Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes maintain all-time first-round pick lead

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Buckeyes maintain all-time first-round pick lead with three top-20 selections

Ohio State entered this year’s NFL Draft with the most first-round picks all-time, and the Buckeyes maintained that lead Thursday night in Kansas City with three top-20 selections.

• Quarterback C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 overall to the Houston Texans
• Offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was drafted No. 6 overall by the Arizona Cardinals
• Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was drafted No. 20 overall by the Seattle Seahawks

Stroud became the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback, as he followed longtime friend and competitor Bryce Young — Alabama’s Heisman Trophy-winning signal caller — on Day One. Young went No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, and, minutes later, the Texans made Stroud’s dreams come true.

(1/2) pic.twitter.com/P6dywhvcuj

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2023

Then Johnson wound up being the first offensive tackle off the board. After trading down from No. 3 with the Texans, the Cardinals traded back up with the Detroit Lions to No. 6 to grab Johnson, who will now head to the desert to protect Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. Johnson is the highest-drafted Buckeyes offensive tackle since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall back in 1997.

Last, but certainly not least, Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver to hear his name called. The Seahawks selected him No. 20 overall, adding him to an offense that includes quarterback Geno Smith and wideouts D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Smith-Njigba is the third Buckeyes receiver to go in the first round in the last two NFL Drafts, and Ohio State has more on the way next year.

So here’s the updated all-time leaderboard for first-round picks, according to Winsipedia:

1. Ohio State – 90
2. USC – 85
3. Alabama – 79
4. Notre Dame – 70
5. Miami – 67

Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia all had three first-round picks Thursday night.

Instant reactions from ESPN analysts about each Ohio State draftee

It was an emotional night for the three former Ohio State standouts who were drafted in the first round: quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

After each of them was picked Thursday night, ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland broke down the selections and destinations.

For those instant reactions, go here for Stroud, here for Johnson and here for Smith-Njigba.

the journey continues for these ⭐️
#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/fbqHur99NS

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 28, 2023

Predicting every first-round pick on current Buckeyes roster

Another first round of the NFL Draft is now in the books. But what about those to come?

Lettermen Row decided to take a spin at predicting every first-round pick that is currently on the Ohio State roster. That includes freshmen who have yet to play a game in a Buckeyes uniform.

A couple of parameters were followed: Positional value was factored in (centers, running backs, defensive tackles and linebackers typically don’t carry as much value in the first round). And, secondly, quarterbacks weren’t included in this hypothetical — after all, the Ohio State quarterback room, collectively, hasn’t shown much in-game to this point, so it’s hard to make that call at the moment, particularly when there isn’t even a named QB1 for the 2023 season.

But, enough explaining, check out the projection here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 128 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 212 days

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