How Many Ohio State Players Will be Drafted in 1st Round This Year?

Could four Ohio State players go in the first round of the NFL draft?

Last year it was a shock to most draft experts when there were five Ohio State players chosen in the first 20 picks in the NFL draft. Could there be four Buckeyes taken in the first round this year?

In the various mock drafts, it is the consensus opinion that safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be first round picks. With two other Ohio State players, Gareon Conley and Raekwon McMillan the opinions vary.

The info I’m using is from an article by Eleven Warriors. There are several mock drafts listed as well as the draft order this year. If you want to check it out and read the full article Click Here.

Every mock draft has Hooker going between the 5th and 7th pick except for one. Mel Kiper has him going at No. 17. Lattimore is picked to go anywhere from being the second player off the board to the No. 18 pick.

Only four of the mock drafts went beyond the first round, but those that did have cornerback Gareon Conley and Raekwon McMillan listed in the first two rounds. Two had Conley going in the 1st round and three had McMillan as a 1st rounder.

With a good Combine, each of these players could solidify themselves as first round picks. Each player has performed well in their two seasons starting for Ohio State. However, some have questions about the two but performing well at the Combine could erase those doubts.

Good cornerbacks are in demand in the NFL, but only potential shut down corners go in the first round and some wonder if Conley fits the bill. I have heard that scouts think McMillan plays a little “stiff” at middle linebacker and isn’t very good in pass coverage.

Their performances at the Combine in speed drills, the 40 , shuttle etc,. will be the difference between a 1st or 2nd round contract. I think the two players may surprise some NFL scouts.

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Curtis Samuel was ranked as a 2nd round pick in three mock drafts that went that far. Only Matt Miller of Bleacher Report did a mock draft of all 7 rounds and he had Samuel and Pat Elflein as third rounders, Noah Brown as a 6th round pick and Corey Smith going in the 7th.

I think once people see Samuel up close and personal, he could go in the first round. If Samuel goes on to be an outstanding NFL player, which I think he will, would you want to be a general manager who passed on him late in the first round?

I would think that Elflein would be chosen higher than the 86th pick where Miller has him being taken. Certainly a team would have a need for the Rimington Award winning center before that.

I think a team with extra draft picks will take a flier on Brown and he will be picked higher than the 6th round. Smith will be drafted late, if at all. With his injury issues, teams may shy away from using a draft pick on him. If that happens, I’m sure someone will invite him to camp as a free agent.

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I think it will be another impressive draft for Ohio State with as many as four players taken in the first round. And who knows, a fifth could slip in there as well.

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