Trio of Longhorns land in 2025 NFL mock draft projection

After having no players selected in the entire 2022 NFL draft, Steve Sarkisian has got the Texas Longhorns football program back on the right track in producing NFL-caliber talent.

Running back Bijan Robinson, defensive lineman Byron Murphy, and wide receiver Xavier Worthy have all been first-round NFL draft picks over the last two seasons. There have been 13 other former Longhorns being selected during that time.

The 2024 season will be Sarkisian’s fourth year on the Forty Acres and he has undoubtedly the best roster he’s had. Texas is widely regarded as a top-five team in the country with almost everyone projecting a second consecutive Playoff appearance for the Longhorns. It certainly helps that he’s gotten a few recruiting classes under his belt, but the transfer portal has also made it way easier to rebuild rosters.

Texas lost several key contributors from last year’s team, but they still have several NFL-caliber players. ESPN NFL draft expert Matt Miller projects three Longhorns to be first round draft picks in 2025.

The first Longhorn off the board will be OT Kelvin Banks as the No. 5 overall pick to the Washington Commanders as they begin building the offensive line for Jayden Daniels. Miller says of Banks,

“If the draft were tomorrow, we’d be talking about left tackle and edge rusher as massive needs for the Commanders. That could change between now and April, but general manager Adam Peters could definitely address the blind side of the line; Washington has to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels after allowing 65 sacks last season (tied for second most). Banks is a prototypical left tackle with a powerful 324-pound frame, and the junior has allowed just two sacks over his two full seasons starting for the Longhorns.”

The 2025 draft was loaded at the quarterback position, but every single year there is always a need for quarterbacks. As a third year starter and one of the highest recruits of all time, QB Quinn Ewers will have all eyes on him. Miller projects that the New Orleans Saints will end up taking Ewers No. 10 overall saying,

“The 2024 season will be crucial for the future of starting quarterback Derek Carr in New Orleans and perhaps provide a window into what the team has in rookie fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler. At this time, it doesn’t appear that either quarterback is the future here. Ewers has talent worthy of a first-overall pick heading into his third season as a starter at Texas. At 21 years old, he has to cut down on poor decisions during games, but his accuracy, mobility and arm strength are that of a future NFL starter. Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdown passes last season.”

Despite not yet playing a game in the burnt Orange, former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond is viewed as one of the three or four best in CFB. With WR Tee Higgins seemingly headed out of town, Miller projects the Cincinnati Bengals to use the No. 25 pick on Bond saying,

“Tee Higgins may have signed his franchise-tag tender, but that doesn’t mean the Bengals have a long-term resolution yet for the talented WR2. The Bengals drafted Jermaine Burton to replace Tyler Boyd but could still have receiver high on the list of needs during the next draft. Bond, a transfer from Alabama, will fill the Xavier Worthy role in the Texas offense with his elite downfield speed. He averaged 13.9 yards per catch with four touchdowns last season, even as the Alabama offense struggled to find consistency in the pass game. And in Steve Sarkisian’s system, Bond has huge potential.”

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