Defensive tackle Jonathan Ford was the only Miami player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ford was selected 234th overall in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Mario Cristobal was hired as the Miami head coach in December 2021.
One of the reasons Cristobal was hired was to elevate the talent on the roster. Cristobal salvaged a 2022 recruiting class ranked in the seventies when he was hired to 16th in the final 247Sports composite rankings. Guard Anez Cooper, a 2022 signee, was a sixth-round pick of the New York Jets on Saturday.
Three Miami players were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft after the Hurricanes went 5-7 in Cristobal's first season as head coach. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears and CB D.J. Ivey by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers chose defensive tackle Jonathan Ford in the seventh round.
Miami finished with seven wins and six losses in Cristobal's second season. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Miami had safety Kam Kinchens selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Rams, CB Jade Davis to the Arizona Cardinals, center Matt Lee to Cincinnati and safety James Williams, drafted as a linebacker by the Tennessee Titans.
Miami draft picks under Mario Cristobal:
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) April 25, 2026
2023 - 3
2024 - 4
2025 - 7
2026 - 9 and counting.
Canes haven't had double-digit draft picks since 2002.
A significant increase in drafted players
Miami significantly improved in 2025 to 10 wins and three losses. The Hurricanes nearly doubled their number of draftees the following spring with seven players selected. Miami quarterback Cam Ward became the first Hurricane selected first overall since Russell Maryland in 1990 and the third in the common draft era.
Miami set a program record with 13 wins with two losses during the 2025 season. For the first time since 2017, nine Miami players were selected in the NFL Draft in 2026. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa and defensive linemen Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor became the first Miami trio of teammates selected in the first round since 2007.
Nine is a difficult standard to expect every season, but Miami should have more than four players selected in each NFL Draft while Cristobal is head coach. Miami was 15th in the 2025 247Sports team talent rankings. Miami should continue having one of the most talented rosters nationally under Cristobal.
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