One of the most underrated weapons of Ohio State’s national championship team was selected in the NFL draft on Saturday.
The Buffalo Bills selected Jordan Hancock with the No. 170 overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday. The former Ohio State defensive back became the 12th Buckeye selected in the 2025 NFL draft.
Welcome to Buffalo, @JordanHancock_!#NFLDraft | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xmOFNcUPQJ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 26, 2025
Ohio State's 2025 NFL Draft Picks
- Emeka Egbuka: Round 1, No. 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Donovan Jackson: Round 1, No. 24, Minnesota Vikings
- Tyleik Williams: Round 1, No. 28, Detroit Lions
- Josh Simmons: Round 1, No. 32, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Quinshon Judkins: Round 2, No. 36, Cleveland Browns
- TreVeyon Henderson: Round 2, No. 38, New England Patriots
- JT Tuimoloau: Round 2, No. 45, Indianapolis Colts
- Cody Simon: Round 4, No. 115, Arizona Cardinals
- Lathan Ransom: Round 4, No. 122, Carolina Panthers
- Jack Sawyer: Round 4, No. 123, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ty Hamilton: Round 5, No. 148, Los Angeles Rams
- Jordan Hancock: Round 5, No. 170, Buffalo Bills
Hancock, one of the Buckeyes’ best pass defenders the past two seasons, completed his Ohio State career excelling in a pivotal role that saw him line up at both nickel cornerback and safety for the program’s championship defense.
“It’s easy. It’s Ohio State. It’s anything for a national championship,” Hancock said when asked at the NFL combine about his versatility. “It’s what I had to do. I just wanted to win the national championship so bad. Whatever the team needed me to do, that’s where I went.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Hancock played 730 snaps in 2024. Of those snaps, Hancock recorded 282 as a run defender, 20 as a pass rusher and 248 in man-to-man or zone coverage. He earned a 75.6 overall grade in those reps, including marks of 71.8 in run defense, 77.3 in tackling, 67.5 in pass rushing and 76.2 in pass defense.
Hancock —who had 48 tackles, two forced fumbles, eight pass breakups and one interception in 2024 — credits Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri for his contributions this past season.
“Why I chose this school was to become versatile,” Hancock said. “That’s why I chose Ohio State over every other school is because I knew I could play different positions. It’s coming out the way I expected it, playing every position.”
Following Ohio State's championship season, Hancock performed well at the Buckeyes' pro day, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, the fastest among all participants. He also led all participants in the vertical jump (41.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 6 inches).
Hancock will now head to Buffalo, where his athleticism, experience and Swiss Army Knife nature give him the chance to see the field early and often.
“It’s kind of wherever the team wants me,” Hancock said at the combine, “at corner, slot or safety.”
