The 2026 NFL Draft was a wild ride for Ohio State football. Eleven former Buckeyes made the leap to the pros—pretty impressive, honestly.
These guys showed off their talent and, not gonna lie, made Ohio State look like the go-to place for NFL prospects. Let’s take a closer look at who got picked, what kind of money they’re looking at, and what it all means for the Buckeyes going forward.
Ohio State’s Dominance in the 2026 NFL Draft
Ohio State’s football program really took center stage at the 2026 NFL Draft. A whopping 11 players were selected—more than any other school this year.
Four Buckeyes went in the first 11 picks. That’s not something you see every draft.
First-Round Picks: Setting the Stage
The Buckeyes didn’t waste any time making their mark in the first round. Wide receiver Carnell Tate was the first to go, snagged at No. 4 overall by the Tennessee Titans.
That ties the school’s record for highest-drafted receiver. One pick later, linebacker Arvell Reese landed with the New York Giants at No. 5.
Linebacker Sonny Styles went to the Washington Commanders at No. 7. Safety Caleb Downs rounded things out for the Buckeyes in the first round, heading to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 11.
Second-Round Selections: Building Depth
Three more Buckeyes heard their names called in the second round. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald went No. 36 to the Houston Texans—not a bad landing spot.
Tight end Max Klare was picked by the Los Angeles Rams at No. 61. Right after that, cornerback Davison Igbinosun joined the Buffalo Bills at No. 62.
Third-Round and Beyond: Completing the Draft Class
In the third round, tight end Will Kacmarek was picked up by the Miami Dolphins at No. 87. No Buckeyes got the call in round four, but safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round at No. 172.
Defensive end Caden Curry went to his hometown team, the Indianapolis Colts, in the sixth round at No. 214. Offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa closed it out for Ohio State, heading to the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round with pick No. 231.
Projected Salaries and Signing Bonuses
The draft is exciting, but let’s be real, the money’s a huge part of it too. These 11 Buckeyes are projected to pull in a combined $214,373,620 on their rookie deals, with $53.5 million coming as rookies and signing bonuses topping $118 million.
Here’s how the first-rounders stack up by the numbers:
- Round 1, Pick 4: Total value: $51,135,704, Average annual value: $12,783,926, Signing bonus: $33,649,603
- Round 1, Pick 5: Total value: $47,831,802, Average annual value: $11,947,951, Signing bonus: $31,246,763
- Round 1, Pick 7: Total value: $37,212,138, Average annual value: $9,303,035, Signing bonus: $23,523,374
- Round 1, Pick 11: Total value: $28,952,410, Average annual value: $7,238,103, Signing bonus: $17,516,294
Second-Round Financials
The second-round picks aren’t exactly hurting, either:
- Round 2, Pick 36: Total value: $12,904,896, Average annual value: $3,226,224, Signing bonus: $5,845,382
- Round 2, Pick 61: Total value: $8,019,854, Average annual value: $2,004,964, Signing bonus: $1,458,155
- Round 2, Pick 62: Total value: $7,949,054, Average annual value: $1,987,264, Signing bonus: $2,241,126
Third-Round and Later Picks: Financial Overview
The later-round guys are still looking at life-changing money:
- Round 3, Pick 87: Total value: $6,849,498, Average annual value: $1,712,375, Signing bonus: $1,441,450
- Round 5, Pick 172: Total value: $4,665,797, Average annual value: $1,166,449, Signing bonus: $420,797
- Round 6, Pick 214: Total value: $4,451,539, Average annual value: $1,112,885, Signing bonus: $206,539
- Round 7, Pick 231: Total value: $4,400,928, Average annual value: $1,100,232, Signing bonus: $155,928
Looking Ahead: Ohio State’s Future
With the 2026 season coming up, Ohio State’s already back at it. Spring practice is underway, and you can bet the Buckeyes are thinking about how to keep this NFL pipeline flowing.
The draft success? That’s going to make recruiting even easier. If you’re a high school player with NFL dreams, why wouldn’t you want to be a Buckeye?
Conclusion
The 2026 NFL Draft really put Ohio State in the spotlight. Eleven Buckeyes heard their names called—pretty impressive, right?
It says a lot about the program’s knack for developing NFL-ready talent. The financial projections for these players look promising, too.
If you’re curious about the numbers or just want to dig into salary details and signing bonuses, check out the original article. It’s worth a look.
We’ll keep tracking these guys as they start their pro journeys. And honestly, who isn’t a little excited to see how far they go?
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