LUBBOCK - The Texas Tech Red Raiders made plenty of history on the field this season, winning the program's first ever Big 12 Championship and appearing in the College Football Playoffs after a program record 12 wins.

Now the team is primed to continue making history into the offseason.

Many players from Texas Tech's legendary squad are aiming to take their talents to the next level and have enrolled in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the scouting season having gotten underway, we project that the Red Raiders will have a handful of draftees.

Who might be taken?

We take a brief look at the latest mock draft predictions to determine the order in which you might hear Texas Tech alums get called into the professional ranks.

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Bailey was among the best pass rushers in the nation this season and is expected to be a top-of-the-first-round prospect.

The Draft's top edge rusher recorded 14.5 sacks, 52 total tackles and three balls batted down at the line of scrimmage.

The accolade of a first-round NFL draft pick only comes after other national attention this year, where Bailey was named a consensus First Team All-American and half of the Pony Express Award given to the country's best duo (see the guy below for his running mate).

Speaking of national awards, the Red Raiders' senior linebacker "J-Rod" earned himself so much recognition that he ended up being one spot away from receiving a trip to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Rodriguez's 128 tackles, four interceptions and nation-leading seven forced fumbles earned him nealy every major individual award a defender can win, including the Butkus, Lombardi and Bednarik.

Mostly projected as a Day 2 linebacker, what Rodriguez may lack in size or strength he makes up for with impeccable awareness and a relentless motor.

He's arguably the best defensive player to play in Lubbock since Hall of Famer Zack Thomas, and should have no problem landing somewhere in this year's draft.

After a strong showing at this year's Senior Bowl alongside Rodriguez, Hunter has drastically improved his stock to the point where he is a fringe Day 1 selection.

His incomparable size and shocking dexterity make him a tantalizing body that every defensive line coach wants to develop.

Hunter consistently graded as one of the best run-stoppers in college this year, and that prospect for immediate impact should translate to a high draft pick.

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Opposite of Bailey this season, Height registered 10 sacks and 38 total tackles in his first and only season in Lubbock. Scouting database NFL Draft Buzz has the 6-2, 234-pounder graded at 85.9, good enough to be the 12th best defensive lineman in the pool.

The First Team All-Big 12 honoree plays a premium position NFL scouts are always on the hunt for. Height's experience in high-level games should also play in his favor to join his defensive teammates in the draft.

On the offensive side, one player to keep a close eye on is wide receiver Reggie Virgil, who really came on late for the Red Raiders as a reliable figure in the offense multiple ways.

He's best used stretching the field with his blazing speed, but has a good frame and quickness to play in the slot and develop intermediate routes.

These are five players that many believe are close to shoe-ins based on their pre-draft projections and strong offseason at various showcases.

If five Red Raiders are taken in this year's NFL Draft, it will be the most the program has produced in one year since the Draft moved to it's current seven-round format.

In total, five draftees would be the most since five were taken in 1980 when there were 10 rounds.

The 2025 roster drew numerous comparisons to Tech's historic 2008 team. That following year, four Red Raiders saw themselves get selected - each in the first four rounds: Michael Crabtree, Darcel McBath, Louis Vasquez and Brandon Williams.

Texas Tech was no stranger to making history this year, and a solid showing at the NFL Draft can continue that momentum into April.