Pair Of Michigan State Spartans Drafted In Round 6

TL;DR

Two Michigan State Spartans were drafted in the 6th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Center Matt Gulbin was picked 28th in the round by the Washington Commanders, while punter Ryan Eckley was selected 211th by the Baltimore Ravens.

Key points

Two Michigan State Spartans drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft
Matt Gulbin selected 28th in the 6th round by the Washington Commanders
Ryan Eckley picked 211th in the 6th round by the Baltimore Ravens
Gulbin started 11 games and was a top center candidate
Eckley led NCAA punters with a 48.5 average

Washington CommandersBaltimore RavensMatt GulbinRyan Eckley

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Michigan State Spartans punter Ryan Eckley #96 punts the ball in the second half of a college football game between the USC Trojans and the Michigan State Spartans on September 20, 2025, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images On day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, a pair of former Michigan State football players heard their names called as they were selected to join NFL franchises. With the 28th pick of the 6th round, #209 overall, center Matt Gulbin was drafted by the Washington Commanders. Two picks later, at #211, punter Ryan Eckley was selected by the Baltimore Ravens. With these draftees, MSU Football continues an impressive run of only having one year in the entire history of the NFL Draft, since 1936, of not having a player drafted (2021). Matt Gulbin only played for MSU this past season after being a part of the Wake Forest program for four years prior to that. In his lone season in East Lansing, Gulbin started 11 games in the middle of the Spartan offensive line. He missed one game with an injury. His play stood out on an otherwise poor offensive line. He was on the Rimington Trophy watch list as one of the nation’s top centers and he graded out as the top center in the Football Bowl Subdivision according to Pro Football Focus. The Commanders had as their starting center for the 2025 center, but he signed with the L.A. Chargers this offseason. Biadasz would end up on I.R. for the final two games of the season, at which point was moved from RG, where he was splitting time, to fill the open spot. Early projections of the 2026 Washington depth chart have Allegretti as the starting center going into 2026. Matt Gulbin should be able to be the primary backup at center, but he also has versatility to be a guard, as he played that position during his time at Wake Forest. Gulbin should be able to earn a spot on Washington’s final 53-man roster for 2026 as a depth piece. Ryan Eckley was a highlight reel punter for MSU the last three seasons. In his final year, he led the NCAA with a 48.5 average. We regularly saw his punts get downed inside the opponents’ 5-yard line, displaying that he also had control of his kicks and not just a cannon for a leg. Speaking of that cannon, he has had a punt of at least 60 yards in each of his three seasons as MSU’s starting punter. His new team, the Baltimore Ravens, had as their punter last year, but he followed former Ravens Coach John Harbaugh to the . A few weeks ago, the Ravens signed another punter, Luke Elzinga. Elzinga has no NFL experience. He played his college ball at Eastern Michigan and , finishing in 2024, but did not make an NFL roster in 2025. This very much feels like a competition that Eckley can win in order to earn a spot on the Ravens regular season roster.

Q&A

Which Michigan State players were drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Matt Gulbin and Ryan Eckley were drafted in the 6th round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

What teams drafted Matt Gulbin and Ryan Eckley?

Matt Gulbin was drafted by the Washington Commanders, and Ryan Eckley was selected by the Baltimore Ravens.

What were Matt Gulbin's achievements at Michigan State?

Matt Gulbin started 11 games and was on the Rimington Trophy watch list as one of the nation's top centers.

How did Ryan Eckley perform as a punter at Michigan State?

Ryan Eckley led the NCAA with a 48.5 average in his final year and consistently downed punts inside the opponents' 5-yard line.

Pair Of Michigan State Spartans Drafted In Round 6

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Key points

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