By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
April 27, 2022
In anticipation of Thursday’s 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, here are summary capsules for each Pac-12 program.
They include the number of players drafted all-time, Pac-12 Era picks, the highest-ever pick, the most recent First Rounder, the number of players taken in 2021, all-time First-Rounders, and First Rounders in the Pac-12 Era.
Arizona Wildcats
| Players Drafted All-Time | 184 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 12 |
| Highest Pick | Ricky Huntly 7th overall 1984 Bengals |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Antoine Carson 27th Overall 2008 Chargers |
| Drafted 2021 | 2 |
| All-time First Rounders | 11 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 0 |
The last Arizona player selected in rounds 1, 2 or 3 was Nick Foles in the Third Round in 2012.
Last year, both Arizona players selected were taken in consecutive picks in the Sixth Round: Roy Lopez, picked 195 by Houston, and Gary Brightwell, picked 196 by NY Giants.
Arizona State Sun Devils
| Players Drafted All-Time | 250 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 20 |
| Highest Pick | Charley Taylor 3rd Overall 1964 Washington |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Brandon Aiyuk 25th Overall 2020 49ers |
| Drafted 2021 | 1 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 26 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 3 |
Arizona State has had at least one player selected in every draft since 2014 and at least two players in each of those except in 2017 when Zane Gonzalez was the only player selected, and last year when it was just Frank Darby.
Since 1961, the Sun Devils have only failed to have a player selected in 2013.
California Golden Bears
| Players Drafted All-Time | 241 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 25 |
| Highest Pick | Steve Bartkowski 1st Overall 1975 Falcons & Jared Goff 1st Overall 2016 Rams |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Jared Goff 1st Overall 2016 |
| Drafted 2021 | 1 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 27 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 1 |
The last six players drafted from Cal—since 2018—have all played on the defensive side of the ball. This came after all seven of the Bears draftees were offensive players in 2016 and 2017.
In the Pac-12 era, Cal has had 12 defensive players and 12 offensive players selected (also one punter).
Colorado Buffaloes
| Players Drafted All-Time | 276 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 15 |
| Highest Pick | Bo Matthews 2nd Overall 1974 Chargers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Nate Solder 17th Overall 2011 Patriots & Jimmy Smith 27th Overall Ravens |
| Drafted 2021 | 1 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 24 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 0 |
The Buffs have had 10 players selected in the last five NFL Drafts.
While Colorado has not seen a player go in the First Round since joining the Pac-12, the Buffs have produced four Second-Rounders and two Third-Rounders since 2012.
Oregon Ducks
| Players Drafted All-Time | 229 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 35 |
| Highest Pick | George Shaw 1st Overall 1955 Baltimore Colts |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Penei Sewell 7th Overall 2021 Lions |
| Drafted 2021 | 5 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 19 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 7 |
The Ducks have produced a Draft choice every year except 2017 since 1985.
In the last three years, Oregon has had 13 players selected with five coming from the offensive side of the ball and eight on defense.
Ten of UO’s 19 First-Round picks have been since 2002.
Oregon State Beavers
| Players Drafted All-Time | 167 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 18 |
| Highest Pick | Terry Baker 1st Overall 1963 Rams |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Brandin Cooks 20th Overall 2014 Saints |
| Drafted 2021 | 2 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 6 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 1 |
OSU has had five players selected in the last two seasons.
Six of the last seven Beavers selected have been offensive players. Since 2009, only two Beavers have been selected in the opening two rounds of the draft.
Stanford Cardinal
| Players Drafted All-Time | 272 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 42 |
| Highest Pick | Bobby Garrett 1954, Browns Jim Plunkett 1971, Patriots John Elway 1983, Baltimore Colts Andrew Luck 2012 Indianapolis Colts All first overall |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Solomon Thomas 3rd Overall 2017 49ers & Christian McCaffrey 8th Overall 2017 Pantheres |
| Drafted 2021 | 5 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 25 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 6 |
Stanford has had at least two players selected in every draft since 2010.
Only in 2009 and 2008 since 2000 have the Cardinal not had a player selected.
UCLA Bruins
| Players Drafted All-Time | 327 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 36 |
| Highest Pick | Troy Aikman 1st Overall 1989 Cowboys |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Takkarist McKinley 26th Overall 2017 Falcons |
| Drafted 2021 | 2 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 35 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 6 |
The last time UCLA did not produce a Draft selection was in 2012.
The Bruins have seen at least three players selected in every draft since 2012 with the lone exceptions being in 2019 when Caleb Wilson was the only player drafted, and last season when two Bruins went.
UCLA has had at least one player drafted every year since 1998 except for 2012 and 2009.
USC Trojans
| Players Drafted All-Time | 516 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 40 |
| Highest Pick | Ron Yary 1968, Vikings OJ Simpson 1969, Bills Ricky Bell 1977, Buccaneers Keyshawn Johnson 1996, Jets Carson Palmer 2003, Bengals All first overall |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Alijah Vera-Tucker 14th Overall 2021 Jets |
| Drafted 2021 | 5 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 83 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 8 |
The last time USC did not have a player selected was in 1938.
At least one Trojan has been selected in every NFL Draft except 1938 and the first draft in 1936.
In addition to 1936 and ‘38, the only time USC failed to have at least two players selected was 1937 and 1998.
Utah Utes
| Players Drafted All-Time | 168 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 32 |
| Highest Pick | Alex Smith 1st Overall 2005 49ers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Garett Bolles 20th Overall 2017 Broncos |
| Drafted 2021 | 0 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 8 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 2 |
Twenty-one Utes have been selected in the last four NFL Drafts.
Thirteen of the last 32 Utah players drafted have been taken in the first three rounds of the draft. The last time Utah did not have a player selected was in 2008.
Washington Huskies
| Players Drafted All-Time | 311 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 35 |
| Highest Pick | Steve Emtman 1st Overall 1992 Colts |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Joe Tryon 32nd Overall 2021 Buccaneers |
| Drafted 2021 | 4 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 27 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 8 |
Washington has had at least two players drafted in each of the last eight drafts and the Huskies have seen at least one player selected every year since 2010.
Since 1962, the only seasons the Huskies have not had a player selected were in 2003, 2008, and 2009.
Washington State Cougars
| Players Drafted All-Time | 195 |
| Pac-12 Era Picks | 12 |
| Highest Pick | Drew Bledsoe No. 1 to New England Patriots in 1993 |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Andre Dillard 22nd Overall 2019 Eagles |
| Drafted 2021 | 0 |
| All-Time First Rounders | 13 |
| First Rounders Pac-12 Era | 2 |
Last year was the first time since 2013 that WSU did not have a player drafted. Since 2000, 30 Cougars have heard their names called.
Since the 1995 draft, WSU has had a player selected in every draft except for 2010, 2012, and 2021. The last three offensive players selected from WSU have all been drafted by teams from the AFC South.
Follow Stephen on Twitter @StephenVilardo and his organization @SERCenter. Visit his website at sercstats.com.
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