Texas Leads NFL Draft with 37 Players Selected

Texas solidified its reputation as the leading state for producing NFL talent by having 37 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, the highest of any state, including six first-round picks such as No. 1 overall Cam Ward. This outpaced other football powerhouses like Florida and Georgia, with Texas also producing the most first-rounders and maintaining a narrow lead over Florida in total draftees over the past eight years. Georgia also had a strong showing with 23 former high school players drafted—third most among states—including three first-rounders and several notable alumni from Gwinnett County. The NFL Draft highlighted the depth and community support of Texas high school football, as four Texas high schools were among the few nationwide to produce multiple draft picks. Overall, the data underscores the enduring strength of both Texas and Georgia high school football programs as critical pipelines to the NFL.