Predicting where Texas Longhorns stars will land in the 2025 NFL Draft

With Texas’ Pro Day officially behind us, Longhorn draft hopefuls have now all but cemented their stock for the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Things can change in a month—they always do in the NFL Draft sphere—but most of the physical portions of the pre-draft process are over. For the next month, interviews and optimism will fuel the hype around these young athletes.

With multiple years of tape, a combine, and a pro day, IT has a general idea of where these players stand in their respective class and position rankings. With the draft now under a month away, Inside Texas has a Longhorn-only mock draft for several of Texas’ best players.

Pick 18: OT Kelvin Banks to the Houston Texans in a trade-up

Banks’ stock has oddly taken a bit of a dip in post-CFB season mocks. Once seen as a potential top 10 pick, he has slowly dropped more and more as other players’ athletic profiles raise their stock. The conundrum with Banks is an odd one. If you had to pick a single player in this class who could be a franchise left tackle in the NFL, it would be him. However, many scouts see his hands as too small and his arms not long enough to stick at the position, seemingly ignoring the data in front of them that says otherwise.

With the chance of him being the third offensive lineman off the board, his best spot looks like it would be in this range. Seattle, which owns the 18th pick, needs help all over the interior O-line, so trading back and taking a true guard might be their best move. The Texans have extra draft capital after trading franchise left Laremy Tunsil, and offensive line in general is a need for Houston, so a trade-up to keep Banks in-state seems like the most logical pick. Texans general manager Nick Caserio and head coach Demeco Ryans were in attendance at Texas’ pro day.

Inside Texas could see Banks going as high as 13 to the Dolphins.

Pick 20: WR Matthew Golden to the Denver Broncos

Bo Nix desperately needs more weapons on offense, and outside of Courtland Sutton, Denver has a ton of WR3, project-type pass catchers. Golden could be the first WR off the board in this draft, making him a potential selection at No. 12 for the Cowboys, but that seems a bit rich for a team that needs offensive line help.

Golden profiles as an elite No. 2 with WR1 upside in the NFL thanks to his speed (4.29 40), strong hands, and ability to run a full route tree.

Pick 21: DB Jahdae Barron to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Originally, Barron seemed like he might be the highest-drafted player on this list. NFL Network insider Daniel Jeremiah has him as a top-10 player in the class. But as you look at team needs and the general value of his position, it becomes hard to match him with any of the teams picking in the teens. Barron could go as high as No. 7 to a DB-needy Raiders team, but he’s competing with Will Johnson for the DB1 title. No. 21 therefore seems like a good fit.

Barron will likely be a slot corner in the NFL. It’s a more natural position for him, and he needs to be able to play closer to the ball. That’s not a bad thing, but some teams may be reluctant to trade up or spend a top-15 pick on a nickel. Still, the Steelers desperately need to get younger at DB, and Barron can work early in the nickel before potentially replacing Darius Slay on the outside.

Pick 62: DT Alfred Collins to the Buffalo Bills

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the next Longhorn would go, and Inside Texas is a little down on the early second-round chances of players like Quinn Ewers and Cam Williams. Collins is probably the next-best player in this class and fills a huge need for the Bills. He’s a huge run-stuffer who can fill in right next to Ed Oliver.

Pick 71: QB Quinn Ewers to the New Orleans Saints

Finding the right spot for Ewers feels impossible. It has to be a team that can “redshirt” him next season but also one that has a plan for him to eventually start. He’s too talented to be drafted as a long-term backup.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore was in Austin for Texas’ pro day and talked with Ewers and Steve Sarkisian for a bit after the QB had an impressive day of throwing. The Saints need some help at other spots, but Derek Carr won’t be there forever. The match seems like a good one for both sides if NOLA doesn’t have to trade up.

Pick 78: OT Cameron Williams to the Arizona Cardinals

Williams is a prototypical RT who would do well on a team that wants to run behind him and has a QB with good escapability. Arizona has been successful with James Conner at RB, has its franchise LT in Paris Johnson Jr., and Kyler Murray is a great evader. It would be a good spot for all sides, expect maybe 2024 draft pick and former Texas RT Christian Jones.

Pick 89: WR Isaiah Bond to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Bond has likely played himself out of the first two rounds, but the speed and talent are evident. The Jags need to find some speed on offense, and Bond would work well opposite Brian Thomas Jr. in a high-powered Liam Coen offense.

Pick 97:S Andrew Mukuba to the Minnesota Vikings

Mukuba’s camp would love this pick. The Vikings desperately need help in the back end, and Mukuba could be an instant-impact player for Brian Flores‘ explosive defense. That system loves hard hitters and needs help in pass coverage, and learning under Harrison Smith would be a lot of fun for the former Clemson transfer.

Pick 104: RB Jaydon Blue to the Cleveland Browns

The Browns need some speed on offense and someone to complement bruiser Jerome Ford. With so many other needs, they may grab O-line, WR, and QB before round four, making Blue the next-best need and option.

Pick 106: EDGE Barryn Sorrell to the New England Patriots

Sorrell and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel are a match made in heaven. Versatility is the name of the game for edge rushers in that defense, as is athleticism, and the Pats head coach made a trip to Austin for the pro day.

Pick 118: TE Gunnar Helm to the Atlanta Falcons

Reuniting Helm with Bijan Robinson? Yes, please. The Falcons may be moving on from TE Kyle Pitts, and Helm allows them to focus more on the run game with his extensive work as a blocker.

Pick 125: DT Vernon Broughton to the Los Angeles Chargers

Broughton would help the Chargers’ pass rush, which already lost Nick Bosa this offseason, and would like to add size on the defensive line.

Pick 167: C Jake Majors to the Tennessee Titans

The Titans were terrible at C last year and need a more natural player at the position. Majors could potentially be snapping to Cam Ward for years to come.

Pick 223: OG Hayden Conner to the Seattle Seahawks

Seattle needs to take three offensive linemen in this draft, and Conner could find a way into a starting job this year after the Seahawks spent a ton on Sam Darnold this offseason.

Pick 239: LB David Gbenda to the Dallas Cowboys

Gbenda is a really good run defender, and the Cowboys need to shore up that skill in the draft. A thin LB room that really needs a healthy DeMarvion Overshown back could benefit from Gbenda staying in-state and reuniting with a fellow Longhorn LB.

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Inside Texas does not expect players like Silas Bolden, Gavin Holmes, or Bill Norton (among others) to be selected in the NFL Draft.