The last Longhorn at each position taken in the first round of the NFL Draft
Being chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft is a badge of honor for a collegiate football player and usually indicates that the drafting team expects consistent and high-level production and is willing to pay for it.
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Texas has had 45 players taken in the NFL Draft’s first round through the years, beginning with the selection of three-time All-American end Hub Bechtol in 1947 and most recently featuring the choice of Bijan Robinson in 2023.
The most recent statistics from the NFL show that over 10 drafts from 2012-2021 players selected in the first round participate in the most games of any of the seven rounds, playing in an average of 62.3 regular season games (or 3.7 seasons worth of contests) in their career. That’s just six more than players picked in the second round, but more than 14 more than third-round draftees.
Still, pretty humbling figures as far as career longevity for those players considered the cream of the crop coming from college to the pros.
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Four of Texas’ 45 first-round selections were the first player taken in the draft: quarterback Bobby Layne to Detroit in 1948, linebacker Tommy Nobis to Atlanta in 1966, running back Earl Campbell to Houston in 1978 and defensive end Kenneth Sims to New England in 1982.
Texas has never had a tight end or a kicker taken in the first round. Outside of those two positions, the position with longest drought without Longhorns’ player taken in the opening round is guard. The last Texas guard taken in the first round was Harley Sewell, who was chosen 13th overall by Detroit in 1953, a span of 70 years.
With as many as four Texas players showing up in the first round of mock drafts in advance of the NFL Draft (which will be conducted April 25 in Detroit) we list below the latest Longhorns taken in the first round at their respective positions, and others at the positions taken in the opening round, with most recent first.
(Player, pick in first round, team, draft year)
Offense:
Quarterback (2)
Vince Young, third, Tennessee, 2006
Bobby Layne, first, Chicago, 1948
Running Back (5)
Bijan Robinson, eighth, Atlanta, 2023
Cedric Benson, fourth, Chicago, 2005
Ricky Williams, fifth, New Orleans, 1999
Eric Metcalf, 13th, Cleveland, 1989
Earl Campbell, first, Houston, 1978
End/Wide Receiver (4)
Roy Williams, seventh, Detroit, 2004
Johnny “Lam” Jones, second, New York Jets, 1980
Menan Schriewer, 10th, Chicago, 1956
Hub Bechtol, fifth, Pittsburgh, 1947
Center (2)
Mike Ruether, 17th (supplemental draft), St. Louis, 1984
Dick Harris, 11th, Chicago, 1949
Guard (2)
Harley Sewell 13th, Detroit, 1953
Bud McFadin, 11th, Los Angeles, 1951
Tackle (6)
Mike Williams, fourth, Buffalo, 2002
Leonard Davis, second, Arizona, 2001
Blake Brockermeyer, 29th, Carolina, 1995
Stan Thomas, 22nd, Chicago, 1991
Jerry Sizemore, third, Philadelphia, 1973
Bob McKay, 21st, Cleveland, 1970
Tight End (0)
Defense
Defensive Tackle (4)
Malcom Brown, 32nd, New England, 2014
Marcus Tubbs, 23rd, Seattle, 2004
Casey Hampton, 19th, Pittsburgh, 2001
Scott Appleton, fourth, Dallas, 1964
Defensive End (1)
Kenneth Sims, first, New England, 1982
Linebacker (4)
Brian Orakpo, 13th, Washington, 2009
Derrick Johnson, 15th, Kansas City, 2005
Tommy Nobis, first, Atlanta, 1966
Tom Stolhandske, 10th, San Francisco, 1953
Defensive Back (14)
Kenny Vaccaro, 15th, New Orleans, 2013
Earl Thomas, 14th, Seattle, 2010
Aaron Ross, 20th, New York Giants, 2007
Michael Huff, seventh, Oakland, 2006
Michael Griffin, 19th, Tennessee, 2007
Quintin Jammer, fifth, San Diego, 2002
Bryant Westbrook, fifth, Detroit, 1997
Stanley Richard, ninth, San Diego, 1991
Jerry Gray, 21st, Los Angeles, 1985
Mossy Cade, sixth, San Diego, 1984
Raymond Clayborn, 16th, New England, 1977
Johnnie Johnson, 17th, Los Angeles, 1977
Derrick Hatchett, 24th, Baltimore, 1977
Max Bumgardner, 10th, Chicago, 1948
Specialists
Punter (1)
Russell Erxleben, 11th, New Orleans, 1979
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Kicker (0)
