The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place Thursday through Saturday, April 23-25, in Pittsburgh, PA. The event begins with Round 1 on Thursday, continues with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, and concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday. This year, if you’re watching to see a Spartan get drafted, you’ll probably be waiting until Day 3.
Michigan State saw an 80 year run of at least one player being selected in the NFL Draft end in 2021 but MSU has rebounded a bit since then. The 2022 draft saw Kenneth Walker III
go to the Seattle, where he just helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. Jalen Nailor, Connor Heyward, and AJ Arcuri were also selected in 2022.
In 2023, Jayden Reed, Bryce Barringer, and Ameer Speed got the call. Since then, however, just two offensive lineman have been taken in the draft – Nick Samac in 2024 and Luke Newman in 2025.
The 2026 NFL Draft Tracker lists only two prospects from Michigan State: Center Matt Gulbin and Punter Ryan Eckley. Both former Spartans took part in the NFL Draft Combine in late February.
Matt Gulbin
Gulbin started his college career by appearing in four games and taking a redshirt at Wake Forest in 2021. In 2022, Gulbin saw regular action at left and right guard before becoming a full-time starter for the Demon Deacons in 2023 and 2024.
Gulbin came to Michigan State as a graduate transfer for the 2025 season and played every snap at center through the first 11 games for the Spartans but missed game 12 due to injury. He was named a team captain for the Spartans and landed a spot on the Rimington Trophy watch list as one of the nation’s top centers.
In an otherwise disappointing season at MSU, Gulbin proved to be a bright spot. He graded out as the top center in the Football Bowl Subdivision according to Pro Football Focus. Gulbin’s PFF run blocking grade was highest in the FBS and his pass blocking ranked fifth.
The NFL’s Draft Tracker has Gulbin’s prospect grade at a 5.98, which translates to an “average backup or special-teamer.” For more context, the NFL’s full grading system and other grading metrics are shown at the end of the article.
The highest-rated prospect for this year’s draft appears to be edge rusher Arvell Reese from Ohio State with a 7.04. The lowest grade for a non-special teams player is a 5.66.
Gulbin is one of 15 centers listed as a prospect on the Draft Tracker. The highest-graded is Connor Lew from Auburn with a 6.27 followed by Sam Hecht from Kansas State with a 6.23 and then Logan Jones (Iowa), Brian Parker II (Duke), and Trey Zuhn III (Texas A&M), each with a 6.20.
However, Gulbin’s 5.98 leads the next tier of players with the fifth-best grade. The former Spartan scores just ahead of Parker Brailsford from Alabama and Jake Slaughter from Florida.
The NFL also uses a Next Gen Stats Model to predict a prospect’s chances of success in the NFL (full description also at the end of the article). Here, Gulbin’s production score of 81 was second among Center prospects while his athleticism score ranked tenth. His total score of 68 ranked seventh of the 15 prospects at his position.
Lance Zierlien provides a full draft analysis on Gulbin and projects him to be taken on Day 3 in Round 5 or 6. Among his strengths, Zierlien notes that Gulbin “Pushed the Michigan front around with his drive blocking.” As far as weaknesses, Zierlien points to Gulbin’s short arm measurements and average lateral range.
Ryan Eckley
Eckley redshirted in 2022 before becoming the Spartans’ starting punter from 2023 – 2025. His career 47.6 yards per punt average ranks first in school (surpassing Barringer’s 46.0) and Big Ten history. Eckley led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he was named the Big Ten Punter of the Year in addition to earning All-American honors.
Eckley was not only effective in punting for distance. Over his career, he landed 34% of his punts inside the 20 yard line and nearly one in five were downed inside the 10.
In an otherwise frustrating period for MSU Football, Eckley made the punt exciting, even if we knew it was coming more often than not. (For as great as Eckley is, and for as much as I appreciate him, I hope I never have to write a sentence like this again.)
Eckley is one of just four punting prospects on the NFL Draft Tracker. His 5.65 grade ranks behind Brett Thorson of Georgia (5.95) and Jack Stonehouse from Syracuse (5.84). Tommy Doman Jr. from Florida is just behind Eckley with a 5.62 grade.
Zierlein projects Eckley going in Round 7 and, among his strengths notes: “Excellent at landing short-field punts inside the 10 over the last two seasons.”
For weaknesses, Zierlein states that Eckley “Regularly outkicks his coverage.” But maybe he just needs faster coverage.
Spartan UDA Prospects
While no other Spartans are expected to hear their names called during the Draft this year, several may be able to look forward to signing as undrafted free agents. Possible UDA signings to look for after the draft concludes might include WR Omari Kelly, TE Jack Velling, and LB Wayne Matthews III.
NFL Prospect Grading System:
- 8.0 = The perfect prospect
- 7.3 – 7.5 = Perennial All-Pro
- 7.0 – 7.1 = Pro Bowl Talent
- 6.7 – 6.9 = Year 1 Starter
- 6.5 – 6.6 = Boom or bust potential
- 6.40 – 6.49 = Will become good starter within two years
- 6.30 – 6.39 = Will eventually become a plus starter
- 6.20 – 6.29 = Will eventually be an average starter
- 6.10 – 6.19 = Good backup with potential to become a starter
- 6.00 – 6.09 = Traits or talent to be above-average backup
- 5.80 – 5.99 = Average backup or special-teamer
- 5.60 – 5.69 = Candidate for bottom or roster or practice squad
- 5.50 – 5.59 = Priority undrafted free agent
NFL Next Gen Stats Score Breakdown:
The Next Gen Stats Draft Model analyzes historical NFL Combine, pro day, and college production data to predict a prospect’s chances of success in the NFL. The results of the model are transformed into composite scores, ranging from 50 to 99, which represent the athleticism, college performance, and overall profile of an NFL prospect. Ranking shown represents a prospect’s score relative to all other players in their drat class at their respective positions. Prospects who do not perform drills at the combine or pro day are given an estimated athleticism score based on their size and projected 40 time. A score of 50-60 is considered below average; 60-70 is average; 70-90 is good; and 90+ is elite.
