2026 Virginia Draft Watch: Hoos On The Rise Up Big Boards

The Virginia Cavaliers have been one of the more surprising teams during the 2025 NCAA football season. Find out which players are making their mark amongst NFL talent evaluators with our Draft Watch.

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TOP VIRGINIA DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS FOR 2026

Location: Charlottesville, VA || Conference: ACC || Head Coach: Tony Elliott (4 years: 16-24; Overall: 16-24) || NFL Draft Picks Under Elliott: 3 || NFL First Round Picks under Elliott: 0 || Cavaliers in NFL: 12 — [Filed By Ryan Paglia, NFL Draft Bible]

The Virginia Cavaliers have had at least one NFL Draft selection in each of the past four years. During the 2025 NFL Draft, safety Jonas Sanker was chosen in the third round (No.93 overall) by the New Orleans Saints. In 2024, wide receiver/return man Malik Washington was taken in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins, while wideout Dontayvion Wicks was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round the year prior during the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2022, tight end Jelani Woods was selected in round three (No.73 overall) by the Indianapolis Colts. The last time Virginia has a first round pick was back during the 2009 NFL Draft, when offensive tackle Eugene Monroe was taken No.8 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Looking ahead at the 2026 draft-eligible prospects, Virginia has several players who are considered to be mid-to-late round prospects. Keep reading below for our list of 20 Cavaliers players on the NFL Draft radar, a look ahead at potential players for the Class of 2027 and beyond, plus our Global Prospect Tracker, keeping tabs on top international players.

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