It is an exciting time to be a football fan because the 2025 NFL Draft is in full swing. All 32 franchises are present and correct at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers‘ home, and they will remain there until April 26. The draft’s first round took place on April 24, and supporters of the Ohio Buckeyes should be delighted to learn that four Ohio State alumni will ply their trade on football’s biggest stage after being selected on the opening day.
As predicted by the best and most popular Ohio sports betting apps, Cam Ward became the 2025 NFL Draft’s number-one overall pick. The Tennessee Titans selected the former Miami quarterback following his impressive season, which saw Ward finish with the most touchdown passes (39) and second-most passing yards (4,313) in college football. Although Ward’s contract has not yet been finalized, it is widely expected that the 22-year-old will earn around $48 million from his rookie deal.
The biggest surprise of the draft was the Jacksonville Jaguars trading with the Cleveland Browns for the number-two pick. Although some expected the Jaguars to select quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Jags opted for Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Hunter can play cornerback or wide receiver equally well and is a superb addition to the Jaguars’ roster.
Emeka Egbuka Selected 19th Overall
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their number 19 pick to select Emeka Egbuka, the wide receiver who spent four seasons at the Ohio Stadium. Although the Buckeyes used Egbuka sparingly during his freshman season in 2021, he became an integral part of the team’s offense from 2022 onward.
In 2022, Egbuka played 13 games and gained a career-best 1,151 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns from 74 receptions. The following year, the Tacoma, Washington, native was limited to 10 appearances and 41 receptions, yet still finished the campaign with 515 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Last season, Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, meaning he finished his Buckeye career with 2,868 yards from 81 receptions and 24 touchdowns.
Experts predict Egbuka will be the number-three receiver for the Buccaneers.
Donovan Jackson Selected 24th Overall
The Minnesota Vikings‘ offensive line needed a little more aggression and steel, and they certainly have that in the shape of Donovan Jackson. Hailing from Cypress, Texas, Jackson was a five-star recruit in high school and committed to play college football at Ohio State after turning down several offers, including from Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M. Those teams’ loss was the Buckeyes’ gain because the giant guard was a key component in the team winning the CFP National Championship.
Jackson stands at 6ft 4in and tips the scales at 315 pounds. During the 2025 NFL Combine, Jackson achieved 32 reps in the 225-pound bench press test yet still managed the 20-yard shuffle in 4.60 seconds. Expect Jackson to see plenty of snaps this coming season.
Tyleik Williams Selected 28th Overall
Of all the Buckeyes selected in the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round, Tyliek Williams is the most likely to find himself competing in the Super Bowl during his rookie season. Why is that the case? The Detroit Lions used their first pick to select the enormous defensive tackle at number 28.
Williams played high school football for Unity Reed High School in his native Virginia before committing to Ohio State University to play college ball. He recorded 16 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, plus five sacks in 12 games during his freshman season at Ohio Stadium in 2021-22.
In 2022-23, Williams played 13 games and recorded 21 tackles and one sack before excelling in his final two campaigns. During the 2023 college season, Williams had 54 tackles, including 10 for loss and three sacks. He followed that up last year with another 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Williams ended his college career with an impressive 137 tackles, 27 for loss, and 11.5 sacks across 51 appearances. The future looks bright for Williams because he’ll line up next to and learn from the supremely talented Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson during the 2025 NFL season.
Josh Simmons Selected 32nd Overall
The Kansas City Chiefs selected offensive tackle Josh Simmons as the 32nd overall pick, the final pick of the first round. Some football pundits see selecting Simmons as a significant gamble due to the serious knee injury he sustained during the 2024 season. However, many of those same pundits rate Simmons as the best offensive tackle of the 2025 class, so the Chiefs could have a superstar on their hands.
Simmons initially played college football for San Diego State before transferring to Ohio State University. After starting the 2023 season as the starting left tackle, Simmons was expected to thrive in 2024. Unfortunately, he left the field with a knee injury during the Buckeyes’ 32-31 loss at Oregon. Initial reports suggested Simmons had torn his ACL, but later tests revealed he had torn his patellar tendon.
If Simmons fully recovers from his knee injury, he should thrive under head coach Andy Reid‘s guidance and could become the man to protect Patrick Mahomes‘ blind side for many years.
Has a Former Buckeye Ever Been the Number One Overall Pick?
Since the NFL Draft’s inception, 94 former Buckeye players have been selected during the first round. However, only three of those have been first-overall picks. Linebacker Tony Cousineau was the first of that pair. The Buffalo Bills selected Cousineau first overall in the 1979 NFL Draft, although he never played for them. Instead, he joined the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League because they offered him twice the money. Cousineau did play in the NFL, turning out for the Cleveland Browns (1982-85) and the San Francisco 49ers (1986-87).
Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson is another former Buckeye to be selected first overall. The Cincinnati Bengals picked Wilkinson first in 1994 and tied him to a six-year, $14.4 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in the Bengals’ history. Wilkinson finished his 12-year career with 390 tackles, 54.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions, and a defensive touchdown.
The then-St. Louis Rams selected Orlando Pace as the first overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft; he is the last Buckeye to go as the number one pick. Pace played for the Rams as an offensive tackle from 1997 to 2008, winning Super Bowl XXXIV and appearing in seven Pro Bowls. He ended his career with the Chicago Bears in 2009. Seven years after his retirement, Pace was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.