2026 NFL Draft Central: Updated Picks, Reactions and Complete Coverage of Ohio State at the NFL Draft

Ohio State’s 2026 NFL Draft By the Numbers

We take a by-the-numbers look at another historically great NFL draft for Ohio State, which included four of the draft’s first 11 picks and 11 total selections, the most of any school.

Tywone Malone Jr. Joining Saints As UDFA

Tywone Malone Jr. signs with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent, joining Lorenzo Styles Jr. and CJ Donaldson as the third member of Ohio State’s rookie class to go the Saints.

Ferlmann Going to Browns Minicamp

John Ferlmann has accepted an invitation to participate in the Cleveland Browns’ rookie minicamp, the former Ohio State long snapper told Eleven Warriors on Saturday.

John Ferlmann will be participating in the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp. https://t.co/5e0kl3umrL

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 26, 2026

CJ Donaldson Joining Saints As UDFA

Former Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson is joining the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.

Buckeyes Tie Two-Year NFL Draft Record

Ohio State ties Georgia for the most draft picks across a two-year span with 25 total selections between the 2025 and 2026 NFL drafts.

Atlanta Falcons Select Ethan Onianwa in Round 7

Offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa didn't make much of an impact after transferring to Ohio State in 2025, but the Atlanta Falcons saw enough potential in the former Rice Owl to spend a seventh-round draft pick on him, selecting him No. 231 overall.

Panthers Draft Jackson Kuwatch in Round 7

A former Ohio State walk-on was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL draft as the Carolina Panthers took Jackson Kuwatch with the No. 227 overall pick.

Kuwatch out @budlight | #NFLDRAFT pic.twitter.com/6N08F8xTQG

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 25, 2026

Kuwatch, who saw no game action in two seasons as an Ohio State linebacker, played his final three seasons of college football at Miami (Ohio). A big final season for the RedHawks got him drafted, as Kuwatch earned third-team All-MAC honors after recording 109 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2025.

Indianapolis Colts Select Caden Curry in Round 6

Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry is coming home to start his professional football career. The Indianapolis Colts drafted the Indiana native No. 214 overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday.

New Orleans Saints Select Lorenzo Styles Jr. in Round 5

Ohio State defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr. was the first Buckeye off the board in day three, with the New Orleans Saints selecting him No. 172 overall in Round 5 of the 2026 NFL draft.

Browns Draft Joe Royer in Round 5

A third former Ohio State tight end was selected in the 2026 NFL draft as the Cleveland Browns selected Joe Royer with the No. 170 overall pick in the fifth round.

Bringing the Bearcat to Browns town!

We've selected Joe Royer with pick no. 170 pic.twitter.com/fsQZDUaweI

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 25, 2026

Royer was a backup tight end for the Buckeyes from 2020-23 before transferring to Cincinnati, where he caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns over two seasons as a Bearcat.

Seven Picks in First Two Rounds – Again

Miami Dolphins Select Will Kacmarek No. 87 Overall

Buffalo Bills Select Davison Igbinosun No. 62 Overall

Los Angeles Rams Select Ohio State Tight End Max Klare No. 61 Overall

Houston Texans Select Kayden McDonald No. 36 Overall

Day Says James Laurinaitis Brought “Linebacker U” Back to OSU

After Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles were both selected in the top seven picks of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday, Ryan Day said he put his arm around Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis and said, “Remember when you first got here and I said ‘Your job is to make this Linebacker U’ again?”

“And look how quickly he did it,” Day said.

Ryan Day told James Laurinaitis when he became Ohio States linebackers coach that his job was to make Ohio State Linebacker U again.

And look how quickly he did it, Day said after Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles were selected in the top seven picks of the 2026 NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/IICiED7fQS

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 24, 2026

Day Wonders if NFL Teams Will Regret Passing on Caleb Downs

During his Zoom call with reporters on Friday, Ryan Day said he wonders if NFL teams will regret passing on Caleb Downs after he fell to the Dallas Cowboys at the No. 11 overall pick.

Ryan Day on NFL teams who passed on Caleb Downs: I wonder where they're going to be in five to 10 years looking back on this draft and if they have any regrets. I don't know, but I know the Cowboys got a great one. pic.twitter.com/Jn29dCXpIJ

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 24, 2026

Ryan Day Talks NFL Draft First Round, Arvell Reese's Upside, Children's Mental Health

Ryan Day hopped on a Zoom call with the media on Friday from Manchester, New Hampshire, where he helped lead a Kids' Mental Health Foundation event. He spoke on the event, Ohio State's first round of the NFL draft and said Arvell Reese might have the highest ceiling of any player in the draft.

Five Things on the NFL Draft

Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope shares his thoughts on how night one of the 2026 NFL draft unfolded for all of Ohio State’s top five draft prospects, including what Carnell Tate’s selection at No. 4 overall says about the strengths of OSU’s receiver room, why Caleb Downs will be the coup of the draft for the Dallas Cowboys and why teams will regret passing on Kayden McDonald.

Live Reaction to Round 1

Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope and George Eisner share their reactions to a historic first round of the 2026 NFL draft, including why the Dallas Cowboys made the best pick of the draft by moving up for Caleb Downs, why Kayden McDonald should have been drafted in Round 1 and how having four top-11 picks shapes the legacy of the 2025 Ohio State football team.

Kayden McDonald Not Drafted – Yet

Kayden McDonald was one of two players – alongside former Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood – invited to attend the NFL draft who went unselected in Round 1. McDonald, a unanimous All-American in 2025, is expected to be among the first names called Friday, likely joining Hood early on Day 2. Former Buckeye tight end Max Klare and cornerback Davison Igbinosun are also projected as Day 2 picks.

McDonald is staying in Pittsburgh to hear his name called on Friday.

Ohio St. DT Kayden McDonald is staying in Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft, where he is expected to be picked early tonight. Commissioner Roger Goodell went to see McDonald after he was not selected in round one, and invited him to come back tonight so he could give him a hug on the pic.twitter.com/IAwSEXO6rP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2026

Ryan Day Praises Ohio State's First-Round Selections

Four Buckeyes Drafted in Top 11 Picks

Ohio State became the first school in 59 years to see four players selected in the top 11 picks of an NFL draft, with Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs all coming off the board by that spot in the draft.

Carnell Tate Extends Ohio State's First-Round Wide Receiver Streak to Five

Ohio State was already the first school to produce first-round wide receivers in four consecutive NFL drafts, and Carnell Tate extended that mark to five by going No. 4 overall to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

Dallas Cowboys Select Caleb Downs No. 11 Overall

Washington Commanders Select Sonny Styles No. 7 Overall

New York Giants Select Arvell Reese No. 5 Overall

Tennessee Titans Select Carnell Tate No. 4 Overall

In a twist, wide receiver Carnell Tate is the first Ohio State player off the board in the 2026 NFL draft, selected No. 4 overall by the Tennessee Titans. He ties Marvin Harrison Jr., drafted No. 4 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2024, for the highest draft pick ever at receiver for the Buckeyes.

Ryan Day Praises Ohio State’s Top Prospects on GameDay

Ryan Day praised Ohio State’s top prospects during an appearance on College GameDay, calling Arvell Reese the player with the highest ceiling in the draft class and describing all of the former Buckeyes as professionals in their approach.

Ryan Day on Arvell Reese: He probably has the highest ceiling of all the guys today in the first round today.

pic.twitter.com/pmdruFSoAi

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

Ryan Day on Ohio States NFL draft prospects: Whoever drafts these guys tonight are going to get guys that are going to walk in Day 1 and act like vets.

pic.twitter.com/nYsWRjnEft

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

Coach Day’s Got Jokes

When asked about Caleb Downs on ESPN's College GameDay, Ryan Day said this about the unanimous All-American safety – with Nick Saban seated to his left.

Ryan Day, seated next to Nick Saban, on Caleb Downs: When Caleb came to Ohio State... he was a mess. I dont know what they were doing at Alabama.

pic.twitter.com/wHuuIcMHjf

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

Buckeyes Make the Red Carpet Scarlet

Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Kayden McDonald, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles – joined by Lorenzo Styles Sr. and Jr. – all showed off their fresh looks on the red carpet before the NFL draft started.

https://t.co/y85BidYOEJ

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

Sonny Styles is dressed to impress pic.twitter.com/NFaMvkZoxI

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

All smiles for Carnell Tate pic.twitter.com/lQx5kX0CsZ

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

https://t.co/iNEnhZHf5V

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

These Buckeyes clean up nice https://t.co/BjhnQ0cKEE

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 24, 2026

Family shapes the inside of Sonny Styles' suit

2026 NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PVp5wgiID7

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

Carnell Tate's family means everything to him on this special night @OhioStateFB

2026 NFL Draft starts at 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GzdOxwdLcy

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

A work of art @carnelltate

NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/qAXqlT6pzf

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

Sonny Styles showing up in style

NFL Draft - 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1qaAfxd3EW

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

Caleb Downs and his family showed up in style @OhioStateFB

2026 NFL Draft starts at 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wP5OHxYpe2

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

Kayden McDonald showing off the Draft day fit

2026 NFL Draft Starts Tonight at 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @nflplus pic.twitter.com/ejwz4PYzad

— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2026

Arvell Reese, Sponsored by Reese’s

Arvell Reese showed off his NFL draft jacket on ESPN, emblazoned with a Reese’s sponsorship that’s perfectly fitting for his last name.

Arvell Reeses NFL draft jacket, presented by Reeses.

: ESPN pic.twitter.com/y7LETuzUxa

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 23, 2026

Full First-Round Mock Draft

Eight Big Ten players are projected to go in the top 15, including four Buckeyes in the top eight, in our projection of how all 32 first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft will play out.

Projections for Every Buckeye Draft Pick

Eleven Warriors’ projections for Ohio State’s 2026 NFL draft prospects include five first-round picks, five additional draft selections and four undrafted free agent signings.

Ferlmann Hungry for Chance to Compete

Former Ohio State long snapper John Ferlmann knows he’s unlikely to be drafted, but he’s drawn interest from the NFL and is eager to compete for a roster spot in minicamp.

One of the NFL Draft’s Greatest Stories

Ever an introvert, Carnell Tate doesn't have to articulate his story for its weight to be appreciated. He is the story of the 2026 NFL draft.

Reese Expects Growth as a Pass-Rusher

Arvell Reese believes he can be an “elite” NFL pass-rusher as he works to improve his technique after spending “95%” of his practice time at linebacker at Ohio State.

NFL Draft a “Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity” for Five Buckeyes

Ohio State’s five projected first-round picks are enjoying the opportunity to attend the NFL draft together and say OSU played a big role in developing them into top NFL prospects.

Downs Worthy of a Top-Five Pick

Through elite play, next-level game knowledge and positional flexibility, Caleb Downs has proven worthy of a top-five pick in Thursday's NFL draft – regardless of positional value.

Klare and Kacmarek Aiming for History

Max Klare and Will Kacmarek can make school history by being the first pair of Buckeye tight ends selected in the same NFL draft in the modern era – a testament to Keenan Bailey's room.

Styles Brothers Set to Realize NFL Dreams

Sonny Styles and Lorenzo Styles Jr. are poised to be the first pair of brothers from Ohio State selected in the same NFL draft after each had their own unique college football journey.