NFL Draft quotebook: What teams are saying about drafting Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Ohio State had 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft this weekend, tying a program and Big Ten record while coming up just one selection short of tying the all-time record set in 2022 by Georgia.

With that in mind, Lettermen Row is rounding up some notable quotes from the decision-makers who selected Ohio State players during the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s dive in.

Arizona Cardinals keep stockpiling Buckeyes

The Arizona Cardinals drafted two Ohio State players this weekend: linebacker Cody Simon and defensive back Denzel Burke. It follows a major trend. First, the Cardinals drafted franchise left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. in the first round of the 2023 draft. Then they drafted wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round last year, traded for former Buckeyes outside linebacker Baron Browning and poached offensive line coach Justin Frye to run that unit in Arizona. The Cardinals also signed undrafted free agent Josh Fryar after the draft.

It’s not by accident…

“I do think there is value in coming from a winning organization and guys that are used to winning, played at the highest level, played in games that are really high-stakes, and through the playoff run there,” Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said. “I think another added benefit is the competition that those guys practice get practice against every day. I mean, we said it when we were in there: nobody’s had to have a tougher assignment in practice the last four years than Denzel Burke. The guys he’s had to cover in practice. I mean, holy smokes. So, I mean, but you know, I think it really wasn’t like, “oh man, where’s the where’s the next Ohio State guys?” Just, you know, hey, that’s, that’s where they fell on our board and and that’s how it worked out.”

Steelers OC Arthur Smith on Will Howard…

“Really impressive resume, as I’ve gotten to know Will during this process, obviously, he’s played a lot of big games, and when I got a chance to meet with him and spend some time with him at his pro day, just came away even more impressed with the person that Will Howard is. We’re just excited he can add to our quarterback room and opportunity to work with him.”

“You always want to see how people respond to adversity, certainly on the stage in college football, he played on the biggest stage. You lose a game like that against Michigan, and for those guys, it says a lot about Ryan Day and those players in that program. It was a really impressive group going to dinner with that whole group. Jack was there that night, and a lot of great players, but the way you see those guys respond and certainly Will in that kind of leadership role — and he played his best football at the end of the year. You see him the big moments of critical possession, downs, even in the national championship game. You know, momentum plays to kind of end the game. Extremely excited to work with Will.”

Buccaneers excited to have Emeka Egbuka at WR

“Total package,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters this weekend. “He’s a playmaker. He can play all three positions. He plays in the slot. He plays the Z. He plays the X. He can run with the ball. He can throw the ball. He can catch the ball. He’s a very good router runner. He’s a very precise route runner. He’s a winner. He makes contested catches. He’s a very precise route runner as well, a lot of speed at the same time. He blocks at the same time. He checks all the boxes as a player and as a person, and that made it an easy choice.”

“The character of the man, especially, tells you a lot about the player. It’s very rare that you have the character and the player match up. There’s a lot of good ones in the league right now, but when you meet the rare ones that have both and equally great at both, that tells you all you need to know.”

Steelers DC Teryl Austin on Jack Sawyer…

“This guy is really good, tough,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of Sawyer. “Unbelievable intangibles. Football character. He also has a knack for making plays when you need. You see him make a lot of big plays at crunch. It tells me he is a guy who is going to show up when you need him.

“Unbelievable across the board. No holes about who he is and what he is about. I think he will fit in nicely in our room.”

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell wowed by Donovan Jackson

“In our league nowadays, every single team, it feels like I talk to you guys every week, and it’s another week where I’m talking about interior impact defensive players with length and explosiveness and athleticism, and you have to be able to combat that with strength and the body type like Donovan has” O’Connel said. “And then thinking, envisioning him being on a front with potentially Ryan Kelly and Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries and Brian O’Neill, that’s a pretty formidable group on paper.”

“We’ve got to make it come to life on the grass.”

Tyleik Williams was easy choice for Lions

Lions GM Brad Holmes had quite high praise for former Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams.

“He just had a lot of traits and qualities that we were looking for and he’s going to fit right in here like a glove. We spent a lot of time with him in the process leading up to this and we were very, very impressed.”

Quinshon Judkins will fill a hole in Cleveland

Browns GM Andrew Berry loves that Cleveland was able to grab Quinshon Judkins in the second round…

“He’s really a bell cow,” Berry said. “He’s a versatile runner who can run through you, by you and around you. … We’ve been spoiled over the years with Nick [Chubb] and Kareem [Hunt],” said Berry. “We feel like he [Judkins] is in that mold in terms of skill set … not saying he will develop into one of those players … but we think he can carry the load for us.”