Florida Football 2016 NFL Draft Tracker, Analysis and Results

It was a successful first season at Florida for head coach Jim McElwain, but now he must regroup and endure his first string of losses. He will likely lose nine players to the NFL draft, with six of those being on defense. 

We will break down each projected pick for the 2016 NFL draft and also discuss which players will replace these nine guys who are off to the NFL.

Note: This NFL draft tracker will be updated as the players are selected.

CB Vernon Hargreaves

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Drafted: Round 1, Pick 11 to Tampa Bay

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 204 lbs 

Analysis: Hargreaves is the first Gator off the board, and Tampa Bay will be getting a cornerback with a lot of upside. While he doesn't have the best size for a corner, he was an All-SEC selection all three seasons at Florida. Todd McShay of ESPN thinks Hargreaves will make a great nickel corner at the next level. 

Replacement: Although not quite as popular as Hargreaves, Jalen Tabor is an excellent corner who will hold his own against No. 1 receivers this fall. Quincy Wilson will likely hold down the other corner spot, so don't expect the Gators to have a huge drop-off here. Tabor is a talented defender who could end up being in the running for national honors before the end of the year. 

S Keanu Neal

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Drafted: Round 1, Pick 17 to Atlanta

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 211 lbs

Analysis: Neal went a little higher than expected, but the Falcons will get a very physical player with this guy. He can get downhill quick, and he will help improve an Atlanta run defense that ranked 19th in the league last season. Neal projects to play either safety or linebacker at the next level, so that also gives the Falcons some flexibility with this pick.

Replacement: The Gators lose Neal to the NFL, but Marcus Maye returns as the other starting safety. Duke Dawson and Chauncey Gardner are two other names to watch. 

DL Jonathan Bullard

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Drafted: Round 3, Pick 72 to Chicago

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 285 lbs

Analysis: It's not clear why Bullard fell to the third round, but it appears Chicago got a steal with this pick. Bears head coach John Fox knows defense, so pairing him with Bullard could definitely benefit the former Gator defensive lineman. Zierlein of NFL.com thinks Bullard is a guy that needs to "improve his pass rush and add necessary size, but he is an ascending talent whose game should continue to improve at the next level."

Replacement: Bullard will be a tough player to replace, but Caleb Brantley appears ready to take over this position after having a good season last year. 

LB Antonio Morrison

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Drafted: Round 4, Pick 125 to Indianapolis

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 232 lbs

Analysis: Morrison had a productive career at Florida, earning second-team All-SEC honors twice. He led the team with 103 tackles last season, so it's easy to see what's to like with this guy. Despite past injury concerns, Morrison is a competitive leader who could possibly play either in the middle or on the weak side with Indianapolis. 

Replacement: The Gators will miss Morrison, but Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone should be just fine at linebacker this fall. Depth is the biggest concern at this position, so Florida could be counting on some young guys to play their way into the lineup. 

WR Demarcus Robinson

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Drafted: Round 4, Pick 126 to Kansas City

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 203 lbs

Analysis: Robinson is a receiver with second-round talent, but his troubles off the field dropped him to the fourth round. He encountered multiple suspensions during his freshman year because of failed drug tests, and he was suspended last year as a junior for the fourth time. Kansas City needed to add another receiver to help out Jeremy Maclin, and they got a talented player in the fourth round. 

Replacement: With the suspensions and distractions, Florida won't miss Robinson quite as much as the other prospects on this list. It also helps that Antonio Callaway returns after exploding on the scene last season as a true freshman. 

RB Kelvin Taylor

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Drafted: Round 6, Pick 211 to San Francisco 

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 207 lbs

Analysis: The son of former NFL star Fred Taylor, Kelvin Taylor will look to follow in his dad's footsteps and make a name for himself as a professional. He rushed for over 2,000 yards during his career at Florida, and he possesses good vision in the backfield. New 49ers head coach Chip Kelly likes to run the ball, so adding Taylor to his backfield will give him another option to turn to. 

Replacement: Taylor rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, but the Gators will have no problem replacing him. Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett are two talented options who will have their chances to shine in 2016. Another name to watch is incoming junior college transfer Mark Thompson. 

LB Alex McCalister

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Drafted: Round 7, Pick 240 to Philadelphia

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 239 lbs

Analysis: Zierlein of NFL.com lists McCalister as a "project" pick who has an exciting upside because of his 12.5 sacks the last two seasons at Florida, despite playing in less than 40 percent of the defensive snaps. Because of his dismissal late in the year, his character could have led to his selection in the seventh round. He won't contribute right away, but the Eagles have a player to develop here. 

Replacement: With McCalister taking his talents to the NFL, the Gators will rely on Jordan Sherit, CeCe Jefferson and Bryan Cox Jr. this fall. Jefferson is a former 5-star recruit with a lot of upside, per 247Sports, so watch out for him to make a statement this year. 

TE Jake McGee

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Drafted: Undrafted

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 250 lbs

Analysis: McGee is one of the few tight ends in this class, and that alone could help his draft stock rise. CBSSports.com reports that he "may lack a flashy upside, but he's a competitive blocker with enough size, athleticism and natural receiving ability to make an NFL roster." He isn't going to consistently get open and be a No. 1 target at tight end, but with limited options at the position, McGee will be more than enough for a team that is looking for a young pass-catcher. 

Replacement: With McGee gone, it will be up to C'yontai Lewis and DeAndre Goolsby to make up for the lost production. Goolsby has probably showed more as a receiver at this point, but both guys will need to take a big step this fall. 

CB Brian Poole

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Drafted: Undrafted

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 210 lbs 

Analysis: Zierlein of NFL.com projects Poole as a slot corner at the next level, citing his short stature as a reason he struggled with high throws on the outside. Poole was a productive corner at Florida and had 25 passes defended over the last two seasons, which shows that he is able to stay around the ball and keep up with receivers.

Replacement: At cornerback, Tabor and Wilson should provide the Gators with a solid starting lineup, but young guys like Chris Williamson and McArthur Burnett will be counted on to provide depth. Per Nick De La Torre of Gatorcountry.com, Duke Dawson is viewed as a guy that can contribute at nickelback, so expect him to be a favorite to hold down this spot.