4 MORE BUCKEYES
Kayden McDonald (No. 36, Texans), Max Klare (No. 61, Rams) and Davison Igbinosun (No. 62, Bills) go in Round 2 and Will Kacmarek (No. 87, Dolphins) goes in Round 3.
An Ohio State tight end has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft for the first time in 30 years.
The Los Angeles Rams selected the former Ohio State tight end with the No. 61 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday.
Ohio State's 2026 NFL Draft Picks
- Carnell Tate: Round 1, No. 4, Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese: Round 1, No. 5, New York Giants
- Sonny Styles: Round 1, No. 7, Washington Commanders
- Caleb Downs: Round 1, No. 11, Dallas Cowboys
- Kayden McDonald: Round 2, No. 36, Houston Texans
- Max Klare: Round 2, No. 61, Los Angeles Rams
- Davison Igbinosun: Round 2, No. 62, Buffalo Bills
Klare is the highest-drafted Ohio State tight end since Rickey Dudley was selected in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 1996 NFL draft. He is just the fourth Buckeye line bookender to come off the board in the third round or earlier since 2005, joining Jeff Heuerman in 2015 (No. 92 overall, Broncos), Nick Vannett in 2016 (No. 94 overall, Seahawks) and Jeremy Ruckert in 2022 (No. 101 overall, Jets).
A breakout redshirt sophomore season at Purdue in 2024 started Klare's roll toward a day two selection at one of the draft's most undervalued positions. He collected 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns for the Boilermakers that year before transferring to Ohio State for his fourth and ultimately final year of college football in 2025. For the Buckeyes, he reeled in 43 receptions for 448 yards and two scores while playing alongside the elite receiving tandem of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. He was selected as first-team All-Big Ten by both the conference's coaches and media.
Drafted primarily for his receiving ability, Klare also took steps as a blocker at tight end this past season. His Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade jumped from 53.8 in 2024 to 71.6 in 2025. Ohio State used a heavier mix of 12 personnel with Klare and fellow tight end Will Kacmarek on the field than in years past.
Speaking of Kacmarek, the Buckeyes' top blocking weapon at tight end is a day three hopeful in this year's draft. If he is selected, it will mark the first time in the modern draft era that Ohio State sees two tight ends taken in the same draft.
Klare is the sixth Buckeye selected in the 2026 draft, joining first-round selections Carnell Tate (No. 4 overall, Titans), Arvell Reese (No. 5, Giants), Sonny Styles (No. 7, Commanders) and Caleb Downs (No. 11 overall, Cowboys) and fellow second-round pick Kayden McDonald (No. 36 overall, Texans). Former Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun was selected just one pick after Klare by the Buffalo Bills.
