2026 NFL Draft Final Recap: Texas Sends Defenders to Miami, Sooners Focus on 2027

The 2026 NFL Draft has officially concluded in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the results provide a fascinating look at the current talent pipelines of both the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners.

While neither program saw a player selected in the first round on Thursday night—a rare occurrence for two traditional powerhouses—Day 3 provided some much-deserved spotlight for veteran contributors, particularly on the Texas defense.

Longhorns Head to South Beach

The Miami Dolphins clearly had an affinity for the Longhorns’ defensive scheme this year, utilizing two of their middle-round picks to secure experienced Texas defenders.

• Trey Moore (LB): Selected 130th overall in the fourth round. Moore’s relentless motor and edge-rushing productivity made him an attractive mid-round value pick for a Miami defense looking to bolster its depth chart.
• Michael Taaffe (DB): Selected 158th overall in the fifth round. Taaffe’s incredible journey from walk-on to defensive leader culminates in an NFL opportunity. His high football IQ and versatility in the secondary will serve him well as he competes for a roster spot in Miami.

The selections of Moore and Taaffe mark the fourth consecutive year that Texas has had multiple players selected in the NFL Draft, a testament to the program’s developmental consistency under the current coaching staff.

Oklahoma’s Transitional Draft

For the Sooners, the 2026 NFL Draft was defined by its quietness. After heavy roster turnover and a focus on building a foundation for the SEC, Oklahoma did not have the high-end draft-eligible prospects that typically populate the draft board.

However, the mood in Norman remains intensely optimistic. Following a highly competitive Spring Game on April 20—where the offense edged the defense 65-58 in front of over 45,000 fans—the program is shifting its focus heavily toward the summer. The Sooners’ social media channels have been actively highlighting the consistency and physical development of their offensive line (#OlineU), signaling that the trenches are where they expect to make their biggest leap next season.

Looking Ahead: The Arch Manning Era Approaches

Even as the dust settles on the 2026 Draft, the betting markets are already looking ahead to 2027.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has officially opened as the betting favorite (+250) to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. This marks the second consecutive year he has held the top spot in early draft projections. With a loaded roster returning and Manning fully entrenched as the face of the program, the Longhorns are uniquely positioned to dominate the draft headlines next spring.

While 2026 was a quieter draft year for the Red River rivals, the developmental pipelines are fully stocked. Expect both Texas and Oklahoma to roar back onto the early rounds of the draft board in 2027.