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Texas football aims for three first-round picks in the NFL Draft, a feat not seen since 1980

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•02/19/25•

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Jahdae Barron
Jahdae Barron (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

The 2024 NFL Draft marked the first time since the 2007 Draft that two Longhorns were picked in the first round. Byron Murphy was picked 16th overall by the Seattle Seahawks and Xavier Worthy went to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 28, replacing the old reference point made when Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross were picked 19th and 20th overall, respectively, in 2007.

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While two first-round picks is quite the achievement, three first-rounders is an even greater one. And it’s been over 40 years since the Longhorns have put three players into the top of the draft. While it’s no guaranteed event, Kelvin Banks, Jahdae Barron, and Matthew Golden could all hear their names called within the first round and turn day one of the draft into an event that highlights the developmental ability of the Texas Longhorns.

Texas last put three players into the first round in 1980, when Lam Jones went to the New York Jets with pick No. 2, Johnny Johnson went to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 17, and Derrick Hatchett was picked 24th overall by the Baltimore Colts. There have been several occasions where Texas put two first-rounders in the draft, namely 1948, 1953, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, but 1980 is the only time when three were thought to be the best in the draft.

The candidates? Vying for the top spot are Banks and Barron.

Banks, a unanimous All-American, the Outland Trophy winner, and the Lombardi Award winner in 2024, was projected to go 10th overall to the Chicago Bears by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah in his most recent mock draft. He’d be the Longhorns’ first O-lineman picked in the first round since Mike Williams went fourth overall in 2002. Banks earned an 86.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus across 935 offensive snaps, and was charged with only one sack. In his career, Banks had four total sacks attributed to him in 2778 snaps

Barron, a consensus All-American and the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, was projected to go to the Cincinnati Bengals at pick No. 17. Barron recorded a 90.7 defensive grade during the 2024 season, one he spent mostly at cornerback. He notched 67 tackles with 2.5 for loss, 1.0 sack, a fumble recovery, and five interceptions.

Finally, Jeremiah placed Golden at No. 30 to the Buffalo Bills. After trading the pick that turned into Worthy one year ago, Jeremiah doesn’t see the Bills passing on another Longhorn receiver that would benefit Josh Allen. Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, his lone year at Texas. He logged a PFF grade of 74.0.

All three potential first-rounders provide Steve Sarkisian and company with different developmental tales. Banks arrived at Texas as a five-star prospect and immediately earned a spot in the starting lineup, missing just one game during his time on the 40 Acres. Barron was a fifth-year senior who was a solid starter at a different position during his time with Sarkisian before making the move that turned him into a Longhorn legend. Golden was productive at Houston for two seasons before transferring to the Longhorns and earning first-round conversation.

Other teams to put multiple players in Jeremiah’s mock draft include Colorado, Penn State, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama. For some of these teams, putting 2-3 players in the first round has become old hat.

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For the Longhorns, it’s something that grouped with Bijan Robinson in 2023, Murphy and Worthy in 2024, and the potential group in 2025, they think could become habitual for them as well.

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