Ohio State football 2026 NFL draft hopefuls and their projections

Now that the Ohio State football season is over, it's time to look forward to the 2026 NFL draft, where the Buckeyes expect to see a parade of players taken once again. And it's not just throughout the later rounds; OSU could see many of its eligible players walk across the stage in the first round.

There is talent and depth across the board and among many position groups, and what better way to get out in front of it than to look at all of the 2026 NFL draft-eligible players that wore the Scarlet and Gray. From early enrollees to graduating seniors, this draft will once again have a very OSU flavor to it.

Here's a look at every eligible Ohio State player who has a chance to be a part of the spectacle in Pittsburgh from April 23 through 25 this spring, and what round all the various mock projections tend to have them going.

Potential NFL Draft First Rounders

Ohio State saw five players declare early for the NFL draft, and as you would expect, it's more or less the players that are projected to go high and early in the draft. Some will more likely be in the green room and have a chance to walk across the stage when their names are called -- potentially in the first round. But that's not all -- there are others who graduated that could also be taken in the first round. Here's the potential.

Caleb Downs, Safety

2026 NFL Draft Projection | First round, potential top-10 pick

Downs is widely considered one of the top defenders available in the draft and will almost assuredly be an early first-day pick. His versatility, leadership, playmaking ability, and athleticism jump out to anyone who puts the film on.

Arvell Reese, Linebacker

2026 NFL Draft Projection | First round, potential top-5 to top-10 pick

Much like Downs, Reese's athleticism and versatility stand out. He has unbelievable size, speed, and fast-twitch ability that have set him apart from the beginning of the year. The coaching staff didn't unleash him towards the tail end of the year, but the ability is there, and he could be the first Buckeye taken off the board.

Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle

2026 NFL Draft Projection | Late first round

McDonald showed flashes of what he could be at points last year when he got opportunities, and all of that showed up once he was the starting option at the nose position this season. He's a little undersized from a height standpoint, but he's quick and powerful off the ball and was a big reason why teams had problems running it between the tackles against Ohio State this year. He should go in the first round, but might wait until later.

Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver

2026 NFL Draft Projection | First round, potential top-10 pick

Tate had a very good career leading up to this past season, but broke out in 2025. Before he went down with an injury late in the year, his numbers and production were right there with Jeremiah Smith. He runs great routes, has a wide catch radius, has speed to burn, and great ball skills. He may very well be the first receiver taken off the board.

Sonny Styles, Linebacker

2026 NFL Draft Projection | Mid to late first-round

Styles is the consummate professional who probably didn't get enough publicity because of the emergence of Arvell Reese. He's a freak of an athlete who has gotten more knowledgeable and disciplined each year since he was moved from safety to linebacker. Coaches and NFL scouts are going to love his fast-twitch ability, knowing that he will only continue to get better.

The rest of the Ohio State football 2026 NFL draft class

The bottom line for Ohio State players in the 2026 NFL draft

Ohio State is almost guaranteed to have multiple first-round picks, potentially anywhere from three to five, and you can bank on at least eight players going somewhere in the seven rounds of the NFL draft. Those late-round players could go either way. Let's call it nine or ten players in this year's draft and root for some surprises. There would have been more, but some of those middle to late round prospects like Kenyatta Jackson Jr. decided to come back, and that's a very good thing for an OSU program looking to stay at the top of the sport.

We'll continue to have NFL mock drafts and see where some of these Ohio State players land all the way up to when we get to see all the shenanigans take place in Pittsburgh.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Projecting Ohio State football 2026 NFL draft hopefuls | Buckeyes Wire