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How many OU players were drafted in PFSN's mock draft simulator?
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- How many OU players were drafted in PFSN's mock draft simulator?
The Oklahoma Sooners had just two players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft last April, and only three players from the team's 2024 roster that stuck on an NFL roster during their rookie seasons.
In the fourth round of the draft, linebacker Danny Stutsman was drafted by the New Orleans Saints , while defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons just a few picks later. Both had impressive rookie seasons with their respective teams. Defensive lineman Ethan Downs went undrafted, but he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars . After being cut by the Jags, he found a home on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs for the '25 season.
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OU is set to improve upon that number of draftees in the 2026 draft this April. After a bounce-back 10-3 season in 2025, the Sooners will be losing a lot of veteran leadership and production from the roster to the NFL. However, every player the Sooners will be losing to the pros will have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, as Oklahoma did not have a single player enter the draft early for the second year in a row.
Running back Jaydn Ott , wide receivers Deion Burks , Keontez Lewis, and Major Melson, tight ends Jaren Kanak and Will Huggins, offensive linemen Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons, defensive linemen R Mason Thomas , Damonic Williams, Gracen Halton, and Marvin Jones Jr. , linebacker Kendal Daniels, defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings, and kicker Austin Welch have each exhausted their college eligibility, and they will be trying to find themselves on an NFL roster next fall. Additionally, linebacker Owen Heinecke is still hoping the NCAA grants him another year of college eligibility, but after his initial request was denied, it's not looking promising for Heinecke to come back to school, though OU is appealing the NCAA's initial decision and will have to wait to hear back on their appeal.
To see how many draftees the Sooners might have in 2026, we fired up a mock draft simulation on ProFootballNetwork.com for all seven round of the draft. Oklahoma exceeded its total number of drafted players from a year ago in the simulation, and it might give us an idea of who could hear their names called in the real draft in a few months.
First up was Thomas, who was chosen by the New York Jets at the very top of the second round with the 33rd overall selection. Thomas is a fantastic pass rusher off the edge, one who got better and better during his time in Norman. Despite missing three games in 2025, he was a force to be reckoned with for the Sooner defense, and could find himself as a first-round pick with a good combine and pro day.
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Next was Nwaiwu, who was picked with the first choice of the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns at No. 139 overall. Nwaiwu spent two seasons in Norman, and he was the most reliable player on the o-line for the Sooners during those two years. He primarily played right guard, but slid over to center for the final two games of the 2025 season, due to injuries up front.
Another player picked in the fifth round was Burks, who went 152nd overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in the simulation. Burks also spent two years with the Sooners, and dealt with injuries that limited him to five games in 2024. However, Burks started every game in 2025, helping OU improve offensively. His speed is his greatest weapon, and he's tough to keep up with in the open field.
In the sixth round, the Houston Texans selected Halton with the 201st overall pick in the simulation. Halton became a disruptor in the interior of the d-line for the Sooners, and he's another player who showed great improvement over the course of his OU career. Halton has great quickness and burst for the position, and he could frequently be found penetrating into the opposing backfield to wreck plays.
Up next was Williams, who went in the seventh round at No. 245 overall in the simulation to the Green Bay Packers . He spent two seasons as a Sooner plugging the interior up front defensively and showing good skills as a run-stuffer for the Sooners. He's got good size and athleticism for the position, and helped the Oklahoma d-line become the team's greatest strength over the past two seasons.
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Two picks later in the seventh round, the simulation had Daniels going to the San Francisco 49ers as the 247th overall choice. Daniels was a Sooner for just one season, but he made the most of it, becoming a starter and a disruptive force for OU's defense. He's a versatile player who can play well against the run and the pass, and he was a great chess piece for Oklahoma to move around the board defensively this past season.
Of course, this is just one simulation and the Sooners could have more or less players picked when the actual draft takes place in April, but it sure looks like Oklahoma is set to have more players selected this year than they did last year.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 23rd to 25th.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma had plenty of players picked in PFSN's mock draft simulation
