Big 12 Conference Sets Record for NFL Draft Picks

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The Big 12 Conference had 38 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the most ever in Conference history. The previous record of 35 was set in 1997 and 2003, however the league only had 12 teams then, compared to the 16 it currently has. Texas Tech led all Big 12 schools with a school record of nine selections in this year’s draft, while Arizona, Arizona State and Cincinnati each had four draft picks.

The NFL Draft began with the Big 12 racking up three of the Top 10 picks in the draft, with Texas Tech’s David Bailey (2^nd to New York Jets), Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (8^th to New Orleans Saints), and Utah’s Spencer Fano (9^th to Cleveland Browns). It was the first time the Big 12 had three players taken in the Top 10 since 2012.

The league finished with six first round picks, as the three aforementioned players were joined by Max Iheanachor from Arizona State (21^st overall to Pittsburgh), Malachi Lawrence from UCF (23^rd overall to Dallas) and Utah’s Caleb Lomu (28^th overall to New England).

On Friday, in the second and third round, the Big 12 had eight players taken, with seven of them coming in the second round. Then on Saturday, for rounds 4 through 7, the Big 12 had 24 players taken, for a total of 38 over the three days.

Seven Big 12 programs combined to produce 11 selections through the second round, which equaled the most first and second round picks in Conference history since the 2011 NFL Draft.

Here’s a list of every Big 12 player taken in the NFL Draft, courtesy of the conference.

First Round Selections (6)
2^nd Pick – David Bailey (Edge Rusher) from Texas Tech – New York Jets
8^th Pick – Jordyn Tyson (Wide Receiver) from Arizona State – New Orleans Saints
9^th Pick – Spencer Fano (Offensive Line) from Utah – Cleveland Browns
21^st Pick – Max Iheanachor (Offensive Line) from Arizona State – Pittsburgh Steelers
23^rd Pick – Malachi Lawrence (Edge Rusher) from UCF – Dallas Cowboys
28^th Pick – Caleb Lomu (Offensive Line) from Utah – New England Patriots

Second Round Selections (5)
38^th Pick – Treydan Stukes (Defensive Back) from Arizona – Las Vegas Raiders
43^rd Pick – Jacob Rodriguez (Linebacker) from Texas Tech – Miami Dolphins
49^th Pick – Lee Hunter (Defensive Line) from Texas Tech – Carolina Panthers
51^st Pick – Jake Golday (Linebacker) from Cincinnati – Minnesota Vikings
64^th Pick – Bud Clark (Safety) from TCU – Seattle Seahawks

Third Round Selections (3)
70^th Pick – Romello Height (Defensive End) from Texas Tech – San Francisco 49ers
75^th Pick – Caleb Douglas (Wide Receiver) from Texas Tech – Miami Dolphins
82^nd Pick – Domonique Orange (Defensive Lineman) from Iowa State – Minnesota Vikings

Fourth Round Selections (2)
126^th Pick – Kaleb Elarms-Orr (Linebacker) from TCU – Buffalo Bills
131^st Pick – Genesis Smith (Safety) from Arizona – Los Angeles Chargers

Fifth Round Selections (9)
143^rd Pick – Reggie Virgil (Wide Receiver) from Texas Tech – Arizona Cardinals
144^th Pick – Sam Hecht (Offensive Line) from Kansas State – Carolina Panthers
150^th Pick – Dalton Johnson (Safety) from Arizona – Las Vegas Raiders
157^th Pick – Keith Abney II (Defensive Back) from Arizona State – Detroit Lions
164^th Pick – Tanner Koziol (Tight End) from Houston – Jacksonville Jaguars
166^th Pick – Keyshaun Elliott (Linebacker) from Arizona State – Chicago Bears
170^th Pick – Joe Royer (Tight End) from Cincinnati – Cleveland Browns
176^th Pick – Cyrus Allen (Wide Receiver) from Cincinnati – Kansas City Chiefs
179^th Pick – Enrique Cruz Jr. (Offensive Lineman) from Kansas – San Francisco 49ers

Sixth Round Selections (6)
184^th Pick – Jackie Marshall (Defensive Lineman) from Baylor – Tennessee Titans
191^st Pick – Josh Cameron (Wide Receiver) from Baylor – Jacksonville Jaguars
193^rd Pick – Jack Kelly (Linebacker) from BYU – New York Giants
199^th Pick – Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (Wide Receiver) from Kansas – Seattle Seahawks
205^th Pick – Skyler Gill-Howard (Defensive Lineman) from Texas Tech – Detroit Lions
212^th Pick – Namdi Obiazor (Linebacker) from TCU – New England Patriots

Seventh Round Selections (7)
228^th Pick – VJ Payne (Safety) from Kansas State – New York Jets
234^th Pick – Behren Morton (Quarterback) from Texas Tech – New England Patriots
235^th Pick – Gavin Gerhardt (Offensive Line) from Cincinnati – Minnesota Vikings
244^th Pick – Cole Wisniewski (Safety) from Texas Tech – Philadelphia Eagles
248^th Pick – Carsen Ryan (Tight End) from BYU – Cleveland Browns
255^th Pick – Michael Dansby (Defensive Back) from Arizona – Seattle Seahawks
256^th Pick – Dallen Bentley (Tight End) from Utah – Denver Broncos