It’s NFL Scouting Combine week, which means mock drafts are flying out at an alarming rate. Mel Kiper Jr. dropped his latest prediction, saying, “Based on what I’m hearing from executives around the league, scouts and coaches, this is where I see the first-round picks right now.” In this version, Ohio State will make history as Kiper has four Buckeyes in the top seven picks, the most ever for a school in the top seven, according to ESPN research.
Kiper also has five Ohio State players going in the first round, so let’s break it down draft by draft and see where he lands these Buckeyes.
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No. 2 New York Jets – Caleb Downs, S
Caleb Downs #2, Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
What little Kiper said
“This would be the highest draft pick for a safety since Eric Turner went No. 2 in 1991. Towns is worth it, though. He reads the offense very well, and then he has the speed, physicality and ball skills to make plays against the run and pass. He can really hit the ceiling of a defense from the back end, with six interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and 22 run interceptions in his three college seasons. The Jets defense doesn’t have a 2025 defense. INT of the year, yes you read that right, only the Cowboys have given up more points, averaging 29.6 points per game, and Andre Cisco is about to hit free agency.”
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what do we say
Towns is one of the best safeties Ohio State has ever produced and won a slew of awards last season. He won the Jim Thorpe Award (America’s best defensive back), Lott Impact Trophy, Big Ten Nagurski Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Tatum Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, and was a unanimous All-American. Turn on the tape and it’s easy to see why Ohio State has the best defense in the country. Towns is always in the right spot, which allows defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to make exotic plays because of Towns’ versatility and football IQ. Going No. 2 might be crazy for a safety, but he’s pretty close to Ravens star Kyle Hamilton, just a few inches shorter. He is a true difference-maker with elite instincts.
No. 4 Tennessee Titans – Arvell Reese, LB
December 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) takes action during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
What little Kiper said
“Reese’s instincts and explosiveness are all over the tape. I still have him listed as a linebacker at this point, and he can help Tennessee. But new coach Robert Saleh will likely move him to the edge, where he will play most of the season in 2025. Although the Titans were tied for 12th with 42 sacks last season, 11 of them Defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons is a weakness on the inside and Reese could be a high-impact player on this unit no matter where he plays.”
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what do we say
Reese announced that he will participate in in-person workouts in Indianapolis this week, which should only help his stock. He’s a weird athlete. While his sack count dropped toward the end of the season, it felt more like a product of the scheme than performance. He has the size and speed to beat tackles on the baseline with a series of relatively deep pass-rushing moves. He’s primarily an edge rusher, but he’s athletic enough to drop down in coverage and physical enough to stick around in the run game. That kind of versatility is hard to ignore in the top five.
No. 6 Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates against the Michigan Wolverines during an NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State won 27-9.
What little Kiper said
“Like the Giants, the Browns are in need of offensive line and receiver reinforcements. Unlike the Giants, the Browns have two first-round picks. So while Miami WR Francis Moygoya is tempting here, Cleveland will likely select the entire WR class and play at the OL. Tate is now at the top of the receiver roster and has great hands and a savvy route running. Cleveland’s wideouts only had four touchdowns total last season, so after 875 yards, 9 Tate could be the Browns’ go-to guy in a touchdown season.”
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what do we say
There’s a good chance Tate will be the first receiver off the board in April, especially after Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson announced he wouldn’t participate in field testing at the combine. Tyson also played only 33 games in four seasons in college. History shows teams become cautious when medical evaluations are unclear, which could create an additional jolt for Tate.
During his career at Ohio State, Tate totaled 121 catches for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus praised him for allowing zero passes in 2025. He’s smooth, reliable and good, and has all the tools to be the next Buckeye receiver to shine on Sunday.
Washington Commander No. 7 – Sonny Styles, LB
Sonny Styles #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the Indianapolis Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
What little Kiper said
“This will be the fourth player selected out of Ohio State and the most from one school in the first seven picks, according to ESPN Research. Styles is getting a lot of love around the league right now, and it will be fun to watch him at the combine if he can work it out. The former safety is 6-foot-4, 243 pounds and has real speed.
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The Commander’s defense was held to 6.0 yards per play last season, tied for third-worst, and with the potential loss of 35-year-old Bobby Wagner in free agency, this fit makes sense. But if that happens at the plate, also keep an eye on Miami edge rusher Reuben Bane Jr. and the entire receiver class. “
what do we say
The last time an inside linebacker finished in the top 10 was in 2019, when Devin White finished fifth with Tampa Bay and Devin Bush finished 10th with Pittsburgh. The front seven feels a little rich for Styles, but he ticks all the boxes you could ask for in a modern big man. He rarely missed a tackle at Ohio State, stands 6-foot-4, over 240 pounds, and excelled against the run. Top 15 doesn’t surprise me at all. A top-10 pick might raise eyebrows, but teams are hungry for safe, plug-and-play defenders who can start on Day 1, and Styles fits that mold.
No. 25 Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, DT
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Caden McDonald celebrates during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Indianapolis Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025 in Indianapolis.
what kipper said
“It might be a little early for Texas A&M’s Cassius Howell, Clemson’s T.J. Parker or Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas. The Bears clearly need more edge-rushing support, but the board isn’t lined up just yet. But Gervin Dexter Sr. is only signed for one more season, and Grady Jarrett turns 33 in April, so it makes sense to supplement the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually the DT1 on my big board, and he’s 2025 He had 17 run stops on the year, and for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry (fourth-worst) last season, having him inside would be huge.
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what do we say
McDonald feels like another safety, high-level prospect. He may not have been dominant for three years, but his 2025 season has him locked up as a first-round pick. This position towards the end of the first round 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, recording three sacks for the Buckeyes this season. He may not be flashy, but he projects as a long-term starter on NFL defenses.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football team sets NFL draft record in latest Kiper Jr. mock