The Opening Drive 4/26: Buckeyes Make History in the 2026 NFL Draft

Eleven selections. Four in the Top 11. A full roster built—and validated—at the next level.

The draft is over—and Ohio State didn’t just show up, they made history.

Eleven Buckeyes were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, the most of any program. Four players came off the board within the first 11 picks—a modern-era record. That’s not just talent at the top. That’s alignment across the entire roster.

This was a statement.

The Picks

Round 1

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

• Arvell Reese (LB) → New York Giants (Pick 5)

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

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

Round 2

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

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

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

Round 3

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

Day 3

• Lorenzo Styles Jr. (DB) → New Orleans Saints (Pick 172)

• Caden Curry (DE) → Indianapolis Colts (Pick 214)

• Ethan Onianwa (OL) → Atlanta Falcons (Pick 231)

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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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The Bigger Picture

• Sustained NFL Pipeline
  Eleven picks this year. Twenty-five over the last two drafts. That’s not a spike—that’s consistency. Year over year, Ohio State is putting full position groups into the league.

• Top-End Talent + Depth
  Four in the Top 11 grabs headlines. But 61, 62, 87—and three more on Day 3—tell the real story. This roster wasn’t top-heavy. It was built all the way through.

• Linebacker Room Standard
  Reese and Styles both going Top 10 from the same room. Same development. Same expectations. That’s the standard being set defensively.

• Tight End Development Showing Up
  Two tight ends off the board by Round 3. That’s production meeting NFL value—something that’s clearly trending up in this offense.

The Silver Bullet Standard

This draft class is a direct reflection of the defense.

The “Silver Bullets” didn’t just win a national title—they translated it.

Every single defensive starter from the 2024 National Championship win over Notre Dame has now been drafted. All 11.

That doesn’t happen by accident. That’s development, evaluation, and consistency across the board.

Eleven drafted.
Twenty-five in two years.

Four in the Top 11.
An entire championship defense to the league.

The Buckeye standard continues!

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