A few months ago, it looked like Memphis football's chances of having an NFL draft pick in 2026 were slim.
But offensive tackle Travis Burke has been among the biggest risers on draft boards over the past few months. Burke, who suffered a leg injury and missed Memphis' last two games, enters the draft with the potential to go on April 24 in the second or third round.
The 6-foot-9, 325-pound Burke has cracked the top-100 in some breakdowns of the top draft prospects. He started 11 games for Memphis at right tackle in 2025 after transferring from FIU and Gardner-Webb before that. Burke performed well at the NFL combine and drew plenty of attention at Memphis' pro day in March.
Memphis doesn't have any other players who are expected to be picked, although the draft is always unpredictable and that doesn't necessarily mean they won't have their names called. A handful of players will likely sign undrafted free agent deals.
Here's a roundup of where he's projected to go in the latest NFL mock drafts. The NFL draft starts on April 23 with the first round, then continues with the second and third rounds on April 24 and the rounds 4-7 on April 25.
Memphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Air Noland (3) throws a pass during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football head coach Charles Huff directs players during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football defensive coordinator Lance Guidry directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis Isaiah McGill (30) punts during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football head coach Charles Huff looks on during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Manny Covey (28) catches a punt during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) gestures to a player in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) hands Jaylin Carter (6) the ball in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football head coach Charles Huff looks on during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Manny Covey (28) runs back from a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Mike Montgomery (9) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Ian Foster (0) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ J’Mond Tapp (14) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker talks to Marcus Stokes (2) during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football players prepare for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis Hunter Tipton (0) runs back from a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) and Denzel Gardner (9) wait for their turn in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis’ Gavin Owens (15) hands Isaiah McGill (30) in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.Memphis football players run a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.1 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.1 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.2 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Air Noland (3) throws a pass during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.3 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff directs players during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.4 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.5 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football defensive coordinator Lance Guidry directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.6 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis Isaiah McGill (30) punts during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.7 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker directs a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.8 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff looks on during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.9 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Manny Covey (28) catches a punt during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.10 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) gestures to a player in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.11 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) hands Jaylin Carter (6) the ball in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.12 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff looks on during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.13 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Manny Covey (28) runs back from a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.14 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Mike Montgomery (9) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.15 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Ian Foster (0) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.16 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ J’Mond Tapp (14) prepares for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.17 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football offensive coordinator Kevin Decker talks to Marcus Stokes (2) during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.18 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.19 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football head coach Charles Huff leads a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.20 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football players prepare for a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.21 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis Hunter Tipton (0) runs back from a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.22 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Marcus Stokes (2) and Denzel Gardner (9) wait for their turn in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.23 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis’ Gavin Owens (15) hands Isaiah McGill (30) in a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.24 / 24See our best photos from a Memphis football spring practiceMemphis football players run a drill during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis, Tenn., on March 27, 2026.The Athletic's Dane Brugler: Round 3 (83rd overall) to the Carolina PanthersThis would make Burke the highest Memphis draft pick since Antonio Gibson in 2020.
The Steelers had a large Memphis contingent last season, including coach Mike Tomlin (a former Memphis assistant), offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (son of FedEx founder Fred Smith) and former Tigers Calvin Austin III and Kenneth Gainwell. They're all gone now, but Burke would give the Steelers some Memphis representation again.
This projection also has Burke going to Pittsburgh, but it'd be a round later.
This projection has Burke going significantly later and is more in line with mock drafts from earlier in the pre-draft process.
Burke is also listed on plenty of lists of the top draft prospects. Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice has him at No. 74 overall, while ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Burke at No. 102.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 2026 NFL Draft projections for Memphis football OT Travis Burke