After winning a historic National Championship last season, the Indiana Hoosiers football program is primed to make more history in the 2026 NFL Draft.
If the Hoosiers have eight players selected in the upcoming draft, they will set a program record for most IU players picked in a single NFL Draft. The current record is seven, which was set in 1976 when there were just 28 NFL teams and whopping 17 rounds in the draft. After sending a program record nine players to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February, Indiana is well-positioned to tie or break that 50-year record.
The 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin this Thursday, April 23 and run through Saturday, April 25 in Pittsburgh. Here is a look at where all the NFL hopefuls from Bloomington could end up.
QB Fernando Mendoza: Las Vegas Raiders (1st round, 1st overall)
There's little doubt about this one. Barring any wild unforeseen last-second circumstances, Fernando Mendoza will be selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Entering Year 1 under new head coach Klint Kubiak, the Raiders have already started laying the ground work to select Mendoza with the 1st overall pick. Offseason additions on the offensive side of the ball include C Tyler Linderbaum, WR Jalen Naylor, and 14-year NFL QB Kirk Cousins, who could be the perfect mentor for Mendoza as he begins his NFL career.
WR Omar Cooper Jr: Los Angeles Rams (1st round, 13th overall)
The Rams are looking to keep their title window open a bit longer as Matthew Stafford enters his 18th season in the NFL. Los Angeles hasn't had many first round draft picks over the last few seasons, and as they continue to go all-in, adding a dynamic receiver like Omar Cooper Jr. could make for a solid addition.
Cooper owns elite speed and ability to create yards after the catch. Both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams have their respective concerns heading into the new season, and adding Cooper could give Stafford another elite weapon to work with.
CB D'Angelo Ponds: New York Jets (2nd round, 44th overall)
The Jets traded former 4th overall pick Sauce Gardner to the Colts in November. Needing new talent in their cornerback room, landing D'Angelo Ponds on Day 2 would make perfect sense for Aaron Glenn's squad.
Ponds has seen his stock continue to rise over the past few months thanks in large part to posting an impressive 43.5-inch vertical jump at the combine. That mark was tied for 2nd among all participants this year and 4th in combine history among cornerbacks.
WR Elijah Sarratt: Buffalo Bills (3rd round, 91st overall)
Looking to get Josh Allen as many weapons as possible, the Bills added veteran WR DJ Moore earlier this offseason. Adding Elijah Sarratt to the mix could prove to be very beneficial as well. Sarratt is extremely reliable, as he hauled in 65 catches for 830 yards with an NCAA-leading 15 touchdowns this past season. He excels at bringing down contested catches, and ends his collegiate career with a contested catch rate of 60%. That skill set could make for a great fit in Buffalo's pass-heavy offense.
LB Aiden Fisher: Indianapolis Colts (5th round, 156th overall)
Aiden Fisher became Indiana’s first-ever First Team All-American linebacker in 2024, and was the first Hoosier defender to earn multiple First Team All-America honors. The Colts are a team that lack experience and depth at the linebacker position, and Fisher's versatile skill set could be a solid addition.
RB Kaelon Black: Las Vegas Raiders (5th round, 175th overall)
A guy like Kaelon Black could be the perfect backup and change of pace back behind Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas. Black finished the 2025-26 season with 1,040 rushing yards and led the Hoosiers with 10 rushing touchdowns. The Raiders have already bolstered their offensive line over the offseason, and after ranking 7th in the NFL with 266 rushing attempts last season, it seems likely that Las Vegas searches for another RB to help Jeanty out in the draft. Black could be the man for the job.
S Louis Moore: 6th round, 199th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals could use all the help they can get on the defensive side of the ball in this week's draft. They already started that process last week by trading for Dexter Lawrence. After adding to the defensive front, addressing the secondary needs to be a point of emphasis, and Louis Moore should be available at No. 199 overall. He started all 15 games in the IU defensive backfield this past season, and earned Second Team All-American honors by the Associated Press.
C Pat Coogan: Cleveland Browns (6th round, 206th overall)
Pat Coogan can provide instant depth to any NFL offensive line out there. Coogan was a big reason for Indiana's offensive efficiency this past season, as he started all 15 games at center. He shined down the stretch in the CFP, and became the first offensive lineman to win Offensive MVP honors at the Rose Bowl Game since USC's Norm Verry in 1944. One of Todd Monken's top priorities for Year 1 is building up the Cleveland offensive line, and adding an experienced difference-maker like Coogan makes a lot of sense.
TE Riley Nowakowski: Detroit Lions (6th round, 213th overall)
Hoosier TE Riley Nowakowski is a dark horse Day 3 pick flying under the radar. Detroit could be an ideal landing spot. Sam LaPorta, Tyler Conklin, and Brock Wright all occupy the TE room now, but all are facing expiring contracts in 2027. The lack of long-term options could open the door for Nowakowski in the Motor City.
RB Roman Hemby: Houston Texans (7th round, 243rd overall)
The Texans brought in David Montgomery earlier this offseason, but they could still be on the lookout for another running back. Montgomery thrived in Detroit in a two-RB system with Jahmyr Gibbs, and Houston may be interested in putting a multi-RB system in place as well. Roman Hemby is an appealing choice, as he racked up 1,120 yards and 4.9 yards per carry to go along with seven touchdowns for IU this past season.
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