Will Ohio State Have 4 High-10 Picks within the 2026 NFL Draft?

If you’ve perused any NFL mock drafts this offseason, you’ll see a familiar theme in the first half of many of them: There are a handful of Ohio State Buckeyes — and that is no mistake, according to NFL Network lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. 

In the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Jeremiah put Ohio State’s recent run of producing top NFL prospects in historical perspective, saying only one other program might have had a comparable stretch.

“The only one I can compare it to is the Miami run in the early 2000s. That was a period where, almost every year, we were seeing four first-round guys and then running that depth all the way through,” Jeremiah said. “But it’s not only that [Ohio State] has dudes … however these guys are having success on the NFL stage, too. It isn’t prefer it’s some overhyped group or a program that is dwelling off their repute. These guys are getting drafted excessive, and rightfully so. They’re taking part in rather well on the subsequent stage.”

To Jeremiah’s level, practically all 10 Buckeyes chosen within the first spherical during the last 4 drafts have discovered success on the NFL stage. Large receiver Garrett Wilson gained Offensive Rookie of the Yr in 2022, whereas Jaxon Smith-Njigba gained Offensive Participant of the Yr this previous season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had probably the greatest rookie seasons ever for a quarterback in 2023 and has led the Houston Texans in all three seasons he is been with the workforce. 

Within the 2026 draft, Ohio State will nearly actually add 4 extra gamers to its ever-growing checklist of probably the most first-round picks produced by a program. Edge rusher Arvell Reese, extensive receiver Carnell Tate, linebacker Sonny Types and security Caleb Downs are usually not solely obvious locks to go within the first spherical, however all 4 may additionally be top-10 picks. 

Will Ohio State have 4 prime 10 draft picks within the NFL Draft? 🤔

FOX Sports activities lead faculty soccer analyst Joel Klatt pointed to Tate as the rationale why Ohio State’s 2026 draft class has the potential to be historic. 

“Carnell Tate wasn’t even the perfect receiver on his personal workforce in faculty and is probably going going to be the No. 1 extensive receiver taken on this draft,” Klatt stated. “All of us, me included, and I am certain you as nicely, imagine that as a result of he is from that lineage and he confirmed what he did on the faculty stage, he is more likely to have quite a lot of success and be within the prime 10 on this draft.”

Whereas Tate may need been outshined by Jeremiah Smith at extensive receiver throughout his Ohio State tenure, he nonetheless had a productive profession in Columbus. He logged over 1,500 receiving yards and had 13 receiving touchdowns in his final two seasons, placing up a few of these numbers whereas additionally taking part in alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Emeka Egbuka. Tate, who Klatt has going to the New York Giants at No. 5 in his most up-to-date mock draft, has an opportunity to change into the sixth Ohio State extensive receiver to be chosen within the first spherical in 5 drafts.

However can Ohio State’s draft class make historical past? Michigan State was the final program to have 4 top-10 picks in the identical yr, doing so in 1967. Reese has been a top-five choose in nearly each mock draft, whereas Tate has been a top-10 choose within the majority of mock drafts, too.

Types and Downs, alternatively, play positions that usually do not obtain top-10 worth and look like toss-ups to be chosen within the prime 10. Jeremiah made a robust case for each gamers to be top-10 picks, pointing to 2 groups choosing within the prime 5 (Tennessee Titans and Giants) who must be prepared to draft Types.  

“If you’re [Titans head coach Robert] Saleh and you’ve got seen and coached [San Francisco 49ers linebacker] Fred Warner and know what Fred Warner can do in that scheme and the way impactful he will be with what he does, you shouldn’t have any drawback taking him with the fourth general choose,” Jeremiah stated. “In the event you’re the New York Giants and also you’re taking a look at Sonny Types, the way forward for [the NFC East] … is Jayden Daniels. How do you defeat Jayden Daniels? I wish to have guys on the second stage that may get to him on the perimeter when he decides to go, after which even have the size and vary once they attempt to go RPO and go in the midst of the sphere. We will clog all of that with all of our dimension, size and athleticism. He is the right participant to attempt to defend somebody like that. 

“Having a participant at that stage who can do all that stuff and deal with all of the communication on prime of it — I could make a really robust argument for [Styles] in these locations.”

Sonny Types and Omar Cooper in Joel Klatt’s NFL Draft risers

As for Downs, Jeremiah did not appear as certain that the All-American security can be a top-10 choose, however he thinks the Cincinnati Bengals might be match for him at No. 10.

“Once you get to Downs, I inform all people it is not a lock that he will go prime 10,” Jeremiah stated. “We reside in a world the place Derwin James someway did not go within the prime 10 or Kyle Hamilton did not go within the prime 10 and we simply noticed [Nick] Emmanwori go within the second spherical. When it comes to how excessive he goes, it is just a little harder to mission. 

“However, after I’m taking a look at particular groups, and I am taking a look at Cincinnati and the place they’re as a workforce and I am pondering, ‘OK, that is the worst rush protection within the NFL.’ Then, you say, ‘Why the heck are they taking a security.’ I believe he can affect the run protection as a lot as he does the passing sport. I believe he is that impactful.”

What may additionally damage Downs’ case to be a top-10 choose is the relative depth at security on this draft class. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren are additionally potential first-round picks. 

However Klatt believes that Downs is no less than an echelon above these two gamers. 

“His margin [in the pass game] in opposition to these guys is type of like, ‘OK, I like his instincts a bit extra,’” Klatt stated of Downs. “However then you definately put their cut-ups in opposition to each other and even different safeties in opposition to the league, by way of instincts in opposition to the run, taking part in low and taking part in in that joker place that they had him taking part in in quite a bit … he performs like one other linebacker, even at his dimension. The margin he has above these gamers relating to run suits and intuition within the run sport grows, no less than in my estimation.”