Four Longhorns Among PFF’s Top Prospects for 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Texas Longhorns have been well-represented throughout the past two NFL Drafts.
A total of 23 Longhorns were drafted over the last two years, which is the most of any college football program in the nation. Texas also set a program record of 12 players selected in 2025.
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That is quite the jump from the Longhorns witnessing zero players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Coaching, recruiting, and player development is currently at an all-time high in Austin under Steve Sarkisian’s leadership.
The Longhorns are expected to continue churning out NFL Draft picks in 2026. PFF recently revealed its top 50 eligible draft prospects for 2026 and four Texas players were mentioned.
Oct 26, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) intercepts a pass against Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) during the first half at FirstBank Stadium.Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
To no surprise, quarterback Arch Manning is considered Texas’ highest ranked prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, many believe there is a high chance that Manning will return to college for another season and enter the 2027 NFL Draft instead. Either way, Manning will be one of the top overall draft prospects whichever year he chooses to declare.
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In PFF’s ranking, Manning lands at No. 4 overall and the No. 1 player at his position. “Manning’s placement on this list was easily the hardest to figure out. Even though he’s only started two games in his career against bad competition (Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State), the rising redshirt sophomore is still the betting favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy (+700 on DraftKings Sportsbook),” Max Chadwick said.
Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. lands at No. 13 overall and the No. 1 linebacker prospect. “Hill entered college as a five-star recruit and immediately lived up to the hype, starting immediately as a true freshman,” Chadwick began. “He’s constantly around the football, whether that’s as a run defender, pass rusher or in coverage. Since 2023, his 32 coverage stops are tied for the most among FBS linebackers, while his 10 sacks and five forced fumbles are tied for the most among Power Four ones.”
Two defensive backs for the Longhorns are garnering hype ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft as well. Cornerback Malik Muhammad lands at No. 25 overall on PFF’s ranking, while All-American safety Michael Taaffe is viewed as the No. 36 overall prospect.
It may be tough for Texas to break the program record of 12 players selected, but it’s a sure-fire bet that the Longhorns will still produce several early round selections in 2026.
Related: Texas Longhorns Top NIL Earners in 2025
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.