NFL Draft 2025: Ohio State has trio of linemen selected in first round

Ohio State won the national title just a few short months ago, and to nobody’s surprise, numerous NFL teams wanted to get their hands on some of that championship DNA during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Green Bay.

With the 24th overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings selected Buckeyes offensive guard Donovan Jackson. Just 4 picks later, the Detroit Lions grabbed Jackson’s former Ohio State teammate, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, at No. 28.

And to complete the late first-round Buckeye linemen binge by NFL teams, the Kansas City Chiefs closed the first round by taking offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 32.

The trio weren’t even the first Ohio State players to come off the board in the first round either. That honor went to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 19th pick. So, yes, it was a 4-player Buckeye bonanza in the opening round of the draft.

Since the NFL Draft began in 1936, Ohio State had produced a whopping 486 overall picks through the 2024 draft. Make that 490 now after the quartet of first-round picks on Thursday night.

The Buckeyes have now enjoyed 95 first-round picks in program history, the most of any team in college football.

Jackson and Simmons helped anchor the Buckeyes’ offensive line during their 2024 national title run. Williams did the same for the defensive line, piling up 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks for Ohio State to finish his collegiate career with 136 tackles and 11.5 sacks.

Now, all 3 Ohio State linemen will be staying in the Midwest to play for Minnesota, Detroit, and Kansas City.