Gunner Stockton’s NFL Draft Snub Might Be Great News for Georgia
Gunner Stockton has spent the 2025 season rewriting the narrative around his game - and he’s done it in emphatic fashion. After an offseason filled with questions about whether he was truly ready to lead Georgia, Stockton answered with a season that not only silenced the doubters but firmly established him as one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
He’s the engine behind Georgia’s 12-1 run, which included an SEC Championship and a No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff. Simply put, the Bulldogs are right back in the thick of the national title hunt, and Stockton is a huge reason why.
But here’s where things get interesting.
In a recent projection, ESPN’s Matt Miller listed 15 Georgia players he expects to be selected in next summer’s NFL Draft - and Stockton wasn’t one of them. At first glance, that might raise eyebrows.
After all, Stockton’s play this season has been nothing short of high-level. But for Georgia fans, this might actually be the best news they could’ve hoped for.
Because if Stockton isn’t expected to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, it likely means he’s coming back to Athens for one more run.
And that’s a big deal.
Let’s be clear: Stockton may not be the best quarterback in the country - even Georgia’s most loyal fans would admit that. But he’s shown enough arm talent, poise, and leadership to make it clear he has NFL potential.
There’s no question some team will eventually take a shot on him. Just not this year, according to Miller.
That opens the door for Stockton to return in 2026 with even more experience, more confidence, and a shot at cementing his legacy in Athens.
Think about it: if Georgia makes a deep playoff run - or even wins the national title - and Stockton still comes back? That’s the kind of continuity championship programs dream about. It would give the Bulldogs a veteran QB at the helm, a locker room leader who’s already proven he can handle the pressure of big moments, and a real shot at adding yet another trophy to the case.
Georgia has already won three national championships in the last six years. A returning Stockton could put them in position to chase a fourth - and maybe even make a little history along the way.
So while Stockton’s absence from draft boards might look like a snub, it could actually be a sign of something bigger: unfinished business in Athens. And if that’s the case, the rest of college football better be ready.