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Penn State football expects to have two first-round NFL Draft picks for the second straight year.
Could they have two Top 10 picks for the first time in 25?
Edge rusher Abdul Carter is almost assured of being chosen among the first five picks of Thursday night's draft opening in Green Bay. The ultimate destination of former teammate and tight end Tyler Warren, however, is much more uncertain.
Nonetheless, this 2025 NFL Draft figures to be a rousing success for the Nittany Lions who, once again, could challenge their school-record for most draft picks (10) set in 1996.
Penn State had eight players drafted last year, led by first-rounders Olu Fashanu (No. 11, New York Jets) and Chop Robinson (No. 21, Miami Dolphins) and eight selections in 2022.
Here are projections for where Penn State's top draft-eligible players will land in the draft, which runs Thursday night through Saturday.
Carter is consistently being projected as the second, third or fourth overall pick by draft experts. He expects to be Penn State's first top-five selection since Saquan Barkley in 2018.
Carter would be a dynamic No. 2 pick for the Cleveland Browns, who would pair with star pass rusher Myles Garrett. Carter's immediate impact expectations could quickly elevate the Browns' defense to division title possibilities in the AFC North.
Carter also could go third to the New York Giants or fourth to the New England Patriots (or to another team that trades-up to pick him, like the Chicago Bears). He doesn't figure to fall any farther.
Warren may be the most versatile and productive tight end prospect in recent years, and figures to be drafted like it. He could go as high as seventh to the New York Jets, as some mock drafts have predicted for weeks. That would threaten the highest draft spot ever for a tight end (fourth) and tie the Penn State tight end record (Ted Kwalick, seventh, 1969).
Warren's positioning, though, is certainly more volatile than Carter, depending on team need. He's being projected anywhere from that seventh slot to 10th to the Chicago Bears to the end of the first round to a team like the Washington Commanders.
KJ Winston was an All-America candidate with first-round draft aspirations before a knee injury ended his 2024 season in the second week. He decided to forego his final college season and now is eyeing an almost certain Day Two draft destination.
That puts him in play for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to close out the second round. Or to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round — that pick announced by hall of fame receiver Lynn Swann.
Though Jaylen Reed may not be waiting long for his draft spot behind former teammate and safety KJ Winston, his draft predictions do vary considerably. Reed, a versatile safety with big-play vibes, often projects as a third-round pick, such as to the Miami Dolphins.
Some draft experts, though, have him falling much deeper. Could he slip all the way to the end of the fifth round to the Buffalo Bills?
Linebacker Kobe King's draft possibilities vary even more wildly than Reed. The sturdy tackling machine with limited athleticism appeared to help his draft stock with an impressive Pro Day workout in late March. That has seemingly helped him reach Day Two predictions in some mocks though he's more often pegged to go from the middle of the fourth through the sixth rounds.
Solid spots would be with the Minnesota Vikings as the 139th pick to open the fifth or to the Denver Broncos in the sixth round.
Five Nittany Lions appear to be straddling the line between being a sixth or seventh round draft pick or signing as a free agent.
They include cornerback Jalen Kimber, offensive lineman Sal Wormley, defensive end Amin Vanover and defensive tackles Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State NFL Draft projections: Best landing spots for top prospects
Continue reading...
Could they have two Top 10 picks for the first time in 25?
Edge rusher Abdul Carter is almost assured of being chosen among the first five picks of Thursday night's draft opening in Green Bay. The ultimate destination of former teammate and tight end Tyler Warren, however, is much more uncertain.
Nonetheless, this 2025 NFL Draft figures to be a rousing success for the Nittany Lions who, once again, could challenge their school-record for most draft picks (10) set in 1996.
Penn State had eight players drafted last year, led by first-rounders Olu Fashanu (No. 11, New York Jets) and Chop Robinson (No. 21, Miami Dolphins) and eight selections in 2022.
Here are projections for where Penn State's top draft-eligible players will land in the draft, which runs Thursday night through Saturday.
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DE Abdul Carter NFL draft projection
Carter is consistently being projected as the second, third or fourth overall pick by draft experts. He expects to be Penn State's first top-five selection since Saquan Barkley in 2018.
Carter would be a dynamic No. 2 pick for the Cleveland Browns, who would pair with star pass rusher Myles Garrett. Carter's immediate impact expectations could quickly elevate the Browns' defense to division title possibilities in the AFC North.
Carter also could go third to the New York Giants or fourth to the New England Patriots (or to another team that trades-up to pick him, like the Chicago Bears). He doesn't figure to fall any farther.
TE Tyler Warren NFL draft projection
Warren may be the most versatile and productive tight end prospect in recent years, and figures to be drafted like it. He could go as high as seventh to the New York Jets, as some mock drafts have predicted for weeks. That would threaten the highest draft spot ever for a tight end (fourth) and tie the Penn State tight end record (Ted Kwalick, seventh, 1969).
Warren's positioning, though, is certainly more volatile than Carter, depending on team need. He's being projected anywhere from that seventh slot to 10th to the Chicago Bears to the end of the first round to a team like the Washington Commanders.
S KJ Winston NFL draft projection
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KJ Winston was an All-America candidate with first-round draft aspirations before a knee injury ended his 2024 season in the second week. He decided to forego his final college season and now is eyeing an almost certain Day Two draft destination.
That puts him in play for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to close out the second round. Or to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round — that pick announced by hall of fame receiver Lynn Swann.
S Jaylen Reed NFL draft projection
Though Jaylen Reed may not be waiting long for his draft spot behind former teammate and safety KJ Winston, his draft predictions do vary considerably. Reed, a versatile safety with big-play vibes, often projects as a third-round pick, such as to the Miami Dolphins.
Some draft experts, though, have him falling much deeper. Could he slip all the way to the end of the fifth round to the Buffalo Bills?
LB Kobe King NFL draft projection
Linebacker Kobe King's draft possibilities vary even more wildly than Reed. The sturdy tackling machine with limited athleticism appeared to help his draft stock with an impressive Pro Day workout in late March. That has seemingly helped him reach Day Two predictions in some mocks though he's more often pegged to go from the middle of the fourth through the sixth rounds.
Solid spots would be with the Minnesota Vikings as the 139th pick to open the fifth or to the Denver Broncos in the sixth round.
Penn State football: Late-round or free agent picks?
Five Nittany Lions appear to be straddling the line between being a sixth or seventh round draft pick or signing as a free agent.
They include cornerback Jalen Kimber, offensive lineman Sal Wormley, defensive end Amin Vanover and defensive tackles Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State NFL Draft projections: Best landing spots for top prospects
Continue reading...
