zachariah Branch, and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling - yet each of them played a major role in Georgia’s recent success. And while the Bulldogs didn’t lose a ton of seniors, the impact of these early exits, combined with the ever-shifting dynamics of college football, will put Kirby Smart’s program to the test in a big way this fall.
Now, if there’s one thing Smart’s tenure in Athens has taught us, it’s this: Georgia doesn’t rebuild - it reloads. But in a sport now shaped as much by the transfer portal and NIL deals as it is by recruiting rankings and game-day tape, reloading isn’t quite as straightforward as it used to be.
Georgia has slipped - slightly - from its perch as college football’s undisputed top dog. They’re still elite, no question.
But 2026 is shaping up to be a season where we find out just how deep that well of talent really goes.
Let’s start on defense, where Georgia has built its identity under Smart. The loss of CJ Allen is no small thing - he was a tone-setter at linebacker - but the Bulldogs might just have the depth to absorb it.
Raylen Wilson, Chris Cole, and Justin Williams are all expected to step up, and together, they could form one of the most athletic, versatile linebacker units in the country. That’s not hyperbole - the raw talent in that room is special.
Up front, Christen Miller leaves a hole on the defensive line, but Elijah Griffin is already drawing buzz as a potential breakout star for 2026. If he lives up to the hype, Georgia’s defensive front should remain one of the most disruptive in the nation.
Offensively, the biggest challenge is replacing Zachariah Branch. The electric wideout was a game-changer, and Georgia doesn’t have a one-for-one replacement.
But they’ve been busy - both in the portal and on the recruiting trail. Isiah Canion, a transfer addition, brings experience, while incoming freshmen Craig Dandridge, Ryan Mosley, and Dallas Dickerson add a mix of speed and upside.
Then there’s Talyn Taylor - a name Georgia fans should get familiar with in a hurry. A five-star prospect from the 2025 class, Taylor’s freshman season was limited to six games due to a collarbone injury.
But when he was on the field, he flashed serious potential. Just ask Branch, who had high praise for the young receiver leading into the Sugar Bowl.
According to Branch, Taylor’s explosiveness, effort, and toughness stood out from day one - the kind of traits that separate good receivers from great ones.
Georgia’s hoping Taylor, along with Landon Roldan and Sacovie White-Helton, can give quarterback Gunner Stockton the kind of weapons he needs to elevate the passing game in 2026. Stockton showed promise last season, but with Branch gone, the onus is on this new group of receivers to step up and help him take the next step.
On the offensive line, the Bulldogs lose Monroe Freeling, who anchored the unit with strong play in 2025. However, Earnest Greene returns with starting experience at left tackle, giving the line a veteran presence.
Freeling’s departure opens the door for Juan Gaston and 2026 signee Ekene Ogboko - two players Georgia is high on. They may need time to reach Freeling’s level, but the potential is there.
Despite losing 13 players to last year’s NFL Draft - second only to Ohio State - Georgia actually improved its regular-season record, going 11-1 and capturing the SEC title with a win over Alabama. But once again, the season ended in disappointment with a quarterfinal loss in New Orleans. That’s now three straight years without a College Football Playoff win - a drought by Georgia’s current standards.
The last time the Bulldogs won a playoff game? 2022 - the same year they took home their most recent national championship. Since then, they’ve remained among the sport’s elite, but haven’t been able to finish the job in the postseason.
That’s the bar now in Athens. Not just winning the SEC.
Not just making the playoff. It’s about winning when it matters most in January.
And with some key contributors off to the NFL and a new wave of talent stepping in, 2026 will be a proving ground.
Georgia opens the season on September 5 against Tennessee State. From there, the journey begins - a new chapter, the same high expectations. Let’s see if the Bulldogs are still built to hunt.