The days of Florida State sending multiple players to the NFL have come to a standstill in the Mike Norvell era, aside from the 2024 NFL Draft, when 10 players got selected.
Florida State football had one player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft (fourth round) and only two (third and fourth rounds) in 2025. However, that number could become respectable again if the Noles have a solid season and some players maximize their potential.
Here are six players who could be selected in the 2027 NFL Draft if they have a standout year in 2026:
- Duce Robinson(WR): Robinson would have been drafted had he decided to enter the draft this season. He was an All-ACC performer and had over 1,000 receiving yards with a pretty bad quarterback. Robinson has excellent size and length, and good enough speed to play in the NFL.
- Ja’Bril Rawls (DB): Rawls battled injuries last season in his first year as a starter, but was among the best cornerbacks, with a strong PFF grade in coverage and against the run. He has good length, size, and plays with physicality. If he can stay healthy, he should have another good season. However, if he can’t stay healthy, that would likely become the knock on him as a pro prospect.
- Ashlynd Barker(S): Barker fits the same mold as Rawls, but from the safety position. When healthy, he grades well via PFF and has the physical attributes you’d want in a safety prospect. His speed might be questionable, but he’s been productive when healthy. If he can take that next step, I could see a team taking him in the later rounds.
- Rylan Kennedy (DE): Admittedly, this one is solely off potential. Kennedy has had limited production, but boosts some physical attributes that could translate to the next level. He’s 6’3” with a good first step, but the biggest question is, can he get to and finish at the quarterback? The defensive end is a premium position, and teams will take flyers on guys who have certain traits.
- Xavier Chaplin (OT): Xavier Chaplin is a guy who has excellent size and length (6’8” and 354 pounds). He’s been productive at Virginia Tech and Auburn, making 37 consecutive starts. The NFL is weird about drafting offensive linemen, see Micah Pettus not getting drafted or signing as an UDFA yet after a solid year at FSU.
Florida State must get back to acquiring talent and developing players into NFL Draft picks.
Some honorable mentions would be Tre Wisner (RB) and Quindarrious Jones (DB). However, I'm not sure Wisner will get enough touches and Jones has been prone to injuries and only looks suited toward defenses who play man-to-man press coverage.
If at least four of these guys play well enough to get drafted, I'd assume Florida State will exceed expectations and win seven or more games.
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