How many Ohio State players could be 2025 NFL draft first-round picks?
In comparison to past NFL drafts, 2024 proved to be a bit of a down year for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes had four players selected — the team's lowest total since 2013 — and one first-round selection in wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. But all of that could change in 2025.
Ohio State is set to have multiple first-round prospects heading into the 2024 season including multiple members of a defense that has not had a first-round pick since 2020.
Ohio State NFL draft prospects: Ohio State's best available players in NFL draft: Top prospects for Day 3
Here's a look at where major publications are having Ohio State players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
J.T. Tuimoloau — Defensive end
Associated Press: No. 11 Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports: No. 5 New York Giants
USA Today: No. 19 New Orleans Saints
Bleacher Report: No. 25 Philadelphia Eagles
Fox Sports: No. 1 Carolina Panthers
J.T. Tuimoloau has the chance to end Ohio State's drought of first-round defensive linemen. The former five-star defensive end could be the first OSU defensive end selected in the first round since Chase Young was the No. 2 overall pick in 2020. Tuimoloau could be viewed as one of the top defensive ends in the draft along with Georgia's Mykel Williams, Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. and Mississippi's Princely Umanmielen.
Emeka Egbuka — Wide receiver
CBS Sports: No. 14 Indianapolis Colts
USA Today: No. 20 Houston Texans
Bleacher Report: No. 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fox Sports: No. 5 Tennessee Titans
Emeka Egbuka has the chance to be Ohio State's fifth first-round wide receiver in four draft classes following Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Harrison. With one 1,000-yard season on his resume, Egbuka is in the running to be one of the first wide receivers off the board in 2025 along with Texas A&M's Noah Thomas and Missouri's Luther Burden.
Donovan Jackson — Offensive guard
CBS Sports: No. 16 Jacksonville Jaguars
USA Today: No. 27 Detroit Lions
Bleacher Report: No. 18 Chicago Bears
Fox Sports: No. 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Donovan Jackson is expected to become the next first-round offensive lineman to come out of Ohio State, which has had three first-round lineman since 2016: Paris Johnson Jr., Billy Price and Taylor Decker. With offensive tackles available like Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr., LSU's Will Campbell and Georgia's Earnest Green III, Jackson is expected to be the first interior lineman selected.
Denzel Burke — Cornerback
Associated Press: No. 29 Buffalo Bills
CBS Sports: No. 8 Minnesota Vikings
USA Today: No. 18 Green Bay Packers
Bleacher Report: No. 23 Green Bay Packers
Fox Sports: No. 27 Buffalo Bills
Much like Ohio State's drought of first-round defensive linemen, Denzel Burke could end the team's drought of first-round cornerbacks. Burke is widely viewed as the Buckeyes' first first-round cornerback since Jeff Okudah went No. 3 overall in the 2020 draft. While Colorado's Travis Hunter and Michigan's Will Johnson are consistently at the top of draft boards, Burke could be picked along with players such as Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison later in the first round.
Tyleik Williams — Defensive tackle
Associated Press: No. 24 Atlanta Falcons
CBS Sports: No. 17 Cleveland Browns
USA Today: No. 24 Miami Dolphins
While Ohio State has not had a first-round defensive lineman since 2020, it's been even longer for a first-round defensive tackle. Tyleik Williams has the chance to be the Buckeyes' first first-round defensive tackle since Cameron Heyward in 2011. Williams is viewed as one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the 2025 draft along with Michigan's Mason Graham and Mississippi's Walter Nolan.
Jordan Hancock — Cornerback
Associated Press: No. 23 Green Bay Packers
Ohio State could have two first-round cornerbacks next April. While Burke starts alongside Davison Igbinosun, who will also be draft eligible after the 2024 season, Jordan Hancock has the chance to get first-round looks as the Buckeyes' starter at nickel. If Hancock is selected, Ohio State would have two first-round cornerbacks for the first time since 2020 when Okudah and Damon Arnette were each selected in the first 19 picks.
Jack Sawyer — Defensive end
CBS Sports: No. 28 Buffalo Bills
USA Today: No. 29 Baltimore Ravens
Bleacher Report: No. 29 Detroit Lions
Tuimoloau may not be the only Ohio State defensive end picked in the 2025 draft. Jack Sawyer is being viewed as a late first-round option along with players such as Penn State's Abdul Carter and Texas A&M's Nic Scourton. Ohio State has never had multiple first-round defensive linemen in the same NFL draft.
Josh Simmons — Offensive tackle
Bleacher Report: No. 30 Baltimore Ravens
Could Ohio State have multiple first-round offensive linemen for the first time since 1975? Josh Simmons could give the Buckeyes a chance after his second season in Columbus and his second as OSU's starting left tackle.
Quinshon Judkins — Running back
CBS Sports: No. 32 San Francisco 49ers
Fox Sports: No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs
One of the newest members of Ohio State's running backs room could get a first-round look next April. Quinshon Judkins, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher at Mississippi could be one of the first running backs selected in the 2025 draft along with Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II and Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2025 NFL mock draft: How many OSU players could be picked?