Three Longhorns Selected in PFF Way-Too-Early 2024 Mock Draft
It was a strong showing for the Texas Longhorns at the 2023 NFL draft as five players heard their name called, which included Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall to become the first Longhorn taken in the first round since 2015 and first offensive player in the first round since Vince Young.
While five players is nothing to scoff at for Texas, especially after no one was drafted in 2022, there is a chance the 2024 draft is even better - and that the Longhorns have multiple first-round picks for the first time since 2007.
Yes, the draft is barely over and we still have months to go before the start of the 2023 season. However, that didn't stop PFF from doing a way-too-early 2024 mock draft that has three Longhorns going in the first round.
The first Longhorn off the board in this mock draft is tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders who is selected No. 18 overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. After a breakout season Sanders has received plenty of offseason praise.
He was one of Quinn Ewers' favorite targets last season, recording 54 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns, with his 54 receptions and five touchdowns second to only Xavier Worthy. If he can put together a second straight productive season for the Longhorns, there is a strong chance he'll be highly coveted in the 2024 draft.
Speaking of Ewers and Worthy, they are the other two Longhorns that were selected in this mock. Ewers hears his name called at No. 21 overall to the Minnesota Vikings while Worthy goes No. 31 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.
When Ewers transferred to Texas from Ohio State he was seen by some as a potential top pick in the 2024 draft. After an inconsistent freshman season, though, his stock took a slight hit.
In his first season starting at the collegiate level Ewers threw for 2,177 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing only 58.1 percent of his passes. He's shown strides of improvement throughout the offseason, though, and if he can put it all together there's no reason to think he can't play his way into the top half of the first round.
As for Ewers' favorite target Worthy, he had somewhat of a "down" year in 2022. After recording 62 receptions for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman he hauled in 60 receptions as a sophomore but only for 760 yards and nine touchdowns.
However, Worthy could be in store for a big 2023 season as the addition of AD Mitchell from the transfer portal and a healthy Isaiah Neyor should open up the offense and allow him to torch opposing defenses with ease once again.
There is no doubt that the Longhorns will want to make the 2022 draft an anomaly and return to the days where they have multiple players taken, especially in the first round. If this trio plays as well as it can for Texas, then they may certainly help continue that trend in 2024.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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