Three days. Seven rounds. Two hundred and fifty-seven picks. Seven Gators.
At the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, hundreds of collegiate players’ lifelong dreams came true as they were selected by one of 32 organizations.
And there was a trail of Orange and Blue left all over the festivities.
Florida saw seven players selected throughout the draft, one in each round. Overall, the Gators were one of only two programs to have a player selected in all seven rounds, the other being the defending national champions, Indiana.
It also marked the first time in Florida program history that UF had a player drafted in each round of the draft.
Here’s a breakdown of where the former Gators are heading.
Caleb Banks — Minnesota Vikings: Round 1, Pick 18
The first Florida player off the board of this year's NFL Draft wasn’t any surprise. Defensive lineman Caleb Banks was selected in the first round with the No. 18 pick by the Minnesota Vikings. That made him the first defensive lineman selected in the draft.
Banks spent three seasons with the Gators after transferring from Louisville following the 2022 season. In 2023, he started 11 games, recording 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. However, Banks truly emerged in 2024. In ten starts that season, Banks racked up 7 TFL's, 4.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Heading into the 2025 season, Banks was a projected first-round pick by multiple experts. But injuries plagued his final season in Gainesville. In only three games, he recorded six tackles, a TFL and a fumble recovery.
After a strong Senior Bowl showing in January, Banks re-aggravated the foot injury that kept him out of most of the season at the NFL Draft Combine in February. However, on Wednesday, Banks sent a letter to NFL teams, stating he is "on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June," per ESPN. Banks had surgery on his left foot on March 9.
With assumed health heading into his rookie season, the 6-foot-6, 327-pounder will look to make an immediate impact on the Vikings' defense as a projected starter, per ESPN.
Jake Slaughter — Los Angeles Chargers: Round 2, Pick 63
One of the most highly decorated offensive linemen over the past two seasons, center Jake Slaughter was selected with the penultimate pick of the draft’s second round by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Slaughter first emerged as a starter in 2023 but truly broke out in 2024. That season, he led the UF offensive line with 800 snaps in 13 games and led the team in Pro Football Focus offensive, pass blocking and run blocking grades. He was named to the AP All-American First Team and the AP All-SEC First Team that same year.
Then, in his redshirt senior 2025 season, he made 12 more starts and earned an 87.1 PFF pass blocking grade. He was again named to the AP All-SEC First Team and was also named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, an award given to the most outstanding center in the country.
Slaughter was the second center taken in this year’s draft, only behind the winner of the Rimington Award, Iowa’s Logan Jones (Round 2, Pick 57 to the Chicago Bears). In Los Angeles, Slaughter is expected to shift to right guard, where he is the projected starter, per ESPN.
Austin Barber — Cleveland Browns: Round 3, Pick 86
Offensive tackle Austin Barber, another longtime member of the Gator offensive line, was chosen by the Cleveland Browns with the 86th pick of the 2026 Draft.
Barber saw significant playing time in each of the past four seasons, making 48 starts. This past season, he was named to the All-SEC Third Team after playing 750 snaps and recording an 82.2 PFF run blocking grade. The Jacksonville native also participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl.
He was the ninth offensive tackle selected in this year’s draft and was the second one taken by the Browns after the organization snagged Utah’s Spencer Fano with the No. 9 overall selection.
Barber is likely to serve as a reserve tackle in 2026, sitting behind Fano and veteran Tytus Howard on the depth chart, per ESPN.
Devin Moore — Dallas Cowboys: Round 4, Pick 114
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys snagged former Gator Shemar James in the fifth round and picked up Trikweze Bridges before the season began.
And in 2026, another Florida standout is headed to the Lone Star State: Devin Moore. Dallas selected the 6-foot-3 cornerback with the No. 114 overall selection in this year’s draft.
Moore, who was limited to seven or fewer games in the first three seasons of his UF career, was healthy in 2026. Over 11 starts, Moore recorded 35 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and four pass breakups. He also earned an 84.2 PFF defensive grade.
The Cowboys made Moore the 14th corner selected in this year’s class. He immediately slots in a rotational role in the Dallas secondary, which features first-round selection Caleb Downs and veteran DaRon Bland.
George Gumbs Jr. — Indianapolis Colts: Round 5, Pick 156
In 2021, George Gumbs Jr. walked on at Northern Illinois as a reserve wide receiver. Before the 2024 season, he transferred to Florida. Two years later, he is an NFL draft selection. The Indianapolis Colts chose the edge rusher with the No. 156 pick in the 2026 Draft.
Gumbs has been one of the more productive Florida defenders during his two-year stint in Gainesville. In 2024, he finished second on the team in tackles for loss (8) and sacks (5). He then added 6.5 TFL’s and 2.5 sacks in 2025.
The 17th EDGE taken in this year’s draft, Gumbs joins seventh-round selection Caden Curry as rotational pieces in the Colts' pass-rush room. Laiatu Latu paced the Indianapolis team with 8.5 sacks in 2025.
Trey Smack — Green Bay Packers: Round 6, Pick 216
The first and only kicker selected in this year’s draft, Trey Smack is headed to the Pack. The Green Bay Packers selected the longtime Gator kicker with the final pick of the sixth round.
In three seasons as Florida’s primary kicker, Smack connected on 53 of his 64 field goal attempts, good for a 82.8% mark. He also hit 100 of 101 extra point attempts. Notably, Smack hit 10 of 13 kicks from 50-plus yards, setting the UF record for most 50-plus yard field goal makes. He hit a 65-yard field goal in front of NFL scouts at the Florida Pro Day in March.
Smack is expected to be in competition with veteran Brandon McManus and third-year Lucas Havrisik for the Packers’ starting kicker role. McManus served as Green Bay’s kicker in 2025, making 80% of his field goal attempts.
Tommy Doman Jr. — Buffalo Bills: Round 7, Pick 239
Florida’s final pick of the 2026 Draft spent the least amount of time with the program, but still made an impact in his lone season in Gainesville. Punter Tommy Doman Jr. was selected in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills.
In 2025, Doman punted 50 times for a total of 2,202 yards. His longest punt was 71 yards and 17 of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line. He was named to the PFF All-SEC Team.
Doman was the second of two punters selected in the draft after the Baltimore Ravens selected Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley in the sixth round. Doman will immediately compete with veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky, whose 45.3-yard average ranked No. 28 in the NFL last year.
Tyreak Sapp, J. Michael Sturdivant, Rocco Underwood — Undrafted Free Agents
While some former Gators were not among the 257 players selected Thursday through Saturday, a number have found new homes in the ensuing undrafted free agency period.
Edge rusher Tyreak Sapp, who totalled 10 sacks over the past three seasons, agreed to join Barber in Cleveland, signing with the Browns. Cleveland did not draft an EDGE, which could potentially open a role for the longtime Gator.
Also, wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, who spent one year with Florida after stints at UCLA and California, agreed to terms with the Packers, joining the aforementioned Smack. Green Bay also did not spend a draft selection on a wide receiver.
Long snapper Rocco Underwood, who earned the 2024 Patrick Mannely Award as the top long snapper in college football, was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Underwood is expected to compete for the starting role during training camp.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is a junior sports journalism student in his seventh semester at The Alligator. He serves as The Alligator's assistant sports editor and football beat coordinator. He previously served as The Alligator's sports editor and as a reporter for football, women's tennis, volleyball, lacrosse and sports enterprise. He also has made multiple appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. Max wants to shoutout his cats, Scooter and Zoe, and niche former Florida Panthers players (shoutout Maxim Mamin).
