The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Pittsburgh with the first round. Last year, a record 12 Texas Longhorns were selected in the draft. That number will be significantly less this year. Seven Longhorns were invited to the NFL Combine. But only five former Texas football players are expected to get taken. Will any get picked in the first round?
Probably not. There are next to no mock drafts that have a Longhorn going in Thursday's first round. The most likely candidate is Anthony Hill Jr. Last year, Hill had 69 total tackles, four sacks and set a career high in interceptions with two. He was named a 2025 Second-Team All-American and a finalist for the Butkus Award. Hill finished his college career with 249 total tackles and 17 sacks.
Most multi-round mocks have Hill getting drafted somewhere in the middle of the second round. The Denton Ryan prospect has met privately with several teams, including a dinner with Dallas Cowboys coach Briant Schottenheimer.
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Hill had 22 confirmed interviews with NFL teams at the combine and is a very popular option at linebacker. So while he might not go in the first round, he won't get past the second.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: 2026 NFL First Round: Will a Texas Longhorn get picked tonight?