2026 NFL Draft Preview: Minnesota Gophers DL Deven Eastern
Will Eastern hear his name called and keep Minnesota’s seven year draft streak alive?
Minnesota defensive lineman Deven Eastern (91) tackles Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker (3) for no gain during the fourth quarter of their game at Camp Randall Stadium Friday, November 29, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Minnesota beat Wisconsin 24-7. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night from Pittsburgh with the first round.
Rounds two and three will take place on Friday night and rounds four through seven will go on Saturday. The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had at least one player drafted in every single NFL Draft since 2019 with 19 total players hearing their name called over the past six drafts. While the Gophers streak of having a player taken in the top two rounds will end this year after six consecutive drafts.
the Gophers hopefully will extend their streak of having at least one player selected to seven years if Deven Eastern’s name is called on Saturday. Eastern is a Shakopee native who joined the Gophers for his freshman season in 2021. He would redshirt that year before seeing initial action in 2022 where he played in just seven games.
Eastern would play in all 13 of Minnesota’s games the next three seasons peaking as a senior in 2025 with 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, and a forced fumble. Eastern was invited to both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. There Eastern was measured with a 9’4″ broad jump that placed near the 90th percentile at the DT position.