There’s good news for star Ohio State Buckeyes in our latest 2026 NFL Draft Big Board update heading into Week 2
After producing 14 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Ohio State Buckeyes have reloaded and are stocked with top talent once again. As shown in its 14-7 win against the Texas Longhorns in Week 1, the Buckeyes have what it takes to claim victory in any matchup. Few National Champions return to the field […]
After producing 14 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Ohio State Buckeyes have reloaded and are stocked with top talent once again. As shown in its 14-7 win against the Texas Longhorns in Week 1, the Buckeyes have what it takes to claim victory in any matchup. Few National Champions return to the field as stocked with young playmakers as Ohio State is, but the inexperience didn’t show last week.
The A to Z Sports NFL Draft crew updated their latest 2026 Big Board, and it brought some good news for Buckeyes fans. The Ohio State faithful will have the chance to see a handful of elite prospects in the NFL once again next fall. We’re taking a look at the four Ohio State products within the top-100 Big Board update.
Ohio State Buckeyes Fill 2026 NFL Draft Big Board
While the Big Board goes up to 100 players, the Buckeyes found four players within the top-38 and zero after. There’s plenty of room for that number to increase, considering who wasn’t included. While Ohio State won’t threaten to tie their record of 14 in 2025, the 2026 draft is looking awfully good for Ryan Day’s program.
Here’s a list of the four Buckeyes who made our team’s top-graded payers and where they sit entering Week 2 of the college football season. These grades are out of a 10-point scale. Grades over a nine indicate a first-round grade, while Day 2 players sit in the seven-to-eight range.
- 5. Caleb Downs, SAF Ohio State (9.4)
- 16. Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State (8.92)
- 28. Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State (8.57)
- 38. Max Klare, TE Ohio State (8.12)
Notable players who weren’t included are: EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and CB Davison Igbinosun. However, all four players did land in the first-round mock draft also provided by the team. Let’s sum those selections up.
Ohio State Buckeyes featured in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
10. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) – SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The trade down with Atlanta last offseason comes up aces for the Rams, who land one of the better players in this year’s draft in the name of (spooky noises) positional value! The horror!
Don’t believe me? Allow me to remind you that Kyle Hamilton fell to the Ravens with the 14th-overall pick. Downs is instinctive, physical, and offers a ton of back-end appeal for Chris Shula’s defense.
18. Washington Commanders – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Washington needs more perimeter weapons to complement Terry McLaurin. The Commanders addressed the trenches this past offseason, but their perimeter receiver play without Scary Terry was looking pretty spooky itself.
Carnell Tate is a former 5-star, who made a splashy play against Texas in Ohio State’s big Week 1 win — this is a bit of a projection, but if there’s one thing we know about Ohio State receivers, it is that they make the leap.
24. Detroit Lions – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
The Lions have proven time and time again that they’re undeterred by positional value norms. Alex Anzalone didn’t receive the long-term resolution he was likely seeking with his contract this offseason. That leaves an opportunity for Detroit to pair an explosive, dynamic defensive weapon like Styles with Jack Campbell and give the Lions a combination of stack players that can be true, rangy tone setters in the middle.
26. Kansas City Chiefs – TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Travis Kelce’s last ride feels like a certainty in 2025. The Chiefs have been a tight-end-centric offense for quite some time, and as attractive as it may be to diversify the unit, Noah Gray and Jared Wiley wouldn’t stop me from adding a long-term centerpiece to keep tight end anchored as an asset for Patrick Mahomes.
