Baylor Finishes NFL Draft With Most Players Drafted of Any Texas School
Coming off of a Big 12 championship victory, and a dominant win over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl last season, Dave Aranda and the Baylor Bears seem to be on an upward trajectory, equal to, or perhaps even greater than their success under former coach Art Briles.
And as a result of that tremendous season, the Bears were well represented in the recent 2022 NFL Draft.
How well-represented you may ask? Better than any college program in the state.
Throughout all three days of the draft, the Bears had six players selected, more than any other team in Texas, and tied for the seventh most in the draft of any school overall.
Baylor also was responsible for almost a fourth of the players selected from the Big 12 overall and matched the 2016 program record for most players selected in a seven-round NFL Draft.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY
Things began with safety Jalen Pitre being selected by the Texans at No. 37 overall in the second round, with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton going just 13 picks later at No 50 overall to the New England Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers would then select safety J.T. Woods in the third round with the 79th overall pick. At No. 89 overall, the Buffalo Bills finished the Bears' day in Day 2 by selecting linebacker Terrel Bernard.
On Day 3, Running back Trestan Ebner was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 10th pick of the sixth round, while corner Kalon Barnes was taken by the Carolina Panthers in Round 7. Five more Baylor standouts would also be signed as undrafted free agents following the close of the seventh round.
Abram Smith was the most noteworthy, signing with the New Orleans Saints, while defense backs Jairon McVay and Raleigh Smith Texada signed with the Rams and Packers, respectively. Finally, wideout Drew Estrada signed with the Texans, and offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson signed with the Titans.
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