The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a lot of talented headed off to the 2026 NFL Draft. Just like last season, they’ll have a handful of players drafted in the first round.
At this point in time, there appears to be a legitimate chance that Ohio State could have three players selected within the first 10 picks. Those three or players are safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Carnell Tate, linebacker Arvell Reese, and linebacker Sonny Styles.
While there is a chance that all three are top-10 picks, there is also a chance that one or two could slip outside of that range. Either way, the Buckeyes’ alums are going to be key cornerstone additions for whoever decides to draft them.
Keeping that in mind, a new prediction has been revealed for star linebacker Arvell Reese.
Dallas Cowboys Predicted to Land Ohio State Star Arvell Reese
In a new mock draft from Pro Football Network’s T.J. Randall, the Cowboys were projected to get lucky by seeing Reese slip to the No. 12 overall pick.
“Dallas now bolsters its defense with a box player who made a significant impact when working along the edge in 2025, after spending most of his time in the box the year prior,” Randall wrote.
“I’m admittedly slightly lower than most on Reese because of the tweener nature of his game and how difficult it can be for those archetypes to sustain success on Sundays. Despite the worry, it’s all relative. Reese is worthy of being a first-rounder.”
This would be a perfect scenario for Dallas, who badly needs to upgrade its defense this offseason. Bringing in Reese would help the Cowboys continue replacing what they traded away when Micah Parsons was shipped out of town.
During the 2025 college football season with Ohio State, Reese ended up recording 69 total tackles to go along with 6.5 sacks and two defended passes. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, he totaled 112 tackles, seven sacks, and two defended passes.
Where Do Other Ohio State Stars Land in These Projections?
Randall currently has five Ohio State standouts being selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in his latest mock draft.
At No. 3 overall, he believes that Sonny Styles could be the selection for the Arizona Cardinals. Styles recorded 83 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, and three defended passes this season.
Next up, Tate was the next Buckeye off the board at No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans. He would provide Cam Ward with a potential long-term number one option.
Downs was next on the list, with his projection being a landing spot at No. 7 overall to the Washington Commanders. He has the talent to quickly become one of the top safeties in the NFL.
To round out the first-round projected selections for Ohio State players, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was projected to join the Chicago Bears with the No. 25 overall pick.
All of these players will have a chance to make a major impact in year one for their respective NFL teams. These are just predictions, but it shows just how talented the Buckeyes’ roster was during the 2025 season.
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