Ohio State Is About to Flood the 2026 NFL Draft and Nobody Outside Columbus Is Ready

The Las Vegas Raiders are up first tonight with the No. 1 pick, but here's the thing: once Indiana's Fernando Mendoza hears his name called, get ready for a scarlet and gray takeover. Ohio State is about to go to work on the 2026 draft, and the numbers are absolutely ridiculous.

The Buckeyes aren't producing a fourth No. 1 overall selection this year. But they're projecting between nine and 13 players to hear their name called this week, and five of them carry first-round grades. That's the kind of depth that makes scouts lean back in their chairs and nod. Ohio State is already sitting on 97 first-round selections all-time. This draft is about to push that number higher.

The Linebacker Duo Could Go No. 2 Overall

The Jets are on the clock at No. 2, and Buckeyes linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are right there in the conversation. These two put on a show at the combine in February, and scouts are still talking about it.

Reese is a 20-year-old freak. At 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, people are comparing him to Micah Parsons, the Penn State guy who went No. 12 in 2021 and is already a three-time All-Pro. Here's the crazy part: Reese only had 6.5 sacks last season, and he was just a part-time pass rusher. Teams think he can add weight, move to defensive end, or stay as an edge linebacker. The versatility is off the charts. "I played everywhere from inside linebacker to strong-side to edge," Reese said. "I was comfortable everywhere."

Styles is the other half of this nightmare for opposing offenses. At 6-5 and 244, he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine and had a 43.5-inch vertical. The guy only had one missed tackle all season, and that came in the College Football Playoff. His dad, Lorenzo Styles, played linebacker in the NFL for six seasons with St. Louis and Atlanta. The apple doesn't fall far.

Five First-Rounders in the Green Room

Safety Caleb Downs is a top-10 prospect who will be sitting in the draft green room Thursday with his teammates. Wide receiver Carnell Tate averaged 17.2 yards per reception last season and caught 14 touchdown passes in three years at Ohio State. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald just turned 21, won Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025, and posted 65 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

All six of these guys could be gone in the first round. The last time a single team produced that kind of haul was 2021 when Alabama sent six first-rounders to the NFL. Miami did it once too, back in 2004. Ohio State is about to join that club.

Draft night kicks off Thursday. Buckle up.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.