When NFL teams trimmed their rosters down to the 53-man opening-day limit, one thing remained true yet again: nobody sends more talent to the NFL than Ohio State. A total of 59 former Buckeyes made active NFL rosters for the 2026 season, with at least one Ohio State product on 27 of the league’s 32 teams — a staggering testament to the program’s sustained run of NFL Draft success under head coach Ryan Day.
Just How Dominant Is Ohio State’s NFL Pipeline Right Now?
The number 59 doesn’t happen by accident. Ohio State put 17 more players into NFL training camps this offseason from its 2024 national championship roster, pushing the total number of former Buckeyes in the league to 71 on initial 90-man rosters before final cuts. Trimming down to 59 on active rosters — plus a handful of additional Buckeyes landing on injured reserve — reflects both the sheer volume and staying power of Ohio State’s NFL talent pool.
There would actually be an even 60 active Buckeyes if not for Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper being placed on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list due to legal issues.
Which NFL Teams Have the Most Former Ohio State Players?
The Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals lead all 32 NFL teams with six former Buckeyes apiece on their rosters — a notable concentration of Ohio State talent on two rosters located in-state and in the AFC West, respectively.
On the flip side, only five NFL teams currently have zero former Ohio State players on their active roster: the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens. Given how deep Ohio State’s talent pool runs across the league, being completely absent from a 53-man roster is increasingly the exception rather than the norm.
Two Undrafted Buckeyes Beat the Odds to Make NFL Rosters
Among the most notable storylines from cutdown day, two former Ohio State players who went undrafted managed to earn spots on NFL rosters as undrafted free agents. Former center and Rimington Award winner Seth McLaughlin was retained by the Detroit Lions, while offensive lineman Josh Fryar made the Arizona Cardinals’ final roster. Both stories highlight the depth of NFL-caliber talent Ohio State develops even beyond the players who hear their names called during the draft.
Why Ohio State’s NFL Numbers Keep Climbing
This year’s wave of new NFL talent follows one of the most decorated draft classes in program history. Ohio State had four players selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft — the most of any FBS school — with wide receiver Carnell Tate (No. 4, Titans), linebacker Arvell Reese (No. 5, Giants), linebacker Sonny Styles (No. 7, Commanders), and safety Caleb Downs (No. 11, Cowboys) all going within the draft’s first 11 picks. All four are considered likely Week 1 starters for their respective teams.
Ohio State didn’t stop there. Day two of the draft brought four more Buckeyes off the board, beginning with defensive lineman Kayden McDonald to the Texans in the second round, followed by cornerback Davison Igbinosun to the Bills, and tight ends Max Klare and Will Kacmarek landing with the Rams and Dolphins, respectively. Combined with 2025’s 14 draft selections — which tied Ohio State’s own program record — the Buckeyes have now put a combined 25 players into the NFL across the past two draft classes alone.
Ohio State’s Next Wave: Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin Loom as Future First-Round Picks
While Ohio State’s NFL pipeline is already historically strong, an even bigger wave could be coming. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who posted 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, is widely expected to be one of the top prospects in the entire 2027 NFL Draft class once he becomes draft-eligible. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database’s big board, Smith currently sits as the No. 3 overall prospect for 2027, trailing only two quarterbacks. Some analysts have gone as far as suggesting Smith could become the first non-quarterback taken with the No. 1 overall pick since the New York Jets selected Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
Smith isn’t the only building block for Ohio State’s next NFL class, either — quarterback Julian Sayin and safety Sonny Styles’ successor at the position, Malik McClain, are among several other names already generating early buzz for the 2027 cycle.
What Ohio State’s NFL Success Means for the Program’s Recruiting and Reputation
Ohio State’s ability to consistently churn out NFL-ready talent — from first-round stars to undrafted free agents who stick on rosters has become one of the program’s biggest recruiting selling points. With 59 former Buckeyes on active NFL rosters entering the 2026 season and yet another loaded draft class waiting in the wings for 2027, Ohio State’s status as one of the most productive NFL pipelines in all of college football shows no signs of slowing down.
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