Toledo players drafted in first round: How Emmanuel McNeil-Warren can join Quinyon Mitchell on short list
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Toledo players drafted in first round: How Emmanuel McNeil-Warren can join Quinyon Mitchell on short list originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Day 1 of the NFL Draft is filled with top names from the power conferences. From the Big Ten to the SEC, most of the players selected in the first round compete on the national stage.
And then there’s Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The safety is used to starring in midweek MACtion games, facing some of the nation’s smaller FBS programs. However, McNeil-Warren has excelled at that level.
In his fourth season at Toledo, McNeil-Warren recorded 77 total tackles, including 36 solo stops. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two.
Vinnie Iyer's latest mock draft has McNeil-Warren selected 23rd by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it also has the Toledo safety as the only first round pick who didn't play college football at a power conference school or Notre Dame.
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Toledo players drafted in first round
Only two Toledo Rockets have ever been drafted in the first round, with McNeil-Warren looking to be the third. Dan Williams was the first, going at No. 11 in 1993. Quinyon Mitchell was the second in 2024, hearing his name at No. 22.
While there is a long history of Toledo draft picks, including five third-round picks since 2005, the first round talent is uncommon.
Toledo has a long history in college football, but this recent run of draft picks is no fluke for the team at large. Toledo was ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll in 2023, when the team had both Mitchell and McNeil-Warren
Quinyon Mitchell, 2024 No. 22 overall, Eagles
Mitchell spent four years at Toledo, totaling 93 solo tackles. In 2022 and 2023, he led the MAC in passes defended, and managed five interceptions in 2022.
In just his second year at the NFL level, Mitchell has already earned an All-Pro selection with the Philadelphia Eagles, who drafted him at No. 22 overall. He also finished second in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2024.
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Dan Williams, 1993 No. 11 overall, Broncos
Williams shares the Toledo record for single-season sacks (13) and tackles for loss (28). After earning back-to-back first-team All-MAC selections, he entered the NFL Draft, going at No. 11 overall to the Denver Broncos.
Williams spent seven seasons in the NFL between the Broncos and Chiefs. In 87 games, Williams had 161 solo tackles. When the NFL began recording tackles for loss in 1999, Williams had 18 across two seasons before his NFL career was over.
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Toledo NFL Draft history
There is a long history of draft picks in Toledo, dating back 87 years. The past few seasons in Toledo, however, have undoubtedly been the peak in terms of draft capital. After 55 years without a first round pick, the Rockets may have two first round picks in three years.
YearRoundPlayerTeam193920Tony PoppBrooklyn Dodgers194010Frank MaherPhiladelphia Eagles194115Warren DesmoreCleveland Rams194119Bob HayesGreen Bay Packers194827Frank PizzaDetroit Lions194831Ted ZuchowskiPittsburgh Steelers195012Emerson ColeCleveland Browns195321Dick GordonLos Angeles Rams19546Asa JenkinsCleveland Browns195417Richard KaserDetroit Lions19555Mel TriplettNew York Giants195515George MachoukasGreen Bay Packers195813Gene CookGreen Bay Packers196019Jack CampbellCleveland Browns19635Frank BakerCleveland Browns196315Larry CampbellLos Angeles Rams196315Ed ScrutchinsSt. Louis Cardinals196316Jim BogdalekSan Francisco 49ers196416Wynn LembrightNew York Giants196514Dan SimrellCleveland Browns196516Jim GrayPhiladelphia Eagles196617Lurley ArchambeauAtlanta Falcons19685Paul ElzeyBaltimore Colts19687John SchneiderBoston Patriots196812Ray HayesNew York Jets196812Tom BeutlerCleveland Browns19697Roland MossBaltimore Colts19704Curtis JacksonMiami Dolphins19706James ManuelSt. Louis Cardinals197011Danny CrockettSan Francisco 49ers19714Tony HarrisSan Francisco 49ers197115Charles ColeBuffalo Bills19724John SaundersLos Angeles Rams197211Mei LongCleveland Browns197314Joe SchwartzNew York Jets19764Gene SwickCleveland Browns19827Jeff JacksonLos Angeles Raiders19839Rod AchterMinnesota Vikings19849Mike RussellHouston Oilers19867Brent WilliamsNew England Patriots19918Jerry EvansPhoenix Cardinals19924Darren AndersonNew England Patriots199211Vince MarrowBuffalo Bills19931Dan WilliamsDenver Broncos19984Clarence LovePhiladelphia Eagles20026Chester TaylorBaltimore Ravens20037Carl FordGreen Bay Packers20053Nick KaczurNew England Patriots20066Bruce GradkowskiTampa Bay Buccaneers20083John GrecoSt. Louis Rams20086Jalen ParmeleMiami Dolphins20173Kareem HuntKansas City Chiefs20174Michael RobertsDetroit Lions20177Treyvon HesterOakland Raiders20187Logan WoodsideCincinnati Bengals20193Diontae JohnsonPittsburgh Steelers20196Ka'dar HollmanGreen Bay Packers20225Tycen AndersonCincinnati Bengals20225Samuel WomackSan Francisco 49ers20237Desjuan JohnsonLos Angeles Rams20241Quinyon MitchellPhiladelphia Eagles20253Darius AlexanderNew York Giants