Honestly, if you’re a fan of the Scarlet and Gray, the 2025 NFL Draft felt like one long, glorious victory lap. It wasn't just about the numbers, though 14 Ohio State Buckeyes drafted is a staggering figure that ties the 2004 school record. It was the way it happened. After finally securing that elusive national championship in the new 12-team playoff era, Columbus basically became a pipeline directly to the league.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Four first-rounders. A record-tying 14 total picks. But there’s a nuance to this specific class that most people are completely overlooking.
It’s easy to look at Emeka Egbuka going 19th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and say, "Yeah, typical Ohio State receiver." But Egbuka isn't typical. He left as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (205 catches). He stayed when he could have been a high pick a year prior, just to finish the job. That level of "NFL-ready" maturity is exactly why the Buckeyes dominated the draft board from Thursday night until the final horn on Saturday.
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Why the 2025 Class of Ohio State Buckeyes Drafted Players Was Different
Usually, when a team has 14 players taken, it’s a "brain drain" situation where the cupboard is left bare. Not here. The most fascinating part of the 2025 cycle wasn't just the sheer volume; it was the concentration of talent in the trenches.
We’ve seen the "Wide Receiver U" tag for years. It’s basically a permanent fixture at this point. However, 2025 was the year of the Big Men. The Buckeyes became the first program in school history to have four defensive linemen selected in a single draft. Think about that. The entire starting front four—Tyleik Williams (Detroit Lions, 28th), JT Tuimoloau (Indianapolis Colts, 45th), Jack Sawyer (Pittsburgh Steelers, 123rd), and Ty Hamilton (LA Rams, 148th)—all moved to the pros at once.
The First-Round Fireworks
The first night in Green Bay was essentially an Ohio State infomercial.
- Emeka Egbuka: 19th overall to Tampa. He’s the technician the Bucs needed to pair with Mike Evans.
- Donovan Jackson: 24th overall to the Minnesota Vikings. His move to left tackle mid-season to cover injuries showed a versatility that scouts absolutely drooled over.
- Tyleik Williams: 28th overall to Detroit. Dan Campbell getting a 320-pounder with twitch is almost unfair.
- Josh Simmons: 32nd overall to Kansas City. Despite the knee injury that cost him half the season, the Chiefs didn't blink. They saw the tape.
The Mid-Round Steals Everyone Will Regret Missing
If you stopped watching after the first round, you missed the real meat of this class. The second round featured back-to-back running backs, which is a rarity in the modern NFL. Quinshon Judkins went to the Cleveland Browns at 36th overall. Staying in Ohio, Judkins brings that "punisher" style that perfectly complements the AFC North. Just two picks later, the New England Patriots snagged TreVeyon Henderson at 38th.
There's this weird narrative that Henderson was "injury prone," but look at the stats. He finished with over 4,600 total yards and 48 touchdowns. That’s elite production, period.
Then you have Jack Sawyer. Every Buckeyes fan remembers the scoop-and-score against Texas in the playoffs. The Steelers getting him in the fourth round (123rd) is classic Pittsburgh. He’s a blue-collar edge rusher who doesn't quit on plays. Pairing him with T.J. Watt is going to be a nightmare for AFC North quarterbacks.
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Round-by-Round Breakdown of the 14 Selections
It’s a bit of a whirlwind, so let’s look at how the rest of the Saturday selections filled out the record-tying total:
- Cody Simon (LB): 4th Round, 115th overall to Arizona. The "Block O" recipient is the definition of a locker room leader.
- Lathan Ransom (S): 4th Round, 122nd overall to Carolina. A hard-hitting safety who played 55 games for the Buckeyes.
- Ty Hamilton (DT): 5th Round, 148th overall to the Rams.
- Jordan Hancock (DB): 5th Round, 170th overall to Buffalo.
- Denzel Burke (CB): 5th Round, 174th overall to Arizona. He joins former teammates Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson Jr. in the desert.
- Will Howard (QB): 6th Round, 185th overall to Pittsburgh. The transfer who became a legend by winning the natty.
The Record-Breaking Context
With this 2025 haul, Ohio State has now surpassed 500 total draftees in NFL history. They are in a very exclusive club—only three schools have ever hit that mark. They also extended their lead for the most first-round picks of all time, reaching 95 total. USC is still trailing in second place.
What's kinda wild is that despite losing 14 guys to the draft and over 30 to the portal/eligibility, the 2026 outlook is still terrifying for the rest of the Big Ten.
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Experts like Dan Hope have noted that while the "star power" left, the depth in Columbus is absurd. In fact, early mock drafts for 2026 are already projecting Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese as top-10 locks. The cycle just doesn't stop.
What This Means for NFL Teams
If you’re a GM, you aren't just drafting a player when you take an Ohio State guy; you’re drafting a professional. Ryan Day and his staff have essentially turned the Woody Hayes Athletic Center into an NFL prep school.
Take Will Howard. He wasn't the highest-rated QB coming out of the portal, but he managed a 73% completion rate and led a championship run. The Steelers getting him in the sixth round is a low-risk, high-reward move for a guy who has played in the biggest possible games.
Actionable Insights for Following the 2025 Class:
- Watch the Cardinals: With Simon and Burke joining Paris Johnson and Marv, Arizona is becoming "Columbus West." Their chemistry is worth a look in preseason.
- Monitor the Detroit D-Line: Tyleik Williams is built for the "grit" culture. Expect him to start or play heavy rotation minutes immediately.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 Mock Drafts: Since stars like Brandon Inniss and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. decided to return, the 2026 Buckeyes class might actually challenge this year’s record of 14.
The 2025 draft was the culmination of a "Natty or Bust" season. The players delivered the trophy, and the NFL delivered the contracts. It’s the perfect end to one of the most storied eras in Ohio State football history.
To stay updated on how these rookies perform in training camp, you should follow the official NFL transactions and team-specific beat writers for the Browns, Steelers, and Cardinals, as those teams now house the highest concentration of former Buckeyes.