Big 12 Sets New Conference Record for Picks in the NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Big 12 Conference set a league record with 38 total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, surpassing the previous mark of 35 set in 1997 and 2003.

Texas Tech University led all conference programs with a school-record nine picks, while Arizona, Arizona State and Cincinnati each had four selections.

Six Big 12 players were taken in Thursday’s first round, including Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, who was selected No. 2 overall by the New York Jets.

Other first-round picks included Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (No. 8, New Orleans Saints), Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (No. 9, Cleveland Browns), Arizona State lineman Max Iheanachor (No. 21, Pittsburgh Steelers), UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence (No. 23, Dallas Cowboys) and Utah lineman Caleb Lomu (No. 28, New England Patriots).

The conference also matched a modern-era high with 11 selections through the first two rounds, the most since 2011.

Texas Tech’s nine selections highlighted a strong draft class for the program, including linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (No. 43, Miami Dolphins), defensive lineman Lee Hunter (No. 49, Carolina Panthers), defensive end Romello Height (No. 70, San Francisco 49ers) and wide receiver Caleb Douglas (No. 75, Miami Dolphins).

The Big 12 had six players selected on the opening night, eight more on Day 2 and 24 additional picks during Saturday’s final rounds.

Bif 12 Draft Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft

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