The 2025 NFL Draft takes place this week in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24 to 26. Over three days and seven rounds, the next crop of rookies will hear their names called to become a part of the National Football League.
The Oklahoma Sooners lost a total of 19 players from their 2024 roster to exhausted eligibility and/or the NFL Draft. A total of 17 of those players (minus offensive lineman Branson Hickman and long snapper Ethan Lane) have declared for the draft and have spent the past few months trying to prove to NFL GMs and coaches that they deserve to be selected this week.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Sooners have four hopeful draftees. Quarterback Casey Thompson, tight end Jake Roberts and offensive linemen Spencer Brown and Michael Tarquin aren’t likely to hear their names called later this week, but they will have the opportunity to sign as undrafted free agents once the draft has concluded. Each of those players spent just one season at Oklahoma, arriving via the transfer portal last offseason.
The real story comes with the nine defensive players from Oklahoma that hope to be drafted. Defensive linemen Trace Ford, Ethan Downs, Caiden Woullard, Da’Jon Terry and Davon Sears, linebacker Danny Stutsman and defensive backs Billy Bowman, Dez Malone and Woodi Washington provided veteran leadership to the best OU defense in years last season.
As always, the headliners are Stutsman and Bowman, who have the best chance of being picked this week out of any of the former Sooners. Bowman has been impressive in the pre-draft process and has a shot to be the first Oklahoma player to come off the board. Stutsman should be chosen as well, as his collegiate production was simply off the charts.
Both players are hoping to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, which is the second and third rounds of the event. However, ESPN’s final mock draft has them both being selected on Day 3.
Downs has also been impressive in front of scouts, and could very well hear his name called. Ford had a very good pro day in March with plenty of teams on hand to watch, and Terry offers a good blend of size and experience that could be appealing to NFL front offices. Players like Woullard, Sears, Malone and Washington are probably long shots to be drafted this week.
Four special teams players from a veteran-laden group a season ago are also hoping to beat the odds and be selected. Kickers Zach Schmit and Tyler Keltner and punters Josh Plaster and Luke Elzinga each started at their position for the Sooners at one time or another. Of the group, Elzinga figures to be the player with the best chance to be chosen, as he had a stellar season and a half once taking over the starting gig from Plaster midway through 2023. Elzinga was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl at the conclusion of the season.
Oklahoma has gone 22 straight drafts with at least 3 players selected. That is the third-longest streak in the nation, but it could be in jeopardy this week. Unlike the previous two seasons when offensive linemen Anton Harrison and Tyler Guyton were selected in the first round, Sooners fans will probably have to wait a little longer to hear their favorite player’s name called in 2025.
From backyard dreams to NFL reality. #NFLDraft x @_BackyardSportspic.twitter.com/zbhYuhafmg
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 27, 2025
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners NFL Draft preview
The 2025 NFL Draft takes place this week in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24 to 26. Over three days and seven rounds, the next crop of rookies will hear their names called to become a part of the National Football League.
The Oklahoma Sooners lost a total of 19 players from their 2024 roster to exhausted eligibility and/or the NFL Draft. A total of 17 of those players (minus offensive lineman Branson Hickman and long snapper Ethan Lane) have declared for the draft and have spent the past few months trying to prove to NFL GMs and coaches that they deserve to be selected this week.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Sooners have four hopeful draftees. Quarterback Casey Thompson, tight end Jake Roberts and offensive linemen Spencer Brown and Michael Tarquin aren’t likely to hear their names called later this week, but they will have the opportunity to sign as undrafted free agents once the draft has concluded. Each of those players spent just one season at Oklahoma, arriving via the transfer portal last offseason.
The real story comes with the nine defensive players from Oklahoma that hope to be drafted. Defensive linemen Trace Ford, Ethan Downs, Caiden Woullard, Da’Jon Terry and Davon Sears, linebacker Danny Stutsman and defensive backs Billy Bowman, Dez Malone and Woodi Washington provided veteran leadership to the best OU defense in years last season.
As always, the headliners are Stutsman and Bowman, who have the best chance of being picked this week out of any of the former Sooners. Bowman has been impressive in the pre-draft process and has a shot to be the first Oklahoma player to come off the board. Stutsman should be chosen as well, as his collegiate production was simply off the charts.
Both players are hoping to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, which is the second and third rounds of the event. However, ESPN’s final mock draft has them both being selected on Day 3.
Downs has also been impressive in front of scouts, and could very well hear his name called. Ford had a very good pro day in March with plenty of teams on hand to watch, and Terry offers a good blend of size and experience that could be appealing to NFL front offices. Players like Woullard, Sears, Malone and Washington are probably long shots to be drafted this week.
Four special teams players from a veteran-laden group a season ago are also hoping to beat the odds and be selected. Kickers Zach Schmit and Tyler Keltner and punters Josh Plaster and Luke Elzinga each started at their position for the Sooners at one time or another. Of the group, Elzinga figures to be the player with the best chance to be chosen, as he had a stellar season and a half once taking over the starting gig from Plaster midway through 2023. Elzinga was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl at the conclusion of the season.
Oklahoma has gone 22 straight drafts with at least 3 players selected. That is the third-longest streak in the nation, but it could be in jeopardy this week. Unlike the previous two seasons when offensive linemen Anton Harrison and Tyler Guyton were selected in the first round, Sooners fans will probably have to wait a little longer to hear their favorite player’s name called in 2025.
From backyard dreams to NFL reality. #NFLDraft x @_BackyardSportspic.twitter.com/zbhYuhafmg
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 27, 2025
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners NFL Draft preview
