Auburn’s First-Round NFL Draft Silence: The Looming End to a Five-Year Drought
The echoes of “War Eagle!” have reverberated through the National Football League for decades, a testament to the talent cultivated on the Plains of Auburn. Yet, for the past five NFL drafts, that familiar cry has been notably absent in the coveted first round. The last time an Auburn Tiger heard his name called on opening night was in 2020, when Derrick Brown, a dominant defensive tackle, was selected seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers. Since then, a conspicuous silence has descended upon the program regarding the draft’s initial selections, a stark contrast to Auburn’s rich history of producing top-tier NFL talent.
This five-year drought, the program’s longest in recent memory, has not gone unnoticed. It has fueled discussions among fans, analysts, and within the Auburn football program itself. The absence of first-round selections often reflects a confluence of factors, including recruiting cycles, player development, and on-field performance. For Auburn, a program with national championship aspirations and a tradition of sending players to the professional ranks, this lull in first-round talent has been a point of concern.
However, the narrative appears poised for a significant shift. Under the relatively new leadership of Head Coach Hugh Freeze, a palpable change is underway on the Auburn campus. Freeze, known for his offensive acumen and aggressive recruiting strategies, has made it a priority to inject top-tier talent back into the Tigers’ roster. The results of his efforts are beginning to materialize, and the anticipation is building that Auburn’s first-round drought is not only nearing its end but could be emphatically broken sooner rather than later.
The previous years leading up to Freeze’s arrival witnessed a dip in Auburn’s recruiting rankings, which inevitably impacted the pipeline of elite talent making its way to the NFL. While the program still produced NFL-caliber players, the volume of prospects deemed worthy of first-round consideration dwindled. This coincided with a period of on-field inconsistency, further highlighting the need for a talent infusion.
Enter Hugh Freeze. Since taking the helm, he and his staff have embarked on an ambitious roster overhaul. Through a combination of high school recruiting and strategic use of the transfer portal, Auburn has secured consecutive top-10 recruiting classes. This influx of blue-chip prospects, players possessing the raw athleticism and potential that NFL teams covet, signals a clear turning of the tide. Freeze himself has acknowledged the significant difference in the current Tigers squad compared to those of recent, less successful seasons. The roster now boasts a higher concentration of four-star and five-star recruits, the very players who historically comprise the majority of first-round NFL draft picks.
Looking ahead, several Auburn players have emerged as potential candidates to break this first-round dry spell. Among them, Keldric Faulk stands out as a prime prospect. A highly-rated four-star recruit in the 2023 class, Faulk has quickly established himself as a dominant force on the defensive line. His impressive sophomore season in 2024, marked by seven sacks and eleven tackles for loss, showcased his disruptive ability and NFL-level potential. At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, Faulk possesses the prototypical size, strength, and agility that NFL scouts actively seek in edge rushers. Early projections for the 2026 NFL Draft have even placed Faulk as a potential top-10 pick, a testament to the buzz surrounding his talent.
Another name generating considerable excitement is Cam Coleman. The crown jewel of Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class, Coleman is a five-star wide receiver with the kind of electrifying athleticism and playmaking ability that translates directly to early NFL draft consideration. While he won’t be eligible for the draft until 2027, the anticipation surrounding his potential is immense. Should he live up to the lofty expectations, Coleman has the potential not only to be a first-round pick but perhaps even a contender for the top overall selection. A player of his caliber at a premium position is precisely what NFL teams covet.
On the offensive line, center Connor Lew has also garnered attention as a potential future NFL player. A four-star recruit in the 2023 class, Lew quickly earned the trust and praise of Coach Freeze, who lauded him as an “NFL-caliber center” even before the 2024 season. Lew’s performance on the field validated that assessment. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he allowed only one sack in over 400 pass-blocking snaps in 2024, an exceptional level of protection for a young interior lineman. Listed as a top-five returning interior offensive lineman in college football for 2025 by PFF, Lew possesses the size and technical proficiency that NFL teams value in the pivot. While interior offensive linemen are not always first-round selections, Lew’s continued development could certainly place him in that conversation.
Even further down the line, quarterback Deuce Knight, a highly-touted recruit in the 2025 class, offers a glimpse into the program’s long-term potential. While it is premature to project a first-round grade on a player who has yet to take a snap of Southeastern Conference football, Knight’s five-star pedigree and dual-threat capabilities suggest a high ceiling. If he can navigate the challenges of the SEC and develop into the quarterback many expect him to be, Knight could very well be Auburn’s first signal-caller selected in the first round in a considerable amount of time.
The significance of ending this first-round drought extends beyond mere draft statistics. It serves as a powerful indicator of a program’s overall health and the caliber of talent it is attracting and developing. The fact that Auburn has not had a first-round pick in five years is no coincidence that they have endured multiple seasons with seven losses and have not achieved more than six wins since 2019. The presence of first-round talent often correlates with on-field success, as these are typically the players who make an immediate impact and form the foundation of a winning team.
Hugh Freeze’s efforts to revitalize the Auburn roster through recruiting are a crucial step towards not only ending the first-round drought but also elevating the program’s competitiveness on the national stage. The influx of highly-rated players across various positions signals a return to the level of talent that Auburn fans have come to expect. As these players continue to develop under the coaching staff, their potential to become first-round NFL draft picks will only increase.
The 2025 NFL Draft came and went without an Auburn player hearing their name called in the first round, extending the streak to five years. While this was a disappointment for the program and its fans, it does not diminish the optimism surrounding the future. The seeds of change have been sown, and the fruits of Coach Freeze’s recruiting efforts are beginning to ripen. The presence of players like Keldric Faulk, Cam Coleman (in future years), and Connor Lew provides a clear indication that Auburn’s first-round drought is on borrowed time. Sooner rather than later, the “War Eagle!” cry will once again echo through the opening night of the NFL Draft, signaling the return of Auburn as a producer of elite, first-round talent. The anticipation is building, and the Auburn faithful have good reason to believe that the wait is almost over.
