Texas could break an 82-year old school record if Matt Miller's mock draft is on point
The East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl have both come and gone, and as a result the leading NFL Draft prognosticators have updated their projections for the 2025 Draft. Thanks to these Longhorns’ exploits at these events, or in these specific circumstances the chatter around these Longhorns at these events, ESPN draft analyst and Texas fan Matt Miller has five Longhorns selected in the first two rounds of his most recent mock draft.
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If five Longhorns go in the first 50 picks like Miller projects, that would surpass the total of four that were picked that early in the 2024 draft and tie the five that were selected in the first 50 picks from the 1942 NFL draft.
Who does Miller have going on day one and in the early portions of day two?
No. 10 – Kelvin Banks – Chicago Bears
Banks is Miller’s second offensive lineman taken behind LSU’s Will Campbell at No. 7 to the New York Jets. The Bears have a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, a right tackle in Darnell Wright, and a left tackle in Braxton Jones. Miller notes that could lead the 6-foot-4 Banks to start his career at guard, but that he could move out to tackle once Jones enters free agency after the 2025 season. Banks would be the first Texas O-lineman selected in the first round in over two decades.
No. 12 – Matthew Golden – Dallas Cowboys
Golden was the third wideout taken in Miller’s mock draft behind Travis Hunter of Colorado and Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona. Dallas has a bona fide star in CeeDee Lamb at the top of the depth chart but little to speak of elsewhere. Even though running back is a need, Golden would provide Dak Prescott with a high-level target opposite Lamb in Brian Schottenheimer‘s first season.
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No. 16 – Jahdae Barron – Arizona Cardinals
This is CB2 or CB3 depending on what Hunter plays or is drafted as. Barron won the Thorpe Award and earned consensus All-America honors. After playing most of his Texas career as a nickel, Barron moved to the outside and enjoyed one of the best seasons for a Longhorn defensive back in school history. That versatility is valuable in the NFL, and especially so in a division with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Barron was the last Longhorn mocked in the first round in Miller’s projection.
No. 42 – Quinn Ewers – New York Jets
Hello! This would make Ewers QB4 behind Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Ewers declined to go through any postseason all-star game, so all eyes will be on him when the NFL combine gets going in a few months. While new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn will want to make the most of the opportunity to work with Aaron Rodgers, the four-time MVP’s career is likely in its final third, if not the final quarter. A second-round investment would show the Jets would like to groom Ewers to succeed Rodgers, especially when the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Tyrod Taylor and Jordan Travis.
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No. 50 – Alfred Collins – Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald is a defensive head coach, so bolstering the Seahawks front that currently features Byron Murphy II makes sense as a priority. So why not draft another Longhorn? Collins’ size at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds is exactly what the NFL is looking for, especially after his 2024 season displayed an ability to anchor against the run and disrupt the passing game.
