Multiple Sun Devils have sights set on NFL Draft after breaking record in 2026

The 2026 NFL Draft was a big one for Arizona State.

The Sun Devils saw four players hear their names called across the three-day event, doubling their total over the past three years combined. More importantly, they saw two players - Jordyn Tyson and Max Iheanachor - drafted in the first round, the first time they had multiple first round picks since 2001.

Players are taking notice, whether they're already on the roster or considering Arizona State.

During the Big 12 Football Media Days, Kenny Dillingham pumped up his current roster, saying the amount of players who are good enough to be drafted is too long to list out. Dillingham also believes he has a few future first round picks, too.

The two most obvious candidates are the two newest receivers in Tempe.

Omarion Miller hopes to be the next Buffalo-turned-Sun Devil to be a first round pick. Last year, Miller was a rare bright spot for a brutal Colorado offense, racking up 808 yards and eight touchdowns in just 11 games despite having a play-caller change halfway through the season.

Miller is joined by Reed Harris, who came over from Boston College after two productive seasons. Listed at 6'5", Harris has rare size for the position and racked up 673 yards and five touchdowns while catching passes from three different starting quarterbacks last year.

Miller and Harris were both top 10 wide receiver prospects in the transfer portal this year, and expectations are understandably high. If Tyson has a strong rookie year in New Orleans, that could further boost the perception of Arizona State as a program that can develop Sunday pass-catching talent.

Dillingham also listed defensive tackle CJ Fite as a potential first rounder, depending on how his season goes. The first official high school commitment of the Dillingham era, Fite has blossomed into an every-down difference-maker in the middle of the Sun Devil defensive line. Entering this year as a leader on the defense, Fite can cement his draft stock with a strong season.

A couple of linebackers will also have a shot to make it to the league, even if their status as off-ball linebackers may hurt their odds of being Day 1 picks.

Owen Long transferred in from Colorado State, where he led the nation in tackles. An instinctive player with elite work ethic, Long should be a draft pick with another strong year. Meanwhile, Zyrus Fiaseu has been a reliable rotational player the last two years and is likely to get a shot at a larger role this season.

Running back Kyson Brown is another Sun Devil with NFL dreams. After showing flashes as Cam Skattebo's backup in 2024, Brown beat out a crowded room to earn the starting job last season, only to get hurt in the third game of the year. Arizona State added more transfer running backs this year, but Brown is intent on beating them out again and making up for lost time from last year.

Another name to watch closely is cornerback Rodney Bimage. The redshirt sophomore is expected to step into a starting role for the first time, but he's shown flashes in limited snaps the past two years. At media days, Fite even went out of his way to say Bimage is the player with the greatest potential for a breakout season. Coaches agree, and they've internally been really high on Bimage since getting him to campus.

Of course, there's always the potential for some surprises, too. This time last year, few expected Iheanachor to be a first round pick, but the leaps he made technically helped scouts feel confident enough in his upside to use a premium pick on him.