Texas had six players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving Steve Sarkisian 34 picks in five drafts and another program milestone.
Texas football’s NFL Draft momentum didn’t slow down in 2026. It just took another step forward.
The Longhorns had six players selected, marking the third straight year Texas has produced at least six NFL Draft picks.
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Since the draft moved to seven rounds in 1994, Texas had only four previous drafts with six or more selections before this current run.
Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. led the group, going No. 60 overall in the second round to the Tennessee Titans. Defensive back Malik Muhammad followed in the fourth round at No. 124 to the Chicago Bears, while linebacker Trey Moore went six picks later to the Miami Dolphins.
Miami also added defensive back Michael Taaffe in the fifth round and offensive lineman DJ Campbell in the sixth. Tight end Jack Endries rounded out the class, landing with the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round.
The bigger story is what this says about Steve Sarkisian’s player development machine.
In five drafts, Sarkisian has now produced 34 total picks, including six first-rounders. In the 10 years before he arrived, Texas had 27 total selections and only two first-round picks.
The Longhorns’ four-year total from 2023-26 is even more impressive. Texas has had 34 players drafted during that span, matching the program’s best four-year total in the Common Draft era.
Texas also remains among college football’s national leaders. Over the last three drafts, the Longhorns have produced 29 picks, tied with Georgia and Ohio State for the most in the country.
There were position milestones, too. Endries became Texas’ third straight drafted tight end, joining Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm. Campbell made it three straight years with a Longhorn offensive lineman selected.
For Texas, this isn’t a one-year spike anymore. It’s a trend, and NFL teams are clearly buying what Sarkisian is building in Austin.
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