With five players drafted, Texas' NFL pipeline begins to return
We won’t pretend five is a great number for Texas, but after having zero players drafted in 2022, it’s a good sign of the current Texas staff’s ability to develop the Tom Herman players. Though it’s only half of Steve Sarkisian‘s stated goal of 10 draft picks a year, which was reached by both Alabama and Georgia this draft, five is nothing to snicker at.
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Going from no draft picks to five is what you’d call a leading indicator, and it’s only going to grow from here. More on that in a minute.
In case you missed the Longhorns who were selected, here you go:
RB Bijan Robinson, Rd 1, pick 8, overall 8 (Atlanta Falcons)
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Rd 3, pick 27, overall 90 (Dallas Cowboys)
RB Roschon Johnson, Rd 4, pick 13, overall 115 (Chicago Bears)
DT Keondre Coburn, Rd 6, pick 17, overall 194 (Kansas City Chiefs)
DT Moro Ojomo, Rd 7, pick 32, overall 249 (Philadelphia Eagles)
Of the players listed, and probably of all the players in the entire draft, Robinson required the least development. But the others weren’t locks to be drafted coming into the season, though a case could be made for Johnson.
Overshown was a different player in 2022 than 2021. Time in Jeff Choate‘s room served him well, though he’s still an ‘upside’ developmental player. It would have been nice to have another year from him given his roller coaster career but this is a good landing spot. The Cowboys have drafted well.
Johnson was chosen by the Bears where he can become their Kevin Faulk, or perhaps more. I think Roschon will make a bigger impact in the running game than the New England Patriots Hall of Famer (not NFL Hall of Famer) did. The Bears might be on the rise.
Both Coburn and Ojomo went at the low end of their projections but they were drafted by the two best teams in the league. Ojomo might need a practice squad year (remember, he’s still young) as the Eagles’ defensive line thins over time, but they certainly didn’t draft him without having a future in mind. I’m bullish on Ojomo carving out a career similar to former Longhorn Ta’Quon Graham.
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In addition, DB Anthony Cook (Kansas City Chiefs), CB D’Shawn Jamison (San Francisco 49ers) were signed as undrafted free agents. As @Horn18 mentioned, it’s nice to have the list of draft picks longer than the UDFAs.
What should truly excite Texas fans is looking ahead to next year’s draft.
Three Texas players have already been mocked in the first round. It won’t work out that way — it never does — but it’s nice they’re already on the radar. Let’s look at who could hear their name called next April.
QB Quinn Ewers
WR Isaiah Neyor (pending health)
LB Jaylan Ford
CB Ryan Watts
DB Jalen Catalon (pending health)
Even players like Byron Murphy and Barryn Sorrell have the chance to put together years that are good enough to get them drafted, though I wouldn’t predict that at this time.
To be clear, I’m not saying all those guys will be drafted, but if 8-9 of them are, Texas is almost certainly back. Keep in mind, this is all before the truly talented 2022 and 2023 classes are draft eligible.
