Just like last year’s NFL Draft, Ohio State came out this time around with six players hearing their name called – five on offense, and just one on defense – to hit that mark for the second consecutive year.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud was first off the board at No. 2 to the Houston Texans, followed in the first round by offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 6 and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 20.
Defensive end Zach Harrison – the lone defensive draftee for Ohio State – went in the third round to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Buckeyes’ remaining draft picks went in the fourth (Dawand Jones) and sixth (Luke Wypler) rounds, both to the Cleveland Browns.
It’s the first time since 2014 and 2015 that Ohio State had six or fewer players taken in back-to-back drafts, though this draft did extend Ohio State’s streak to 10 consecutive years with at least five players drafted. Furthermore, several Buckeyes – including safeties Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister, cornerback Cameron Brown and defensive tackle Jerron Cage – have since signed as undrafted free agents.
Ohio State’s six draft picks tied for the fourth-most from one school in the 2023 NFL Draft. Georgia and Alabama each had 10 players selected, followed by Michigan with nine and TCU with eight. The Buckeyes tied for fourth along with Clemson, Florida, LSU, Oregon, Penn State and Pittsburgh.
