With the 2025 NFL Draft not even two weeks behind us, it’s never too early to have a look at which Buckeyes will have their names called next year. Ohio State had six offensive players drafted and eight defensive players drafted from their 2024 National Championship team. They’ll have some big names ready to rock next year too.
The biggest name for Ohio State and arguably all college football will be Caleb Downs. Downs could have been a first-round pick this year. He’ll technically have another year of eligibility in 2026, but it’s almost certain he’ll forgo it for the NFL Draft. Lead draft analyst Todd McShay is very high on Caleb Downs, as he and everyone should be.
McShay said Downs is the top prospect for next year's draft and had him go number two overall in his mock draft. That would have Downs tie Eric Turner as the highest safety ever drafted (Turner was picked 2nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in 1991). Downs could be like Turner or Sean Taylor (a star like Turner whose life was tragically cut short), who was taken fifth overall, or Eric Berry, who was taken fifth overall and had a fantastic career for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Downs didn’t allow a touchdown in the 509 times he dropped back in coverage in 2024. His grades, according to PFF College, were insanely high. Caleb Downs’ basement is being a top ten pick, and his ceiling is making history as the first safety to be taken number one overall.
Next up are some of Ohio State's big-name seniors. Carson Hinzman, Sonny Styles, and Davison Igbinosun could all be first-round picks. Juniors Carnell Tate, Max Klare, and Jermaine Mathews Jr. could also be taken in the first round.
Hinzman is the next most surefire pick after Downs. Hinzman has a ton of experience and growth as Buckeye over the past two seasons. He started the entire regular season in 2023 as a center. He was benched for the Cotton Bowl that year for talking on a podcast about some team issues that the coaches preferred he keep in house. That landed him in Ryan Day’s doghouse.
Hinzman could have understandably transferred to somewhere he wouldn’t have to be on the bench after starting a whole year. He didn’t, and not only did he show growth and maturity in staying at Ohio State, but his decision to stay helped the Buckeyes win the 2024 National Championship. Without Carson Hinzman, the Buckeyes don’t hoist that trophy.
When first-round draft pick and offensive tackle Josh Simmons was injured for the season, the Buckeyes had to move another first-round pick, Donovan Jackson, from guard to offensive tackle. Hinzman came off the bench, filled in at guard flawlessly, and helped Ohio State run over and through Penn State for a crucial victory.
When Seth McLaughlin was lost to injury before the Indiana game, Hinzman was asked to move back to center, where he was for that win and all four playoff wins. With another year under his belt starting at center, Carson Hinzman should be a first-round draft pick at the minimum next year.
Sonny Styles would likely have been a day two draft pick had he left Ohio State after this past season. Styles has the size and speed needed to be an NFL linebacker and makes a ton of sure tackles. Styles should be a first-round pick, but should do no worse than go in the second round.
Davison Igbinosun has the speed and potential to be a solid NFL cornerback. It will depend on how much he grows during his senior year this fall. If he cuts back on the penalties (he led the FBS last year), he will be a draft pick in 2026.
Carnell Tate is an interesting player to look at. Tate has the skill and will likely have the season this fall to be rated a first-round pick. But he could find himself in a very similar situation to Chris Olave and Emeka Egbuka. They came back for their senior seasons despite having awesome junior years.
Egbuka especially did so because of injuries and because a lot of his success was attributed to being WR2 to Marvin Harrison Jr.’s WR1. Tate will have the same aspect, only with Jeremiah Smith. Either course of action by Carnell Tate after 2025 will not be surprising.
Max Klare is another possible first-round pick. The struggle for him to get there after one season at Ohio State will depend on how much production he has this fall. Ohio State has had some solid tight ends, but hasn’t had one drafted in the first round since Rickey Dudley went ninth overall 30 years before Klare in 1996. That’s why Klare, despite his talent, will be more of a question mark.
Mathews Jr. could be a first-round pick at cornerback. He could be like Davison Igbinosun and return for his senior season. Ohio State will have plenty of great players for the 2026 NFL Draft and will add to its first-place lead of 95 first-round picks in draft history and the most overall picks since 2000 with 157.