For all the talent that Texas A&M has been bringing in to College Station over the past few years, they've done a poor job of actually putting guys in position to get drafted highly when it comes down to it. The previous regime in College Station was not short on five-stars, but their track record of getting those guys to the league was not exactly a point of pride.
That's one thing that Mike Elko promised to change when he got to Aggieland. The head man made it clear that the actual measure of talent on a team was number of NFL draftees, not the overall star ratings compiled by recruiting industry experts.
If early mock drafts are any indication, then, Mike Elko has ratcheted up the talent and development on this team to overdrive. The Athletic's most recent first round prognostication has to make not only the head man in maroon happy, but every Aggie fan across the nation.
The Athletic predicts two Texas A&M football players to be taken in the first round
Dane Brugler, an eminent name in the NFL scouting game, sees the Aggies as one of the more productive teams when it comes to the first round of this upcoming NFL draft.
A weak QB class took another hit with Dante Moore opting to stay at Oregon, and there will be a trickle-down effect in the first round.@dpbrugler's 2026 NFL Mock Draft ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/sBtcdDv5sq
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 15, 2026
Miami, Ohio State, and Clemson are all featured prominently, but the Aggies notch two players in this first-round projection— KC Concepcion and Cashius Howell.
This would go a long way as a proof of concept for Mike Elko as a talent developer. Concepcion came into College Station with a third-round grade, and one season in the maroon and white has already placed him as a potential first-rounder. Cashius Howell was a zero-star recruit and not really on many draft boards last year— one SEC DPOY award later, and he's another guy who will be picked in the first 32.
If this comes to pass, it will be a huge feather in Elko's cap— but don't be surprised to see Aggies up and down all seven rounds. Guys like Taurean York could easily end up leaping up into day 2 if things go well, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.