Penn State football linemen made a splash in the program's impressive 2024 NFL Draft.
Five of the eight players selected by the Nittany Lions in the last seven rounds have appeared along the line of scrimmage, with first-rounders Olu Fashanu and Chop Robinson standing out Friday night.
For example, it was the first time in 31 years that Penn State had three offensive linemen selected in the first five rounds.
Orr is living an NFL 'fairy tale':'He's a terrible person' What Aaron Rodgers thinks about Penn State football's Olu Fashanu
However, it did not turn out to be the historic draft that was expected. The Lions fell short of their best 10 pick in the 1996 seven-round draft in the modern era.
The top lions expected to sign free agent contracts include linebacker Curtis Jacobs and cornerback Johnny Dixon.
Here are Penn State's picks in the NFL Draft:
1. OT Olu Fashanu: New York Jets, 1st round, 11th pick
Olu Fashanu was the third offensive tackle selected with the 11th overall pick in Thursday's season opener.
His excellent blocking length, agility, work ethic, and leadership ability were praised by draft analysts and NFL types. Those traits make him arguably the lineman with the most potential, and he is expected to spend some time learning under the Jets' veteran tackle.
2. DE Chomp Robinson: Miami Dolphins, 1st round, 21st pick
Chomp Robinson's first round pick was spot on. NFL insiders praised his incredible explosiveness and speed, which far outweighed his meager on-field performance and accomplishments during his two seasons at Penn State.
Robinson is often compared to NFL star Myles Garrett and former Nittany Lion Micah Parsons. He has a 6.7 prospect score from NFL.com, which the outlet classifies as a “first-year starter” in the NFL.
What the chop will give Miami:NFL Draft, Penn State's Chop Robinson: Why he's the 'biggest lottery pick of them all.'
3. OL Kaydan Wallace: New England Patriots, third round, pick 68th.
Kaydan Wallace was a somewhat surprising third-round pick, capping off a continued rise in the NFL Draft that began during a transformative senior season.
Wallace finally made the expected impression in 2023 with his improved blocking consistency and ability to stay healthy. His versatility to play both tackle and guard spots (he said he can also play center) should serve him well in the pros.
Kaydan Wallace factors:Penn State football's Kaydan Wallace: Sharing the NFL Draft with his 'Oyster Science' brothers
4. DE Adisa Isaac: Third round, pick 92, Baltimore Ravens.
Adisa Isaac was highly rated as a “second day'' pick in the second half of the draft. His combination of pass rush intelligence, power and athleticism should continue to make him a consistent producer as he transitions to an outside linebacker role with the Baltimore Ravens.
He joins former teammate and fellow edge rusher Odafe Oweh and one of the NFL's top well-coached defensemen.
5. TE Theo Johnson: New York Giants, fourth round, pick 107th.
Theo Johnson now has to expand on his vast talent pool to fill a likely initial need with the New York Giants.
Johnson's NFL Draft stock rose over the winter and into the spring thanks to his incredible NFL Combine performance and ability to interview teams. Penn State's team leader will need to improve his blocking and pass-catching reliability in order to develop into the star his talent profile suggests.
6. OL Hunter Nurzad: Kansas City Chiefs, 5th round, pick 159
Former Ivy League offensive tackle Hunter Nurzad made a successful transition from guard to center last season at Penn State. The always versatile lineman seems to have improved his blocking stability while anchoring the offense up front.
He is being looked at as a valuable backup to begin his pro career, taking over the highly touted role held by former lineman Nick Allegretti, who recently departed as a free agent.
7. CB Dequan Hardy: Buffalo Bills, 6th round, pick 219
Despite his lack of size, Dequan Hardy should be a long-time prospect in the league due to his versatility and interesting potential, especially on special teams. Hardy has promise as a slot defender, even though he struggles with recovery acceleration and speed when needed.
8. CB Karen King: Green Bay Packers, 7th round, pick 255
Karen King has been one of Penn State's biggest pre-draft mysteries in recent memory. How did an All-American with the hype of a first-round draft pick really drop to the final overall pick in the draft?
It all started with a quiet and unproductive junior season in 2023 and a disappointing showing on the postseason circuit that followed that winter.
But he still has great talent. Despite his smaller stature, King is most effective when relying on his physicality around the line of scrimmage as a tackler and pass route destroyer.
Signing an undrafted free agent
LB Curtis Jacobs: Kansas City Chiefs
It didn't take long for Penn State's top draft linebacker to find a home in the NFL.
Despite surprisingly not being selected in the final four rounds of Saturday's draft, Curtis Jacobs immediately signed a free agent contract with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, according to Penn State.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. To contact him, fbodan@ydr.com Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
