Five Longhorns Projected To Go Early In 2024 NFL Draft

The Texas Longhorns are expected to lose a handful of key contributors and stars to the NFL level in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

Two signs of a college football program heading in the right direction is them competing at the highest level, and producing quality players with NFL potential. 

The No. 3 Texas Longhorns did both of those things this season, finishing with a 12-2 record after losing in the Allstate Sugar Bowl leaving them just one win away from playing for a title. As expected, the roster full of veteran players that have blossomed under the new regime, and will be seeing a surge in players drafted in this upcoming NFL Draft.

FanNation's Luke Easterling recently wrote a three-round NFL mock Draft, which saw five Longhorns go within the first 100 picks. Let's dive into where each of the Longhorns are projected to end up.

Texas Longhorns Defensive Tackle Byron Murphy  / USA TODAY

Byron Murphy II, DT

Round: Three

Pick: 82

Easterling projects that Murphy will end up being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The physical defensive lineman helped form one of the most formidable defensive fronts in all of college football. He recorded career-highs in total tackles with 29 and sacks with five. 

Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders / USA TODAY

Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE

Round: Two 

Pick: 62

Ja'Tavion Sanders has some of the best hands in all of college football regardless of position. He is slated to go to the Miami Dolphins, which is one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. He racked up 45 catches for 682 yards and two scores this season for the Longhorns, in offense with three other NFL pass catchers on the roster.

Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat  / © Andrew Dieb, USA TODAY

T'Vondre Sweat, DT

Round: Two

Pick: 47

No one on this Texas roster benefited more from staying an extra year than T'Vondre Sweat. En route to recording career highs in every category with 45 total tackles, five pass deflections, and two sacks he also won the Outland Trophy which is given to the best defensive tackle. He is projected to end up in Cincinnati, where he'd team up with former Longhorn Joseph Ossai. 

Texas WR Xavier Worthy  / © Aaron E. Martinez, Austin American-Statesman

Xavier Worthy, WR 

Round: Two

Pick: 39

The speedy wideout was the first recruit that Steve Sarkisian himself brought in, and he made an immediate impact right away and departs Texas as one of the most decorated players in program history. He is projected to end up being drafted by the New York Giants, where he will look to continue to be an elite playmaker at the next level. He finished with 75 catches for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns receiving this season, and also added a punt return touchdown.

Texas WR Adonai Mitchell  / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Adonai Mitchell, WR

Round: Two

Pick: 35

Just a few picks ahead of his running-mate, Mitchell may have had less lucrative stats but has all of the intangibles to be a top receiver for an NFL team. He finished the season with 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns, and is projected to end up with the Arizona Cardinals. He has a combination of speed, size, and route running ability that may see him sneak into the first round.