Stephen Vilardo’s 2022 Pac-12 NFL Draft Capsules

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

Posted on April 27, 2022


  By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports

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’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 20212
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.

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

Arizona State Sun Devils

 

Players Drafted All-Time250
Pac-12 Era Picks20
Highest PickCharley Taylor
3rd Overall 1964
Washington
Most Recent 1st RounderBrandon Aiyuk
25th Overall 2020
49ers
Drafted 20211
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-Time241
Pac-12 Era Picks25
Highest PickSteve Bartkowski
1st Overall 1975
Falcons &
Jared Goff
1st Overall 2016
Rams
Most Recent 1st RounderJared Goff
1st Overall
2016
Drafted 20211
All-Time First Rounders27
First Rounders Pac-12 Era1

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’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 20211
All-Time First Rounders24
First Rounders Pac-12 Era0

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’s Penei Sewell | Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Oregon Ducks
Players Drafted All-Time229
Pac-12 Era Picks35
Highest PickGeorge Shaw
1st Overall 1955
Baltimore Colts
Most Recent 1st RounderPenei Sewell
7th Overall 2021
Lions
Drafted 20215
All-Time First Rounders19
First Rounders Pac-12 Era7

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’s Brandin Cooks | Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State Beavers
Players Drafted All-Time167
Pac-12 Era Picks18
Highest PickTerry Baker
1st Overall 1963
Rams
Most Recent 1st RounderBrandin Cooks
20th Overall 2014
Saints
Drafted 20212
All-Time First Rounders6
First Rounders Pac-12 Era1

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’s Solomon Thomas | Stanford Athletics

Stanford Cardinal
Players Drafted All-Time272
Pac-12 Era Picks42
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 20215
All-Time First Rounders25
First Rounders Pac-12 Era6

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

UCLA Bruins
Players Drafted All-Time327
Pac-12 Era Picks36
Highest PickTroy Aikman
1st Overall 1989
Cowboys
Most Recent 1st RounderTakkarist McKinley
26th Overall 2017
Falcons
Drafted 20212
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 last season when two Bruins went.

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

Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) | Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

usc logoUSC Trojans
Players Drafted All-Time516
Pac-12 Era Picks40
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 RounderAlijah Vera-Tucker
14th Overall 2021
Jets
Drafted 20215
All-Time First Rounders83
First Rounders Pac-12 Era8

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’s Garett Bolles | Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Utah Utes

 

Players Drafted All-Time168
Pac-12 Era Picks32
Highest PickAlex Smith
1st Overall 2005
49ers
Most Recent 1st RounderGarett Bolles
20th Overall 2017
Broncos
Drafted 20210
All-Time First Rounders8
First Rounders Pac-12 Era2

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.

Joe Tryon | KOMO Newsradio

Washington Huskies
Players Drafted All-Time311
Pac-12 Era Picks35
Highest PickSteve Emtman
1st Overall 1992
Colts
Most Recent 1st RounderJoe Tryon
32nd Overall 2021
Buccaneers
Drafted 20214
All-Time First Rounders27
First Rounders Pac-12 Era8

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’s Andre Dillard | David Zalubowski / AP

Washington State Cougars

 

Players Drafted All-Time195
Pac-12 Era Picks12
Highest PickDrew Bledsoe No. 1 to New England Patriots in 1993
Most Recent 1st RounderAndre Dillard
22nd Overall 2019
Eagles
Drafted 20210
All-Time First Rounders13
First Rounders Pac-12 Era2

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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