Stephen Vilardo’s 2023 Pac-12 NFL Draft Capsules

Each Conference program's pro football draft history at a glance

Posted on April 27, 2023


  By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports

In anticipation of the 2023 NFL Draft, 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 and all-time First-Rounders, the number of players taken in 2022, and more.

The 88th NFL draft runs from April 27th through April 29th in Kansas City, Missouri, which is hosting the event for the first time.

How to Watch the 2023 NFL Draft

NFL Draft Day 1 (Round 1)
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

NFL Draft Day 2 (Rounds 2-3)
Friday, 4:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

NFL Draft Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

Arizona’s Antoine Cason | Arizona Athletics

Arizona Wildcats
Players Drafted All-Time184
Pac-12 Era Picks12
Highest PickRicky Huntly
7th overall 1984
Bengals
Most Recent 1st RounderAntoine Carson
27th Overall 2008
Chargers
Drafted 20220
All-time First Rounders11
First Rounders Pac-12 Era0

The last Arizona player selected in rounds 1, 2, or 3 was Nick Foles in the Third Round in 2012.

Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk | Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Arizona State Sun Devils

 

Players Drafted All-Time254
Pac-12 Era Picks24
Highest PickCharley Taylor
3rd Overall 1964
Washington
Most Recent 1st RounderBrandon Aiyuk
25th Overall 2020
49ers
Drafted 20224
All-Time First Rounders26
First Rounders Pac-12 Era3

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.

Cal’s Jared Goff | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

California Golden Bears
Players Drafted All-Time243
Pac-12 Era Picks27
Highest PickSteve Bartkowski
1st Overall 1975
Falcons &
Jared Goff
1st Overall 2016
Rams
Most Recent 1st RounderJared Goff
1st Overall
2016
Drafted 20222
All-Time First Rounders27
First Rounders Pac-12 Era1

The last eight players drafted from Cal have all played on the defensive side of the ball, since 2018. This came after all seven of the Bears draftees were offensive players in 2016 & 2017.

In the Pac-12 era Cal has had 14 defensive players and 12 offensive players selected (also one punter).

Colorado’s Nate Solder | Colorado Athletics

Colorado Buffaloes
Players Drafted All-Time276
Pac-12 Era Picks15
Highest PickBo Matthews
2nd Overall 1974
Chargers
Most Recent 1st RounderNate Solder
17th Overall 2011
Patriots &
Jimmy Smith
27th Overall
Ravens
Drafted 20220
All-Time First Rounders24
First Rounders Pac-12 Era0

The Buffs have had 10 players selected in the last six 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.

Kayvon Thibodeaux | The Athletic

 


Oregon Ducks
Players Drafted All-Time230
Pac-12 Era Picks36
Highest PickGeorge Shaw
1st Overall 1955
Baltimore Colts
Most Recent 1st RounderKayvon Thibodeaux
5th overall 2022
Giants
Drafted 20221
All-Time First Rounders20
First Rounders Pac-12 Era8

The Ducks have produced a Draft choice every year except 2017 since 1985.

In the last four years, Oregon has had 14 players selected with nine of them coming from the defensive side of the ball.

Eleven of UO’s 20 First-Round picks have come since 2002.

Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks | Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State Beavers
Players Drafted All-Time168
Pac-12 Era Picks19
Highest PickTerry Baker
1st Overall 1963
Rams
Most Recent 1st RounderBrandin Cooks
20th Overall 2014
Saints
Drafted 20221
All-Time First Rounders6
First Rounders Pac-12 Era1

OSU has had six players selected in the last three seasons.

Seven of the last eight Beavers selected have been offensive players. Since 2009, only two Beavers have been selected in the opening two rounds of the draft.

Stanford’s Solomon Thomas | Stanford Athletics

Stanford Cardinal
Players Drafted All-Time273
Pac-12 Era Picks43
Highest PickBobby Garrett 1954, Browns
Jim Plunkett 1971, Patriots
John Elway 1983, Baltimore Colts
Andrew Luck 2012 Indianapolis Colts
All first overall 
Most Recent 1st RounderSolomon Thomas
3rd Overall 2017
49ers &
Christian McCaffrey
8th Overall 2017
Pantheres
Drafted 20221
All-Time First Rounders25
First Rounders Pac-12 Era6

Last year was the only time since 2010 that Stanford has not had at least two players selected.

Only in 2009 and 2008 since 2000 have the Cardinal not had a player selected.

UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA Bruins
Players Drafted All-Time333
Pac-12 Era Picks42
Highest PickTroy Aikman
1st Overall 1989
Cowboys
Most Recent 1st RounderTakkarist McKinley
26th Overall 2017
Falcons
Drafted 20226
All-Time First Rounders35
First Rounders Pac-12 Era6

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 2021 when two Bruins went.

UCLA has had at least one player drafted every year since 1998 except for 2012 and 2009.

USC’s Drake London | Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

usc logoUSC Trojans
Players Drafted All-Time519
Pac-12 Era Picks43
Highest PickRon 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 RounderDrake London
8th overall 2022
Falcons
Drafted 20223
All-Time First Rounders84
First Rounders Pac-12 Era9

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 in 1938 and the first draft in 1936.

In addition to 1936 and 1938, the only time USC failed to have at least two players selected was 1937 and 1998.

Utah’s Devin Lloyd | AP Photo

Utah Utes

 

Players Drafted All-Time169
Pac-12 Era Picks33
Highest PickAlex Smith
1st Overall 2005
49ers
Most Recent 1st RounderDevin Lloyd
27th overall 2022
Jaguars
Drafted 20221
All-Time First Rounders9
First Rounders Pac-12 Era3

Twenty-two Utes have been selected in the last six NFL Drafts.

Fourteen of the last 33 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.

Trent McDuffie | 247Sports

Washington Huskies
Players Drafted All-Time315
Pac-12 Era Picks39
Highest PickSteve Emtman
1st Overall 1992
Colts
Most Recent 1st RounderTrent McDuffie
21st overall 2022
Chiefs
Drafted 20224
All-Time First Rounders28
First Rounders Pac-12 Era9

Washington has had at least two players drafted in each of the last nine 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’s Andre Dillard | David Zalubowski / AP

Washington State Cougars

 

Players Drafted All-Time197
Pac-12 Era Picks14
Highest PickDrew Bledsoe
1st overall 1993
Patriots
Most Recent 1st RounderAndre Dillard
22nd Overall 2019
Eagles
Drafted 20212
All-Time First Rounders13
First Rounders Pac-12 Era2

Washington State has had at least one player drafted every year since 2013 with the exception of 2021.

Since the 1995 draft, WSU has had a player selected in every draft except for 2010, 2012, and 2021.

Follow Stephen on Twitter @StephenVilardo and his organization @SERCenter. Visit his website at sercstats.com.




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