By almost every projection, Texas football won’t see as many players picked in the 2026 NFL Draft as the past two years.
In last year's draft, the Longhorns had a program-record 12 players selected, which broke a one-year-old mark set in 2024 when UT sent 11 to the league.
This year, draft estimates range from five to perhaps as many as eight Longhorns, depending on how the late rounds shake out. Seven Texas football players drew invitations to this year's NFL scouting combine. That marked a drop from the past two seasons, when Texas had a school-record 14 invitations to the 2025 combine and 11 in 2024.
This year’s crop of Texas players with NFL combine invitations includes offensive lineman DJ Campbell, tight end Jack Endries, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau, linebacker/edge rusher Trey Moore, defensive back Michael Taaffe and defensive back Malik Muhammad.
Here are five Longhorns to watch when the NFL draft begins Thursday at 7 p.m. with the start of the first round.
Hill Jr., a three-year starter who left Texas after his junior season, currently projects as a first- or second-round pick Friday by ESPN, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the third best off-ball linebacker in the draft. He will likely be the first Longhorn taken.
Muhammad is currently projected as the last pick in the second round to Super Bowl champion Seattle, according to Kiper. Muhammad has been rising up the draft boards and will likely get picked Friday
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Another riser on the boards after adding postseason weight while retaining his speed, Endries rates as the 117th overall prospect on ESPN’s draft rankings and could go as early as Friday’s third round to a team that needs a pass-catching tight end.
Moore enjoyed a strong showing during Texas’s pro day, and his measurables make up for a lack of heavy production in two seasons at Texas. He’s currently listed as the 150th best prospect by ESPN and could go early Saturday, which includes rounds 4-7.
The 174th overall prospect on ESPN’s latest rankings, Taaffe could go as high as the fifth round Saturday because of his versatility and ability to contribute immediately on special teams.