UGA Football DB Daylen Everette Picked No. 85 by the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft

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Former Georgia Bulldog cornerback Daylen Everette was selected No. 85 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kirby Smart, who some higher-ups in the NFL view as one of, if not the best defensive back developer at the collegiate level, has another secondary player selected to play in the league. Everette was Georgia’s top cornerback his junior and senior seasons after spending his sophomore year opposite now Houston Texans corner Kamari Lassiter. 

No matter what people may say about Everette, they cannot say that he did not show up in big moments. Some of Everette’s biggest performances were in the biggest games of his Georgia career. 

Georgia went on the road in October of 2024 to play then top-ranked Texas. He picked off Quinn Ewers in that game in addition to forcing and recovering a sack-fumble against him in the first half. Those two turnovers he created were a big contributor to a defensive masterclass Georgia put on for three quarters. 

He showed up again against Texas in a rematch that December for the SEC Championship. That time, he intercepted Ewers twice. A year later, he intercepted Ty Simpson in Georgia’s conference title win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

Even in a loss, Everette made a huge impact against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. The senior defensive back took a recovered fumble to the end zone for a score at the end of the first half to help strengthen Georgia’s lead. 

Everette was a high four-star in the 2022 recruiting class and was one of the leaders of the 2025 team. He will now head to the NFL competing to start at the next level. 

Everette has ideal size for an NFL cornerback at 6’1” with long arms. One of the biggest boosts in his draft stock was his 4.38-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine. Speed and length can’t be taught, and he has both. That combined with the development at Georgia is what made him an intriguing prospect for teams.