5 Best SEC Players in the NFL Today

The SEC has been one of the most impressive conferences in college football lately, and NFL coaches have taken note. Between LSU and Alabama, it seems like simply holding down a starting spot for a major SEC school is going to get you some consideration at the NFL level. Because of that, it's no surprise that so much of the league's top talent has come from the SEC.

With that in mind, here are the five best SEC players in the NFL today.

5. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Los Angeles Rams (LSU)

Andrew Whitworth has been one of the best tackles in the NFL for years. / Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

It's been so long since Andrew Whitworth was drafted that you'd be forgiven if you forgot he went to LSU. The 38-year-old left tackle has been an absolute force at the NFL level, and age really isn't catching up with him yet. He started all 16 games in 2019, giving up just a single sack — his fewest since 2014 when he gave up zero.

4. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (Georgia)

Nick Chubb rushed for 1,494 yards in 2019. / Jason Miller/Getty Images

One of the league's premier young running backs, Nick Chubb has looked just as good for the Cleveland Browns as he did at Georgia. Since earning his first start in Week 7 of his 2018 rookie season, Chubb has averaged 89.1 rushing yards and 16.4 receiving yards per game, scoring 16 touchdowns in 26 contests.

3. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (Mississippi State)

Fletcher Cox is one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. / Steven Ryan/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles took Fletcher Cox out of Mississippi State with the No. 12 overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, and even that proved to be a bargain. Cox has made five straight Pro Bowls, and through eight NFL seasons he has racked up 121 quarterback hits, 62 tackles for loss and 48.0 sacks.

2. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (Alabama)

Julio Jones is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. / Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Julio Jones may be coming off something of a down year, but the fact that 99 catches for 1,394 yards and 6 touchdowns is a down year speaks volumes about the Alabama product. That was his lowest yardage total since his injury-shortened 2013 season, and he's led the NFL in receiving twice in that stretch. Over the last six years, Jones has averaged 102.0 receiving yards per game — the most in the NFL.

1. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots (South Carolina)

Stephon Gilmore was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore may be the best cover corner in football. He has been targeted in coverage 196 times over the last two seasons, allowing just 97 catches (49.5 percent completion percentage), and just 5.7 yards per target. He led the NFL with 6 interceptions in 2019, and he has recorded 20 pass defenses in each of the last two seasons. Opposing QBs had a passer rating of just 44.1 when throwing at Gilmore in 2019.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk free for up to $500!

Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.