Last week, I wrote about the resurgence of the Texas Longhorns in the draft room–16 players taken in 2023 and 2024. They exceeded that number in the 2025 NFL Draft with 13 players selected, including three in the first round.
It's another sign that Texas has firmly reestablished itself as a powerhouse for developing NFL talent. From top-10 picks to late-round flyers, Longhorns heard their names called all weekend. Here's a look at the first-round players taking their talents to the next level.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, Pick 9)
Kelvin Banks Jr. started all 42 games he played during his three-year career at Texas, winning the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy in 2024. At first blush, this feels a bit early, but it's easy to see why New Orleans made the pick. Banks Jr. is an experienced, polished prospect with exceptional movement skills for his size, who also provides positional versatility.
His run-blocking is more pro-ready than his pass protection, and he has a tendency to overextend at the point of contact, but his technique and football IQ give him a strong foundation for growth. Banks Jr. brings immediate value and versatility to a Saints offensive line that badly needs it. The question is: whose blindside is he protecting?
Jahdae Barron, CB, Denver Broncos (Round 1, Pick 20)
I loved watching Jahdae Barron at Texas. He was an absolute stud, and my favorite Longhorn in this draft (I hate that the Dallas Cowboys passed on him at 12). He earned First-Team All-America honors in his final season and was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner for the nation's best defensive back.
He was a key leader on a Texas defense that played in back-to-back College Football Semifinals. Landing him at 20 is an absolute steal for Denver. Barron brings elite instincts in both man and zone coverage schemes, and a physicality that fits perfectly with the Broncos' defensive identity. In addition to elite coverage skills, he's a fearless tackler who will bring value to the run defense.
While some have questions about his pure long speed, Barron's football IQ and positioning more than make up for it. He should step into an immediate role, whether inside at nickel or outside at corner. Denver gets a tone-setting defender opposite Patrick Surtain II, and immediately boasts one of the league's most feared secondaries.
Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers (Round 1, Pick 23)
Matthew Golden started his college career at Houston before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2024 season. Despite competing for targets in a crowded wide receiver room with more touted players, including Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, Golden quickly became Quinn Ewers' most trusted target in critical situations.
He finished the season as Texas's leading receiver in yards and touchdowns—his nine receiving touchdowns also led the SEC—and consistently came through in big moments, including a 28-yard touchdown on 4th & 13 in double-OT of the CFP semifinal against Arizona State to keep the game alive.
A game they would eventually go on to win. He has exceptional short-area quickness and agility, and he's a willing participant in traffic and contested catch situations. He doesn't have prototypical size, but he did run a surprising 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and always met the moment with big plays when they mattered most.
Green Bay needs a WR1, and Golden will have a real chance to become the preferred target of Jordan Love early in his career.
Texas Longhorns make a statement in the 2025 NFL Draft
Last week, I highlighted that Texas had an opportunity not just to match, but exceed what they accomplished in last year's draft. They did that and then some. They matched three other programs with the most first-round picks over the last two years (5), and they've had the most players taken of any program over the last two years (23).
It's a testament to the job Steve Sarkisian and his staff have done transforming Texas into one of the premier NFL pipelines in college football. In the ten years before his arrival, Texas produced just two first-round picks and 27 total selections. Since Sarkisian took over in 2021, they've had six first-round picks and 28 total in just four drafts.
With another loaded roster heading into the 2025 season, it's safe to say the Longhorns are just getting started. The future in Austin—and draft rooms across the league—has never looked brighter.
Stay tuned for analysis and fit for the Longhorns players drafted on Days Two and Three.