Kiper also has five Ohio State players in the first round overall, so let’s take it pick by pick and see where these Buckeyes land.
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No. 2 New York Jets – Caleb Downs, S
What Kiper Jr. says
“This would be the highest draft position for a safety since Eric Turner went No. 2 in 1991. However, Downs is worthy. He reads the offense very well, and then has the quickness, physicality and ball skills to make plays against both the run and the pass. He can really impact the ceiling of a defense from behind, with six interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and 22 career stops in his three college seasons. The Jets’ defense did not have a One-time INT in 2025, yes you read that right, and only the Cowboys gave up more points at 29.6 per game Plus, Andre Cisco is hitting free agency.”
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what we say
Downs is one of the best safeties Ohio State has ever had and racked up a long list of awards last season. He won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Nagurski Woodson, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Tatum Woodson and was a unanimous All-American. Turn on the tape and it’s easy to see why Ohio State had the best defense in the country. Downs was always in the right spot, allowing defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to create exotic looks due to Downs’ versatility and football IQ. Going No. 2 overall would be crazy for a safety, but he compares closely to Ravens star Kyle Hamilton, just a few inches shorter. He is a true difference maker with elite instincts.
Tennessee Titans No. 4 – Arvell Reese, LB
December 31, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
What Kiper Jr. says
“Reese’s instincts and explosion are all over the place. I’m still classifying him as a linebacker right now, and he could help Tennessee there. But new coach Robert Saleh could very well push him over the edge, where he played most of the time in 2025. Although the Titans’ 42 sacks tied for 12th last season, 11 of them came from defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on the interior. The edge is a weakness. Reese could be a high-impact player in this unit no matter where you line up.”
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what we say
Reese announced that he will participate in field exercises this week in Indianapolis, which should only help his stock. He is a strange athlete. While his sack numbers declined late in the season, that felt more like a product of plan than performance. He has great size and speed and can beat tackles off the line with a relatively deep pocket of pass rush moves. He projects primarily as an edge rusher, but is athletic enough to drop into coverage and physical enough to hold his own in the running game. That kind of versatility is hard to pass up in the top five.
No. 6 Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
What Kiper Jr. says
“Like the Giants, the Browns need offensive line and receiver reinforcements. Unlike the Giants, the Browns have two first-round picks. So while Miami lineman Francis Mauigoa is tempting here, Cleveland would probably pick from the entire WR class and kick up the order at OL. Tate is at the top of the receiver list right now, with great hands and smart routes to run. Cleveland’s wide receivers combined for just four touchdowns last season, as well “That after 875 yards and nine touchdowns, Tate could become the best option for the Browns.”
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what we say
Tate has a real chance to be the first receiver off the board in April, especially after Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson announced she will not participate in field trials at the combine. Tyson also played only 33 games in four college seasons. History shows that teams become cautious when medical evaluations are unclear, which could give Tate an additional boost.
During his career at Ohio State, Tate totaled 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus credited him with a zero percent drop rate in 2025. He’s smooth, reliable and polished, and has all the tools to become the next great Buckeye receiver who will thrive on Sundays.
No. 7 Washington Commanders – Sonny Styles, LB
Sonny Styles #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
What Kiper Jr. says
“This would be the fourth Ohio State player off the board, the most in the first seven picks for a school, according to ESPN Research. Styles is getting a lot of love around the league right now, and he’ll be fun to watch at the combine if he works out. The former safety has real speed on a 6-foot-4, 243-pound frame.
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With the Commanders’ defense getting blown out for 6.0 yards per play last season, tied for third-worst, and potentially losing 35-year-old free agent Bobby Wagner in the middle, this adjustment makes sense. But you also have to keep an eye on Miami running back Rueben Bain Jr. and the receiving class as a whole if the scoreboard falls this way.”
what we say
The last time an inside linebacker was in the top 10 was in 2019, when Devin White was fifth overall at Tampa Bay and Devin Bush was 10th overall at Pittsburgh. The top seven feels a little rich for Styles, but he checks all the boxes you want in a modern in-house sponsor. He rarely missed tackles at Ohio State, has elite size at 6-foot-4, 240+ pounds and is outstanding against the run. Top 15 wouldn’t surprise me at all. The Top 10 may surprise, but teams covet safe, plug-and-play defensemen who can start from day one, and Styles fits that mold.
No. 25 Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, DT
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Kayden McDonald celebrates during the first half of the Big Ten championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025.
What Kiper says
“It’s probably a little early for Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Clemson’s TJ Parker or Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas. The Bears obviously need more support on offense, but the board just isn’t lining up. But with Gervon Dexter Sr. signed for just one more season and Grady Jarrett turning 33 in April, it would make sense to fill out the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually the DT1 on my Big Board, and he has a nose for the “He had 17 rushing stops in 2025. Having him on the interior would be huge for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season, fourth-worst.”
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what we say
McDonald feels like another confident, high-end prospect. He may not have three full years of dominant tape, but his 2025 season secured him as a first-rounder. This spot near the end of Round 1 makes a lot of sense. He’s strong against the run, disruptive at the point of attack and athletic enough to provide some pass rush, finishing with three sacks for the Buckeyes this season. He may not be flashy, but he projects as a long-term starter in the middle of an NFL defense.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State Football Sets NFL Draft Record in Kiper Jr.’s Latest Mock