On Thursday, Ohio State fans witnessed an insane amount of Ohio State talent get selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Four Buckeyes went in the top 11 picks, reasserting OSU’s dominance as the best program in the country.
Most of the focus in the months leading up to the draft has understandably been on the Buckeyes who were long projected to be first-round picks. However, now that those big names are off the board, there are still a number of Buckeyes who will be drafted on the second
and third day of the draft who will make an impact on whichever NFL team selects them. Last year, after having four players taken in the first round, Ohio State saw guys like Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson come off the board in the second round, followed by Cody Simon and Lathan Ransom in the fourth round.
Today, we want to know which Buckeye you would target outside the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft. There is still plenty of depth behind those star Ohio State players, such as Davison Igbinosun, Max Klare, Lorenzo Styles Jr., and Caden Curry. Who is on your radar as a player who could be a serious contributor despite not being drafted in the first round?
Today’s question: Which Buckeye are you targeting on Days 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Max Klare
Expectations were high for Max Klare heading into the 2025 season after he transferred from Purdue to Ohio State. After catching 51 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 with the Boilermakers, Klare hauled in 43 passes for 448 yards and two scores in his only season with the Buckeyes. Some will look at Klare’s season in Columbus as a success, while others will be disappointed he didn’t match his 2024 numbers.
We have to remember that Klare went from being the big dog in a dreadful Purdue offense to lining up alongside Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Along with playing with two of the best wide receivers in the country, Ohio State’s offense had a quartet of tight ends they would rotate in. Despite his numbers in 2025 not being as big as they were in 2024 with Purdue, Klare was even more impactful on the field since he was under an even bigger microscope playing for one of the top teams in the country.
The importance of tight ends seems to grow every year in the NFL. Over the last decade, Travis Kelce and George Kittle have put up huge numbers catching footballs. Brock Bowers has looked like the next big thing, as long as Las Vegas can find a consistent quarterback. Tyler Warren is a bit of a Swiss Army knife at the position after being drafted by Indianapolis in the first round last year. Dalton Kincaid, Colston Loveland, and Trey McBride are others whose play has placed them near the top of the rankings at the position.
What could help Klare excel early on is the position he was placed in when he arrived at Ohio State. Klare went from being the big fish in a small pond at Purdue to being surrounded by other big fish in Columbus. Klare stepped in immediately and took on different responsibilities than he was tasked with at Purdue and excelled at them. The versatility and ability to adjust quickly will be something NFL teams will value in their evaluation process. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Klare as the second tight end taken in this year’s NFL Draft.
Matt’s answer: Davison Igbinosun
I think the easy answer here is Kayden McDonald, just because he was a projected first-rounder and will almost certainly go early in Round 2. However, I am going to go with a guy who showed a tremendous amount of growth both on and off the field during his time in Columbus. Davison Igbinosun had moments of both brilliance and failure as a Buckeye, but he showed a humbleness and work ethic that not only proved that he could play at an elite level, but that he could handle the mental and emotional pressures of playing professional football.
I don’t need to tell you that at times, the former Buckeye corner was known for being a bit handsy. What made his penchant for pass interference and holding calls — beyond the obvious penalties — is the fact that Igbinosun was almost always in position when he grabbed hold of the receiver. Very rarely did IGB draw a flag when he was burnt or in a bad spot, so we always knew that he had the cover skills; it was just either a lack of confidence in the final moments, a breakdown in technique as the ball approached, or a fast-twitch problem in the worst possible situations.
However, fans’ frustration about the ongoing DPI problems didn’t prevent him from working his tail off to improve. In his final season of college football, Igbinosun allowed a 43.4 passer rating on balls targeting WRs he was guarding. He didn’t give up a single touchdown all season and allowed only 22 receptions all year, making him one of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten (as evidenced by his All-Big Ten first-team selection) and one of the most underrated players in the country. Breaking down IGB’s film, you realize just how dominant he was, and how ready he is for the NFL.
Then there are the intangibles… or, quite frankly, when it comes to Davison, the pretty darn tangibles. IGB likes to talk. He is fiery, intense, and competitive. He brings a passion to the field every time he puts the shoulder pads on, and we saw that in spades during his time as a Buckeye.
While he probably will have to rein that in a bit when going up against grown-man NFL receivers, but there should be zero doubt that he is ready for the challenge of stepping up to the big leagues.
I don’t know who is going to take Davison Igbinosun this week (he is currently projected as a solid Day 2 player), but I feel really comfortable in saying that whoever does is going to get a difference-maker on the field and in the locker room.
