{"id":263977,"date":"2026-04-24T06:02:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T06:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/263977\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T06:02:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T06:02:02","slug":"predicting-where-the-texas-longhorns-will-be-picked-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/263977\/","title":{"rendered":"Predicting where the Texas Longhorns will be picked in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m predicting seven\u00a0Texas Longhorns<\/a> will get drafted this weekend, but the biggest question involves their most visible prospect: Did middle linebacker Anthony Hill. Jr.<\/a> do enough in his junior season to extend Texas football\u2019s steak of first-round picks to four years or will the Horns have a quiet Thursday night in Steel Town?<\/p>\n

\"Linebacker<\/p>\n

Linebacker Anthony Hill does drills at Texas Longhorns pro day on campus at the University of Texas, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman\"\"<\/p>\n

Not to be a spoiler, but if you want to grab a LouAnn Platter of fried fish at Luby\u2019s and then walk into your living room one hour into the draft, you won\u2019t be missing anything if you\u2019re searching for a Longhorn to give commissioner Roger Goodell a hug on your oversized flat screen.<\/p>\n

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Steve Sarkisian <\/a>has a huge draft class coming up, but it’s not this one. Hill will have a fine career, but the early entrant will have to wait a day to find out his next stop.<\/p>\n

MORE CED: What Longhorns stood out in spring scrimmage?<\/a><\/p>\n

A good (but not great) junior season\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hill was the alpha dog in Texas\u2019 draft class, but his numbers were noticeably down in his last college season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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After he led the SEC with 113 tackles and 16\u00bd tackles for loss along with eight sacks and a league-leading four forced fumbles in 2024, Hill had only 69 tackles, seven for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles in 2025.<\/p>\n

While he asked to do more in this defense, the drop-off in production was noticeable. What remains to be seen is if he has done enough to be one of those fortunate first 32.<\/p>\n

MORE CED: Texas baseball has offensive issues entering Vanderbilt series<\/a><\/p>\n

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So where will he land? The Cincinnati Bengals present a nice landing spot at No. 41 overall. Disappointing? Perhaps, since he left school a year early, but the league is filled with players who went later than expected and still had great careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) tackles Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mario Craver (1) during the first quarter of the Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry match-up between the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal\u2013Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 28, 2025.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

The Bengals were one of the worst defenses in the league in 2025 and their off-ball linebackers ranked No. 22 of the 32 teams. Although fellow linebackers like Ohio State\u2019s Sonny Styles and Texas Tech\u2019s Jacob Rodriguez won\u2019t have to wait long Thursday to have their names called, Hill will take a different path. But he’ll play right away in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

So where will the other Longhorns end up?<\/p>\n

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Friday’s third round<\/p>\n

CB Malik Muhammad<\/a> to Carolina (No. 83 overall) \u00a0<\/p>\n

The Panthers sent general manager Dan Morgan to Texas pro timing day <\/a>and it\u2019s possible he was there to see Muhammad, who had a great rookie combine in Indianapolis with a 4.42 time in the 40-yard dash. He also showed great fluidity in the hips during drills. Muhammad has good size at 6-foot and 182 pounds plus he has long arms (almost 32-and-half inches) and the ability to play on the outside or in the slot. And he’s one of the smartest players in this draft.<\/p>\n

Saturday’s fourth round\u00a0<\/p>\n

TE Jack Endries <\/a>to Denver (No. 111, from Dolphins)<\/p>\n

Of all the Longhorns in this draft, Endries is the one who could be the biggest surprise. The Cal transfer never found the overall chemistry he needed with quarterback Arch Manning, but it could be explained as Arch having a bevy of receiving weapons at his disposal.\u00a0The Broncos weren\u2019t geeked with what they got from tight end Evan Engram in his first season.<\/p>\n

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Engram, 31, is on on the downside of his career. Endries (rank a 4.62 40 at over 6-foot-4, 245 pounds)\u00a0is a good athlete with upside. He could be a fit with young Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.<\/p>\n

\"Safety<\/p>\n

Safety Michael Taaffe ties his shoes during Texas Longhorns pro day on campus at the University of Texas, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Saturday’s fifth round<\/p>\n

The Westlake legend isn\u2019t lacking for confidence, and that chip on his shoulder will serve him well on the next level.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEverybody said I wasn\u2019t athletic,\u201d Taaffe said after a great workout at UT’s pro day<\/a> in March. \u201cI got to show my speed, my power and my agility. They said I couldn\u2019t change direction. They said I couldn\u2019t play man-to-man. So everything they doubted, every question mark of me as a player, I proved them wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proving them wrong in a February workout and proving them wrong on Sundays in the fall are two different things.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cleveland is a nice destination and new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg runs a scheme that could use someone of Taaffe\u2019s intelligence and instincts in the center field role. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive end Ethan Burke (91) tries to make a tackle against Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mario Craver (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Lone Star Showdown in Austin, Texas, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.<\/p>\n

Ricardo B. Brazziell\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

Saturday’s sixth round\u00a0<\/p>\n

LB Trey Moore <\/a>to Cincinnati (No. 199, from Cleveland)<\/p>\n

Moore\u2019s move from the edge to linebacker in his final college season was more about getting him on the field, but he projects as a defensive end at the next level. The Bengals parted ways with longtime pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and will spend at least two picks on edge rushers.<\/p>\n

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Saturday seventh round\u00a0<\/p>\n

DE Ethan Burke<\/a> to Pittsburgh (No. 230, from Colts)<\/p>\n

Burke never had a breakout season in his four years, but some team will take a chance on a 6-foot-6, long-armed edge rusher with room to add to his 269-pound frame. He\u2019s a project with upside who will get invited to a camp if he isn\u2019t picked.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OL DJ Campbell<\/a> to Jacksonville (No. 233)<\/p>\n

The guard was a sturdy presence on the interior at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds with long arms, but will have a battle ahead of him to make a roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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While 43 consecutive starts showed him to be a durable player, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that clear athletic limitations could limit him upside at the next level.<\/p>\n

On the bright side, Campbell wouldn\u2019t be the first unheralded lineman to leave Texas and have a great career. Lyle Sendlein went undrafted in 2007 and went on to start 136 games at center over nine years with Arizona.<\/p>\n

Texas’ top free agents<\/p>\n

\u2022 Quarterback\u00a0Matthew Caldwell<\/a> threw well for the scouts at pro timing day. He\u2019s a long shot to make an NFL club, but someone with his size and arm strength will get an invite to camp.<\/p>\n

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\u2022\u00a0Punter Jack Bouwmeester<\/a> averaged 45 yards per punt and had 17 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line. Special teams draft picks are a crapshoot, but we\u2019ll see the Aussie in a training camp.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau <\/a>has the ability to make an NFL roster via the special teams route. There’s major bread to be made if a player can find the right situation. Just ask Texas ex Brendan Schooler, who just signed a $9 million contract with the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Defensive tackle Cole Brevard<\/a> is a 6-foot-3, 346-pound tank with upside. He should look up former Longhorn Poona Ford and start a conversation. Ford went undrafted in 2018 but has carved out an eight-year career. He just signed a three-year, $27.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

NFL draft prediction: Which Longhorns will surprise?<\/p>\n

It would be easy to dismiss this draft class a step back for the program that has yielded 23 picks over the last two seasons, but that’s a simplistic view. While this group is short on superstars, several will carve out nice careers. Hill and Muhammad will prove to be the most prolific.<\/p>\n

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And you haven’t seen anything yet.<\/p>\n

For those looking ahead to next year, get ready for\u00a0Manning<\/a>, edge rusher Colin Simmons<\/a>, wideout Cam Coleman <\/a>and left tackle\u00a0Trevor Goosby<\/a> to give Rog a hug on opening Thursday.<\/p>\n

The LouAnn Platter will have to wait in 2027.<\/p>\n

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