The Opening Drive 4/25: Buckeyes Flood the First Three Rounds of NFL Draft

Eight through three rounds—top-end talent, depth across the roster, and development that translates on Sundays.

Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald reacts after being chosen by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Ohio State didn’t just show up in the 2026 NFL Draft—they set the tone.

Eight Buckeyes came off the board through the first three rounds. Four went in the Top 11. Multiple position groups represented. And when you look at where and how these players were taken, it tells you everything you need to know about the current state of the program.

This isn’t a one-position pipeline. This is roster-wide development.

The Picks

Round 1

• Carnell Tate (WR) — Pick 4 → Tennessee Titans

• Arvell Reese (EDGE) — Pick 5 → New York Giants

• Sonny Styles (LB) — Pick 7 → Washington Commanders

• Caleb Downs (S) — Pick 11 → Dallas Cowboys

Round 2

• Kayden McDonald (DT) — Pick 36 → Houston Texans

• Max Klare (TE) — Pick 61 → Los Angeles Rams

• Davison Igbinosun (CB) — Pick 62 → Buffalo Bills

Round 3

• Will Kacmarek (TE) — Pick 87 → Miami Dolphins

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LATEST PODCASTS:

• Buckeyes to the League: Draft Breakdown with Jake Burns & Coach Slate

• Spring Game Recap Part 2: Standouts + Draft Talk

• Spring Game Recap

LATEST ARTICLES:

• The Opening Drive 4/17: Spring Game Preview

• The Opening Drive 4/13: Dominick Kelly — The Film & The Fit

• The Opening Drive 4/10: Is the NCAA Finally Trying to Get Something Right?

LATEST FILM ROOM:

• FILM ROOM: Tight End Mason Williams — What the Tape Shows

• FILM ROOM: Ian Moore vs. Purdue & Miami — What the Tape Shows

• FILM ROOM: What James Smith Brings to the Buckeyes’ Defensive Front

• FILM ROOM: Terry Moore’s Role in Ohio State’s 2026 Defense

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What It Means

• Top-End Talent is Real
  Four players in the Top 11 isn’t normal. That’s elite, difference-making talent at multiple levels of the defense and offense.

• Development Across the Board
  Wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker, secondary, tight end—this isn’t isolated success. This is a system producing NFL players at every level of the roster.

• Tight End Room is Changing the Narrative
  Two tight ends off the board in the first three rounds tells you the room is evolving. Production, versatility, and NFL value are showing up.

• Defensive Identity Travels
  Styles, Reese, Downs, Igbinosun—length, physicality, and versatility. The traits being developed defensively are translating directly to the next level.

What’s Next

Day 3 isn’t the drop-off—it’s the continuation.

Players like Lorenzo Styles Jr., Caden Curry, CJ Donaldson, and Tywone Malone look to add to the list.

That’s where depth shows up. That’s where development gets validated across the full roster.

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