NFL Draft Stock Watch: Early NFL draft expectations for multiple Texas Longhorns

While it usually takes until at least November for the average person to have any thoughts about the next iteration of the NFL Draft, sickos like us are always watching.

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I’m someone who loves a good preseason Big Board. Who doesn’t like seeing how much can change over a year? Those boards are often inaccurate, as they’re basing draft orders on players who often haven’t even become upperclassmen yet. In Dane Brugler’s preseason 2026 NFL Draft rankings, the well-regarded analyst had Arch Manning as the No. 2 player and Trevor Goosby as the No. 38 player. Neither had been a starter for Texas yet, outside of injury.

But we have gotten some sample size from this Longhorn team. Four games, one of which was against one of the best opponents in the nation. We normally wouldn’t do a check-in like this this early in the year, but it’s the bye week. Who cares!

Likely first-rounders: Anthony Hill Jr.

Hill has been one of those guys who looked like a first-round pick the second he got to campus. He only expanded that thinking when he registered two sacks at Alabama in his second career game.

Hill is one of the most athletically gifted linebackers we’ve seen over the past few seasons. The only ones who match off the top of our heads are guys like Isaiah Simmons and Micah Parsons, who really weren’t linebackers and didn’t end up playing there in the NFL.

Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell had the best athletic scoring of any draft linebacker this last year. He measured in smaller than Hill’s Texas height and weight and ran a 4.52 40 with a 1.58 10-yard split. Hill can break that.

Even if he were to fall from a consensus top-15 player to the late first round, like Campbell, it feels like he’s very likely to end up there.

First-round hopefuls: Malik Muhammad and Trevor Goosby

Muhammad has had a sneaky great start to the year. He’s been targeted eight times and given up just 22 yards. OSU found just 15 on him in Week 1. Muhammad may not be the most athletic corner, but he’s always been a smart player with tremendous work ethic who tackles well for the position.

Goosby is just getting started in Austin, but he’s shown to be the phenomenal pass protector we knew he could be. He’s a top-10 graded offensive tackle among Power Four players right now. He also projects to be an even better NFL player because of his gaudy size and explosiveness.

One thing to remember with Goosby, though, is that this is one of the most loaded tackle classes in recent memory. Depending on where you look, as many as eight non-Goosby tackles are seen as top-50 players in this class. That’s an absurd number. Goosby, being the youngest of that group, could sway his decisions.

When players play important positions like this and hit certain thresholds that NFL teams look for, their range generally is around pick 20–50. Someone at pick 50 is often not all that different talent-wise from the 25th or so pick, but the board can fall oddly. There’s a world where both of them are first-rounders, or neither.

Day 2: Michael Taaffe, Jelani McDonald, Jack Endries and Hero Kanu

What a fun group.

Taaffe’s NFL upside is limited because of athleticism, but at some point, the tape is the tape. He’s been a fantastic CFB safety for over a year now, and the character and leadership can’t be forgotten about.

McDonald will shoot up the draft boards this season. You can argue he’s been one of Texas’ best players this year. He’s probably the best pure athlete on the team and has been a turnover machine on defense. NFL teams will love his rare blend of size, quickness, and intangibles.

Endries has been quiet the last few games, but would anyone be surprised if he turned it up in SEC play? He entered the year as a top-five TE prospect. We doubt that changes.

Kanu may be a surprising one, but he’s been really great for Texas. The hope would be for him to stay another year, but he’s one of PFF’s 10 highest-graded defensive linemen. Texas is too good at sending DTs to the pros not to have one come out of this class.

Round 4–5: Ethan Burke, Trey Moore, DJ Campbell and Quintrevion Wisner

A group of solid but not elite NFL prospects.

Burke is a good run-stuffing edge rusher, but his limited growth as a pass rusher caps his ceiling. He’s had a good year.

Moore is an extremely versatile player, but it will be hard to find a spot for him to stick in the NFL. Is he a pass rusher? A money-down OLB? Can he eventually be in an off-ball duo? He’ll need more tape.

Campbell, despite his problems, has too much pedigree not to go in the first five rounds. Some O-line coach will say, “I can fix him.”

I think Wisner will declare after this year. It will be two straight seasons of starting for Texas. How much more can he improve his draft stock? No matter what, he’ll be able to come in as a good pass blocker and receiver who can give you tough yards. Will adding another year of wear and tear in an even better backfield change that?

Late-round hopefuls: Jaylon Guilbeau, Cole Hutson, Cole Brevard and Travis Shaw

Guilbeau maybe should’ve been in the higher tier, but I don’t really see it with him in the NFL. He’s not the fastest, and I don’t think teams will trust him to play on the outside. How highly will they pick a non-elite nickel-only who’s not an outstanding special teamer?

The other three are interior players who will be looked at to fill depth needs and eventually blossom into low-ceiling contributors. I think Brevard can be a 10–15-snap-a-game NFL nose tackle. Hutson and Shaw are both players to watch.

Should return to school: Arch Manning, CJ Baxter, DeAndre Moore, Liona Lefau, Brad Spence, Derek Williams, Connor Stroh, among others.

There are a few more guys who are RS SOs or juniors who very obviously won’t declare, so I stuck to starters and key role players.

Arch obviously needs more time. He could explode this season, but from what we see, he should return. A similar thing goes for Baxter and Moore. Why not wait a year and play in a better offense while you’re at a healthier spot in your career? Moore, I’m more bullish on being able to turn himself into an NFL draft pick this year.

Stroh shouldn’t leave, and I actually think it would be smart for Goosby to stay another year. This tackle class is too loaded.

Lefau should take his chance to be the true alpha linebacker in his final year at Texas, not get overshadowed by Hill and Moore and become a late-round pick. Williams has been too banged up, and Spence could see an elevated role in 2026.

With where we currently stand, I’d predict roughly 13-14 Longhorns taken in the NFL Draft, continuing the dominance in development from head coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff. Even with that, Texas could see as many as 14 starters or starting adjacent players returning to the program in 2026. The talent of this group is immense; it’s all about finding the best way to take them to the College Football Playoff.