As we wrap up the regular season, Penn State awaits its hopes of getting into a New Year’s Six bowl. That also means we are getting closer to draft season.
This week, CBS Sports features two Nittany Lions in the first round. Who are these two players? Let’s take a look.
The first player has Penn State offensive lineman [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] headed to the Steelers. While this pick would have made plenty of sense for the Steelers, Fashanu announced his decision to return to Penn State in 2023.
Let’s break down what this means for Fashanu and his draft stock for 2024.
Several NFL draft analysts had Fashanu on their top 10 big boards. At just 19, turning 20 in December, Fashanu’s development this season was through the roof, and that is what had scouts out of their seats.
Some analysts had Fashanu as a top tackle in the draft, over players like Georgia’s Broderick Jones, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr., and Northwestern’s Peter. Skoronski. However, what sets him apart from those players is his lack of experience at the collegiate level.
If we want to take a look at a potential way-too-early big board of offensive tackle prospects for the 2024 draft, you could certainly make the argument that Fashanu is near the top, with other players like Alabama’s JC Latham and Georgia’s Amarius Mims.
It is definitely a shocking move for Fashanu to not enter the 2023 draft after skyrocketing his stock this season. But he could also really benefit from it by improving his craft and gaining more experience at the collegiate level at Penn State.
This season was Fashanu’s first full season starting at the collegiate level. Sure, teams that were draft him in 2023 can take their time in developing him. The same can go in 2024, but Fashanu would also bring much more experience to the table.
The next player is [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] headed to the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. This wouldn’t be the first time Porter Jr. has been featured by the Lions, and it’s clear to see why. As of right now, the Lions have two first-round picks, including the Rams pick from the Matthew Stafford trade.
The Lions have a secondary that has been struggling for a while now. They drafted Jeff Okudah in the first round in 2020. He hasn’t really lived up to his potential either. Sure, he has dealt with injuries, and he is slowly starting to come around. However, the Lions still need to build depth in their cornerback room.
On top of that, Porter Jr. would also be the true NFL corner that the Lions need. He has been lights out this season and has continued to solidify himself as a first-round corner in the 2023 draft.
The Lions are a rebuilding team, and they don’t really have a key piece to build around on their defense. That is where Porter Jr. comes in.
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