After the Texas Longhorns had three players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and 23 total players picked over the last two years, the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh won’t feature the same type of fireworks, but it will feature some beloved fan favorites.
With seven players invited to the NFL Combine and five players included in ESPN’s seven-round mock draft this week, the biggest stories for Texas will be the selections of Anthony Hill Jr., one of the best linebackers in school history,
and Michael Taaffe, the fifth-generation Longhorn who went from walk on to All-American.
Hill projects as the first Longhorn off the board as a late second-round pick, followed by cornerback Manny Muhammad in the third round, and three more Day Three selections — junior tight end Jack Endries, Taaffe, and linebacker Trey Moore.
When the draft finishes, multiple players project as priority free agents, including offensive guard DJ Campbell and cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau, who were both invited to the combine, and defensive end Ethan Burke, a surprising snub.
Quarterback Matthew Caldwell, defensive tackle Cole Brevard, kicker Mason Shipley, and punter Jack Bouwmeester also project as undrafted free agents signees from Texas.
The first round of the draft starts on Thursday at 7 p.m. Central on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network with the second and third rounds on Friday starting at 6 p.m. Central and the final rounds beginning on Saturday at 11 a.m. Central.
