Ohio State football NFL draft projections: Predicting landing spots for Buckeyes stars

Ohio State had a third straight 11-2 season that included another finish in the AP top 10. Accordingly, the Buckeyes have produced a handful of top-level NFL draft prospects. Unlike some previous years, there's only one Buckeye expected to go in the first round. But Ohio State had quality depth, and it'll show in the middle rounds of the draft, when more Buckeyes get selected.

Here's a rundown of predictions for Ohio State's draft prospects.

Ohio State NFL draft projections 2024

Ohio State's Mike Hall (51) has likely played his way into the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR

Projection: Round 1, Pick 4, Cardinals

Harrison is perhaps the consensus top prospect in the entire draft. At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he's physically imposing. His production is also imposing. A two-year starter at OSU, Harrison amassed 144 catches, 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns. None of this mentions his bloodlines, as his father was a legendary Indianapolis Colts receiver and a Hall of Famer.

A four-star recruit out of Philadelphia in high school, Harrison is an absolute slam dunk to be the top wide receiver chosen in the draft. Arizona is thought to love his skills at the fourth pick. If somebody is desperate, they could trade up for him. But as things stand, Harrison will be the top nonquarterback picked, likely at pick four.

Mike Hall Jr., DT

Projection: Round 2, Pick 43, Falcons

Hall is something of a surprising riser in the draft. Always an adequate player, he was a part-time starter at Ohio State for two seasons. His career totals of 45 tackles and 10 tackles for loss only hint at his skill set. At 6-2 and around 300 pounds, Hall ran a 4.75-second, 40-yard dash at OSU's pro day.

That combination of size and speed is unusual. Hall could even slim down and move to a linebacker spot, for instance. Barring such a drastic shift, he could be an impact player rushing the passer from a tackle slot. He's a work in progress but is one of the youngest players in the draft. The Falcons could nab him in the middle of round two and use him in an immediate part-time role.

Cade Stover, TE

Projection: Round 4, Pick 107, Giants

A five-year player at OSU, Stover grew into a starting role in his last two seasons. At 6-3 and 247 pounds, Stover has the size to help as a blocker, but also has 4.6-second, 40 speed. He caught 77 passes for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last two seasons, with only two drops in that span.

Stover isn't the most physical player and feels more like a part-time player on his initial NFL landing. But he's a reliable option in the passing game and has plenty of experience and a solid work ethic to draw on. He's a safe midround pick for a team that could use a sure-handed target. The Giants could take him in the fourth round, for instance.

Tommy Eichenberg, LB

Projection: Round 4, Pick 123, Texans

A two-year captain for Ohio State, Eichenberg is another five-year player who developed into a standout. An All-Big Ten selection in his junior and senior seasons, Eichenberg had 200 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss in those seasons. His leadership impressed in college and bodes well for his NFL future.

Eichenberg is the kind of player who can plug into a part-time role and play special teams. He could develop into a starter just like he developed into a college starter. The Texans are a team that would appreciate some cerebral leadership against the wealth of talented young QBs in their division. Eichenberg is unlikely to slide beyond the Texans' pick in round four.

Josh Proctor, S

Projection: Round 6, Pick 199, Saints

After a multitude of injury issues, Proctor only became a regular starter in his sixth season at Ohio State. Still, he had a good season, making 47 tackles and breaking up nine passes. At 6-1 and just over 200 pounds, Proctor has 4.5 speed in the 40. He's still fairly inexperienced but could surprise with his upside.

Proctor feels like a depth player early on. He's about to turn 25, and it's fair to wonder how high his NFL ceiling can be. Meanwhile, he's a tough and relatively smooth defender who can be a role player. The Saints could nab Proctor late in round six.

Aside from Harrison, which Buckeye can have the best NFL career? Weigh in below in the comments section!