See 5 recent late-round NFL draft gems from Ohio State football
The pipeline from Ohio State to the NFL will continue later this month when Marvin Harrison Jr. leads a list of Buckeyes into the league’s draft.
Harrison will be among the top overall picks. After that, however, it might be a while before another Ohio State player is taken, most likely defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. or tight end Cade Stover.
No other Buckeyes are projected to go in the first round, and it's possible that none will be taken in the second round.
Though the wait for the other Buckeyes might be longer than they’d like, they should take solace in the history of other OSU players who spent anxious hours on their couches. Plenty of recent Buckeyes have become late-round gems.
Here are five in the past decade who’ve proven to be better than their draft status would have indicated:
Center Corey Linsley, 5th round, Green Bay, 2014
Linsley was one of the early success stories of the Urban Meyer era. He was an underachiever early in his Buckeye career before blossoming.
An injury to the Packers starter in the preseason of his rookie year thrust him into the lineup, and Linsley never looked back. He was named to the All-Rookie team and became a linchpin on the Packers’ offensive line protecting Aaron Rodgers.
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He signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension with Green Gay in 2017 and a five-year, $62.5 million deal as a free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers after being first-team All-Pro in 2020. The latter contract made him the highest-paid center in the NFL.
Wide receiver Noah Brown, 7th round, Dallas, 2017
Brown had one spectacular game as a Buckeye. Who can forget the 2016 game when he caught four touchdown passes in a win at Oklahoma, including a one-hander in which he reached around a defender?
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Otherwise, Brown battled injuries and inconsistency at OSU and was the 239th player taken in the draft. OSU running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was drafted the year before by Dallas, lobbied hard for the Cowboys to take a chance on Brown.
Brown stuck with the Cowboys but was used mostly as a blocker early in his career. He missed the 2019 season with a knee injury and caught a total of 30 passes in his next two seasons.
He had a breakout season in 2022 when he caught 43 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns.
Brown signed with the Houston Texans before last season and became one of C.J. Stroud’s targets. He had 33 catches for 567 yards in 2023.
His career totals are 115 catches for 1,547 yards and five touchdowns. That’s hardly spectacular, but not many seventh-rounders last as long in the NFL as Brown has.
Safety Jordan Fuller, sixth round, Los Angeles Rams, 2020
It was a surprise that Fuller slipped to the 199th pick because he was a respected leader and reliable safety for the Buckeyes. But the 2019 OSU defense was so dominant that Fuller didn’t have to be spectacular.
Despite his draft status, Fuller earned a starting spot in the preseason and led the Rams in tackles with eight in his first game. In 2021, Fuller led the Rams with 113 tackles, broke up four passes, and had an interception.
A shoulder injury cut short his next season, but he bounced back last season with 84 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions. Fuller was a two-time captain for the Rams before signing with Carolina as a free agent this year.
Linebacker Jonathon Cooper, seventh round, Denver 2021
The Gahanna native developed into a revered player with Ohio State as a defensive end. He became the first recipient of the Block O jersey in honor of Bill Willis.
But he was considered a tweener entering the NFL, with questions about his size as a defensive end and speed as a linebacker. Issues from a longstanding heart issue also caused his draft stock to fall.
But Cooper has become an impact NFL player. He has started five games as a rookie, nine in 2022 and all 17 last year at outside linebacker. He had 72 tackles and 8½ sacks in a breakout 2023 season.
Offensive lineman Thayer Munford, seventh round, Las Vegas, 2022
Munford’s career is just starting, but he has already shown signs that he’ll be a draft bargain.
As a Buckeye, Munford proved his selflessness by volunteering to move from tackle to guard to make room for Dawand Jones. That might have hurt his draft stock, but it helped his versatility.
Last year with the Raiders, he played in all 17 games and started four.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NFL draft gems: See 5 recent late-round picks from Ohio State football
