We’ll see how it plays out this season on the field but the 2026 NFL Draft is clearly the year before the year, as well as the year after the year. Texas saw 12 draft picks in 2025 but that number was halved this season. Fret not, there’s already a lot of slack built up for next year when Texas will be back in double digits.
Here’s what you need to know about each Longhorn who was selected.
LB Anthony Hill (2nd Round, 60) Tennessee Titans
The Titans are obviously in a big rebuild but have some key skill players on offense and have made some big moves on defense, including trading for New York Jets EDGE Jermaine Johnson II.
Inside Texas had heard this was his most likely landing spot but you just never know what’s chatter, what’s real, or what simply changes due to big board roulette. This was real as the Titans moved up nine “nice” spots to pick Hill up.
Having watched Robert Salah put together a dynamite linebacker room in San Francisco by drafting Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw in 2018 and 2019, I’m pumped about this development. Warner went in the 3rd round and Greenlaw in the 5th, so clearly Salah is a fan of Hill.
CB Manny Muhammad (4th Round, 124) Chicago Bears
An NFL source told me he projected Muhammad to go in Round 3-4 and sure enough he landed in the back half of that prediction. Muhammad might have slipped a tad but Chicago did trade up five spaces to get him after seeing a lot of value at No. 124.
Before drafting Muhammad, the Bears worked to address their secondary by taking Oregon safety Dylan Thieneman at No. 25. These are two high IQ additions in the back end who should be in Chicago for a long time.
My prediction is Muhammad will have a long, consequential career. I simply do not agree with some of the evaluations I’ve seen of him and believe he should have been taken in the 2nd round.
LB Trey Moore (4th Round, 130) Miami Dolphins
IT previously mentioned, “Per one source, without the hurt pec he would have dented the combine harder with some really good numbers and been drafted higher. That source feels Miami is a strong landing spot for him, however. Given all his circumstances—position ambiguity, new to off-ball linebacker—what a great development.”
Teams have seen him as an Arvell Reese sort given his versatility. That isn’t to say he’s in Reese’s neighborhood as a prospect but they do like his versatility and ability in a sub-package. Moore possesses good football IQ, he’s just inexperienced playing off-ball.
New Dolphins head coach, Jeff Hafley, signing off on Moore is a good sign, imo. Hafley has a really strong track record on the defensive side of the ball.
This started of Longhorns in Miami.
S Michael Taaffe (5th Round, 158) Miami Dolphins
Taaffe reunites with old chum Quinn Ewers and joins the aforementioned Hafley, a coach who knows a thing or two about defense.
Yet another dream realized for the former Austin Westlake star.
As “texification” commented, “Good thing about getting picked by the Dolphins, you are guaranteed to make the team.” I originally thought of the movie Major League when I read that. The point is a good one—Miami is in complete rebuild mode. The first order of business is always the locker room where Taaffe shines as much as he does on the field.
All this guy does is prove people wrong. I’m looking forward to watching him do it again.
OG DJ Campbell (6th round, 200) Miami Dolphins
Campbell can make the team as a junkyard dog type of 6th- or 7th-man, especially if he continues to improve. He hasn’t been hasty to develop but he has been on the uptick in recent years.
Dolphins senior personnel executive Jon Robinson explains the DJ Campbell pick, another Texas prospect!
He added staff likes his versatility and can give the guard a look at both center and tackle. pic.twitter.com/uymKMT5iVu
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) April 25, 2026
Miami invested much more heavier in the “project O-lineman” department when they selected Kadyn Proctor at No. 12. That has to pay off for the Fins.
I’m wishing great success for Campbell and like the sound of what Robinson says above in the clip.
Campbell went one spot ahead of fellow Class of 2022 five-star, Domani Jackson (CB Alabama by way of USC). Yet another five-star from that class, Harold Perkins (LB-ish LSU), also went in the 6th round (215).
TE Jack Endries (7th round, 221) Cincinnati Bengals
The Draft has as many risers as it has players who slip, unfortunately Endries is in the latter category. He probably could have been used more consistently in his one year at Texas, especially as a receiver, but it was likely blocking, which is a work in progress, that saw him drop. If he can improve in that regard I like him as an F-TE (H-back).
Congrats to all these Horns. Now we wait to see where EDGE Ethan Burke, DB Jaylon Guilbeau, and QB Matthew Caldwell latch on.
Burke not being drafted is something else I disagree with. If he surprises people, which I suspect he will, it’ll be due to those agility numbers in the bottom right of the graphic.
EDIT — Jaylon Guilbeau will reportedly sign with the Panthers
Former Texas DB Jaylon Guilbreau is signing with the Panthers, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2026
EDIT – Matthew Caldwell heading to Los Angeles
Former Texas QB Matthew Caldwell is signing with the Rams, source said.
After college stops at Jacksonville State, Gardner-Webb, Troy and then with the Longhorns, Caldwell’s winding football journey takes him to L.A.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2026
EDIT – Cole Brevard is signing with Kansas City
Texas’ Cole Brevard to #Chiefs on undrafted deal per league source with $50,000 salary guarantee and a $10,000 signing bonus
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 25, 2026
EDIT – EDGE Ethan Burke to Baltimore.
EDIT – Kicker Mason Shipley is heading to NOLA.
EDIT – Travis Shaw joins Burke in Baltimore
EDIT – Punter Jack Bouwmeester is off to San Francisco