Cougars NFL Draft History
Houston has sent 193 players to the NFL including 15 first-round draft picks. Payton Turner was the latest first round selection, going No. 28 overall to the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cougars have had at least one draft pick in each of the last nine NFL Drafts (2016-24), a mark which ranks second among Texas FBS programs. Three-plus Cougars have been selected in six of the last nine NFL Drafts (2016-24), ranking second in Texas.
| YEAR | ROUND | PICK | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION |
| 2024 | 2 | Patrick Paul | Dolphins | OT | |
| 2023 | 3 | Nathaniel Dell | Texans | WR | |
| 5 | Clayton Tune | Cardinals | QB | ||
| 7 | Derek Parish | Jaguars | FB | ||
| 7 | Gervarrius Owens | Giants | DB | ||
| 2022 | 2 | Logan Hall | Buccaneers | DE | |
| 3 | Marcus Jones | Patriots | CB | ||
| 4 | Damarion Williams | Ravens | CB | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 28 | Payton Turner | Saints | DL |
| 6 | Marquez Stevenson | Bills | WR | ||
| 7 | Grant Stuard | Buccaneers | LB | ||
| 2020 | 3 | Josh Jones | Cardinals | OL | |
| 2019 | 1 | 9 | Ed Oliver | Bills | DL |
| 4 | Isaiah Johnson | Raiders | CB | ||
| 6 | Emeke Egbule | Chargers | LB | ||
| 2018 | 7 | Matthew Adams | Colts | LB | |
| 2017 | 2 | Tyus Bowser | Ravens | LB | |
| 4 | Howard Wilson | Browns | CB | ||
| 6 | Brandon Wilson | Bengals | S | ||
| 2016 | 1 | 24 | William Jackson III | Bengals | CB |
| 6 | Elandon Roberts | Patriots | LB | ||
| 7 | Demarcus Ayers | Steelers | WR | ||
| 2013 | 1 | 12 | D.J. Hayden | Raiders | CB |
| 2010 | 6 | Fendi Onobun | Rams | TE | |
| 2009 | 2 | Sebastian Vollmer | Patriots | OT | |
| 2008 | 2 | Donnie Avery | Rams | WR | |
| 2007 | 2 | Kevin Kolb | Eagles | QB | |
| 2005 | 2 | Stanford Routt | Raiders | CB | |
| 2004 | 6 | Rex Hadnot | Dolphins | C | |
| 2003 | 6 | Hanik Milligan | Chargers | S | |
| 2000 | 7 | Mike Green | Titans | FB | |
| 1998 | 4 | Leonta Rheams | Patriots | DL | |
| 7 | Ben Fricke | Giants | OL | ||
| 1997 | 1 | 23 | Antowain Smith | Bills | RB |
| 4 | Delmonico Montgomery | Colts | CB | ||
| 6 | Marcus Spriggs | Bills | OL | ||
| 6 | Chuck Clements | Jets | QB | ||
| 1996 | 2 | Dedric Mathis | Colts | DB | |
| 5 | Jimmy Hendon | Jaguars | OL | ||
| 1994 | 1 | 25 | Billy Milner | Dolphins | OT |
| 1993 | 2 | Allen Aldridge | Broncos | LB | |
| 4 | Lamar Smith | Seahawks | RB | ||
| 6 | Ryan McCoy | Eagles | LB | ||
| 1992 | 1 | 6 | David Klingler | Bengals | QB |
| 6 | Gleen Cadrez | Jets | DE | ||
| 7 | John Brown | Bears | WR | ||
| 9 | Ostell Miles | Bengals | RB | ||
| 11 | Mike Gisler | Saints | OG | ||
| 1991 | 7 | Reggie Burnette | Packers | LB | |
| 9 | Chuck Weatherspoon | Eagles | SB | ||
| 1990 | 1 | 7 | Andre Ware | Lions | QB |
| 1 | 15 | Lamar Lathon | Oilers | LB | |
| 2 | Alton Montgomery | Broncos | SS | ||
| 3 | Alfred Oglesby | Dolphins | DT | ||
| 3 | Craig Veasey | Steelers | DE | ||
| 11 | Chris Ellison | Falcons | SS | ||
| 11 | Joey Banes | Oilers | OT | ||
| 1989 | 5 | Johnny Jackson | 49ers | DB | |
| 5 | Glenn Montgomery | Oilers | DT | ||
| 10 | Jason Phillips | Lions | WR | ||
| 1986 | 3 | T.J. Turner | Dolphins | DT | |
| 7 | Carl Hilton | Vikings | TE | ||
| 12 | Larry Shepherd | Raiders | WR | ||
| 1985 | 2 | Simon Fletcher | Broncos | DE | |
| 3 | Audray McMillian | Patriots | FS | ||
| 12 | Bryant Winn | Redskins | LB | ||
| 1984 | 6 | Eugene Lockhart | Cowboys | LB | |
| 11 | Dwayne Love | Rams | FB | ||
| 12 | David Roberson | Jets | FL | ||
| 12 | Donald Jordan | Bears | RB | ||
| 12 | Carl Lewis | Cowboys | WR | ||
| 1983 | 5 | Weedy Harris | Broncos | LB | |
| 8 | James Durham | Bills | DB | ||
| 11 | Calvin Eason | Patriots | DB | ||
| 1982 | 4 | David Barrett | Buccaneers | FB | |
| 6 | Lonell Phea | Jets | SE | ||
| 7 | Alvin Ruben | Broncos | TE | ||
| 1981 | 1 | 27 | Leonard Mitchell | Eagles | DE |
| 8 | Hosea Taylor | Colts | NG | ||
| 1980 | 4 | David Hodge | 49ers | LB | |
| 7 | Melvin Jones | Redskins | G | ||
| 11 | Delrick Brown | Cardinals | DB | ||
| 1979 | 1 | 20 | Willis Adams | Browns | WR |
| 7 | Emmett King | Jets | RB | ||
| 8 | Randy Love | Patriots | RB | ||
| 10 | Grady Ebensberger | Rams | DT | ||
| 1978 | 3 | Don Bass | Bengals | TE | |
| 4 | Alois Blackwell | Cowboys | RB | ||
| 1977 | 1 | 8 | Wilson Whitley | Bengals | DT |
| 3 | Val Belcher | Cowboys | G | ||
| 4 | Guy Brown | Cowboys | LB | ||
| 8 | Eddie Foster | Oilers | WR | ||
| 1976 | 4 | Everett Little | Buccaneers | G | |
| 1975 | 1 | 5 | Mack Mitchell | Browns | DE |
| 3 | Gerald Hill | Dolphins | LB | ||
| 4 | Robert Giblin | Giants | DB | ||
| 4 | Marshall Johnson | Colts | DB | ||
| 4 | Harold Evans | Steelers | LB | ||
| 6 | Bubba Broussard | Vikings | LB | ||
| 7 | Reggie Cherry | Bills | RB | ||
| 9 | Larry Keller | Chargers | LB | ||
| 16 | Miller Bassler | Steelers | TE | ||
| 1974 | 3 | Steve George | Cardinals | DT | |
| 1972 | 1 | 5 | Riley Odoms | Broncos | TE |
| 2 | Robert Newhouse | Cowboys | RB | ||
| 3 | Tom Mozisek | Giants | RB | ||
| 9 | Kent Branstetter | Saints | DT | ||
| 13 | Willie Roberts | Oilers | DB | ||
| 1971 | 1 | 16 | Elmo Wright | Chiefs | WR |
| 2 | Charles Ford | Bears | DB | ||
| 3 | Charles Hall | Browns | LB | ||
| 4 | Carlos Bell | Saints | RB | ||
| 6 | Earl Thomas | Bears | TE | ||
| 10 | L.D. Rowden | Bears | LB | ||
| 13 | Bennie Frye | Vikings | C | ||
| 15 | Ted Heiskell | Cardinals | RB | ||
| 16 | Craig Robinson | Saints | T | ||
| 16 | Rich Harrington | Colts | QB | ||
| 1970 | 5 | Bill Bridges | Bills | OG | |
| 6 | Rusty Clark | 49ers | QB | ||
| 7 | Jim Strong | 49ers | RB | ||
| 1969 | 2 | Paul Gibson | Falcons (N) | RB | |
| 5 | John Peacock | Oilers (A) | DB | ||
| 7 | Royce Berry | Bengals (A) | DE | ||
| 7 | Cliff Larson | Jets (A) | DE | ||
| 13 | Mike Simpson | Chargers (A) | DB | ||
| 16 | Ken Spain | Lions (N) | DE | ||
| 1968 | 3 | Ken Hebert | Steelers (N) | FL/K | |
| 4 | Warren McVea | Bengals (A) | FL | ||
| 4 | Gus Hollomon | Broncos (A) | DB | ||
| 9 | Tom Paciorek | Dolphins (A) | DB | ||
| 11 | Greg Brezina | Falcons (N) | LB | ||
| 11 | Bill Pickens | Colts (N) | G | ||
| 14 | Rich Stotter | Oilers (A) | G | ||
| 15 | Don Bean | Falcons (N) | FL | ||
| 17 | George Nordgren | Cowboys (N) | FB | ||
| 1967 | 2 | Bo Burris | Saints (N) | DB | |
| 2 | Tom Beer | Broncos (A) | TE | ||
| 4 | Carl Cunningham | Broncos (A) | DE | ||
| 4 | Dick Post | Chargers (A) | DB | ||
| 9 | Paul Otis | Steelers (N) | DT | ||
| 12 | Charles Fowler | Browns (A) | T | ||
| 13 | Dennis Furjanic | Broncos (A) | DE | ||
| 1965 | 20 | Gus Brezina | Oilers (A) | B | |
| 1963 | 20 | Bobby Brezina | Packers (N) | B | |
| 1962 | 5 | Dan Birdwell | Lions (N) | C | |
| 6 | Dan Birdwell | Raiders (A) | C | ||
| 7 | Jim Norris | Raiders (A) | T | ||
| 8 | Murdock Hooper | Lions (N) | T | ||
| 10 | Jim Norris | Rams (N) | T | ||
| 15 | Walter Nikirk | Rams (N) | T | ||
| 20 | Joe Bob Isbell | Oilers (A) | L | ||
| 22 | Ken Bolin | Oilers (A) | B | ||
| 28 | Walter Nikirk | Titans (A) | T | ||
| 1961 | 10 | Errol Linden | Lions (N) | E | |
| 29 | Errol Linden | Oilers (A) | E | ||
| 1960 | 8 | Jim Colvin | Colts (N) | OL | |
| 18th | Claude King | Bears (N) | B | ||
| NA | Claude King | Broncos (A) | B | ||
| NA | Jim Colvin | Broncos (A) | OL | ||
| NA | Harold Evans | Raiders (A) | B | ||
| 1959 | 2 | Don Brown | Rams | B | |
| 7 | Harold Lewis | Colts | B | ||
| 9 | Harold Davis | Steelers | G | ||
| 15 | Walter Kelly | Rams | B | ||
| 23 | Bob Davis | Colts | B | ||
| 1958 | 4 | Don Caraway | Giants | B | |
| 11 | Hogan Wharton | 49ers | T | ||
| 29 | Don McDonald | Eagles | QB | ||
| 30 | John Peters | Packers | T | ||
| 1957 | 7 | Curley Johnson | Steelers | B/P | |
| 12 | Rudy Spitzenburger | Browns | G | ||
| 15 | Earl Kaiser | 49ers | B | ||
| 17 | Don Boudreaux | Packers | T | ||
| 17 | Buddy Terry | Cardinals | T | ||
| 23 | Dalva Allen | Rams | T | ||
| 28 | Joe Smith | Lions | B | ||
| 29 | Don Caraway | Bears | B | ||
| 1956 | 7 | Don Caraway | Redskins | B | |
| 10 | Tom Dimmick | Eagles | T | ||
| 17 | Ken Wind | Lions | E | ||
| 1955 | 21 | Lavell Isbell | Packers | T | |
| 1954 | 7 | Paul Carr | 49ers | LB | |
| 16 | Robert Chuoke | Lions | T/TE | ||
| 20 | Thomas Bailes | Eagles | B | ||
| 27 | Bobby Clatterbuck | Giants | QB | ||
| 30 | Donald Folks | 49ers | E | ||
| 1953 | 14 | Frank James | Rams | G | |
| 25 | Vic Hampel | Steelers | E | ||
| 27 | James McConaughey | Packers | E | ||
| 1952 | 3 | Gene Shannon | 49ers | RB | |
| 17 | John Carroll | Bears | T | ||
| 1951 | 8 | Max Clark | Browns | RB | |