2017 NFL Draft open thread, first round: Which Gator(s) will go?

The 2017 NFL Draft is tonight (8:00 p.m., ESPN or NFL Network/WatchESPN), and it remains to be seen whether any Florida Gators will be selected this evening.

While no Gators will probably hear their names called early on, at least one could very likely be gone by the end of the night.

The one Gator that is widely anticipated to be the first off the board for Florida, and who is expected to get plucked tonight, is linebacker Jarrad Davis. A few months ago, the Gator getting most of the first round buzz was Teez Tabor, with some opening day shine also being bestowed on Tabor’s cornerback compadre, Quincy Wilson.

But it’s Davis whose star is presently the brightest. The former three-star linebacker was always known to be one of the hardest working Gators, and was heralded by coaches and players alike as the heart and soul of the team this season. By all accounts a compassionate and competitive young man, Davis’ powerful performance at Florida’s Pro Day helped his stock soar. And it might soar all the way into the first round.

Wilson and Tabor will be anxiously awaiting their fates this evening as well. Both were once heavily favored to be taken tonight, but the stars of Florida’s secondary have both slipped slightly in the eyes of many draft experts, and the pair are expected to hear their names called tomorrow rather than today.

Of course there’s always a chance that a surprise could happen. The draft is not always predictable. And so we’ll have to tune in to see just when and where the Gators will go.