Tag: Curtis Jacobs

Curtis Jacobs and Keaton Ellis sign undrafted free agent contracts

After not being drafted by any NFL team, Curtis Jacobs and Keaton Ellis signed free agent contracts.

Just because ever NFL team passed on you in the NFL draft doesn’t mean you were unwanted. Following the draft, NFL franchises look to round out their rosters with the pool of undrafted free agents. After the 2024 NFL draft came to a close, two former Penn State players kept their NFL dreams alive by signing undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams.

Linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] was one of those players signing an undrafted free agent contract. Jacobs was signed by the reigning defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. the Chiefs used one of their draft picks to add center Hunter Nourzad, so Jacobs will head to Kansas City wiht one of his Penn State teammates.

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Jacobs not being drafted was a bit of a surprise given his positive reviews in the buildup to the draft. Alas, he will be heading to one of the best NFL teams in the midst of a dynasty, which should be a great opportunity for Jacobs to continue to grow and compete at a high level.

Another former Nittany Lion signing an undrafted free agent contract was safety Keaton Ellis. Ellis signed with the Tennessee Titans after the draft.

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With Ellis signing with the Titans, the only member of Penn State’s defensive backfield in the rookie class of 2024 without an NFL home at the moment is Johnny Dixon. Kalen King and Daequan Hardy were late-round draft picks.

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Best Penn State players still available on Day 3 of NFL draft according to ESPN

Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs and Theo Johnson some of the best available at their positions on the final day of the 2024 NFL draft.

Penn State was happy to see four members of its football family be selected by NFL franchises in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, but they are hoping to see more go on the final day of the draft on Saturday. Any NFL franchise looking to add a linebacker to the roster will have a few solid options to choose from beginning in the fourth round, including Penn State’s [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag].

Jacobs was a standout performer for Penn State and is ranked as the third-best linebacker still on the board according to ESPN’s ranking of best available players going into Day 3 of the draft. He is also among the top 25 best players available when the draft resumes with the no. 24 ranking.

North Carolina’s Cedric Gray is the top linebacker available according to ESPN’s ranking. Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the second-best available linebacker before Jacobs according to the same ranking. All three players figure to make some NFL franchise very happy with the bargain they will seemingly be getting.

Theo Johnson among best TEs still available

Penn State tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] was hoping to go somewhere in the second or third rounds of the draft, but his wait will drag into Day 3 as well. Johnson is ranked as the fifth-best tight end still available with four rounds remaining, so he still has a very good chance of being drafted.

Ja’Tavion Sanders of Texas, Cade Stover of Ohio State, Tanner McLachlan of Arizona, and Jared Wiley of TCU are all ranked ahead of Johnson at the tight end position.

Hunter Nourzad watch is also on

Penn State has already had two offensive linemen drafted in the 2024 NFL draft. Olu Fashanu was a first-round pick of the New York Jets and Caedan Wallace went to the New England Patriots in the third round. But Penn State could get one more offensive lineman drafted with center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] lingering on the board on Day 3.

ESPN ranks Nourzad as the third-best center available. Only Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini are ranked ahead of him.

Cornerbacks look like long shots?

Penn State still has a few cornerbacks sitting and waiting for a call from the NFL going into the final day of the draft. [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], and [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] are all still available, but all three are ranked between no. 21 and no. 25 at their position among best players available according to ESPN.

While Hardy and Dixon were always expected to be later round picks at best, the fall of King from a potential first-round draft pick a year ago is unfortunate to watch develop. If any player may have benefitted the most by returning for another season at Penn State, it is looking like it would have been King.

But maybe somebody is going to take a shot at King and capitalize on a player with a potential chip on his shoulder. If not, he will be one player to watch during the undrafted free agent frenzy following the draft.

Catch all of the latest updates from the NFL draft with USA TODAY’s live draft tracker. For a look at each Penn State draft prospect, be sure to check out our Penn State NFL draft tracker.

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Where PFF ranks Penn State’s top 2024 NFL draft prospects

How does PFF rank Penn State’s draft prospects just before the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is approaching and the final player rankings are rolling out before the first round gets underway. Pro Football Focus unveiled its final big board for the 2024 NFL draft, and a couple of Penn State players

Offensive tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] remains Penn State’s top draft prospect, and PFF has him ranked in the top 20 overall. Fashanu is ranked no. 17 in the PFF player rankings, but he is not the top offensive tackle on the board according to the rankings. Fashanu is the fourth offensive tackle on PFF’s big board.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt (no. 5 overall), Oregon State’s Taliese Guaga, and Washington’s Troy Fautanu (no. 15) are all ranked ahead of Fashanu at the position. Fashanu was once considered a near-lock to be the top offensive tackle taken in the 2024 NFL draft, but the PFF big board suggests a few players at the same position will have a shot to go ahead of him. But, it is likely PFF still considers Fashanu a first-round talent with a top-20 player ranking. Of course, that all depends on how many teams need an offensive tackle in the first round. Fortunately, offensive tackle is a pretty important position.

Penn State edge rushers [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (no. 38) and [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] (no. 40) are the next highest-ranked Penn State players on the big board according to PFF. Isaac appears to be trending in a positive direction according to PFF following his results and performance this offseason, while Robinson’s stock may have dipped a slight bit. PFF did give Robinson a higher regular season grade in its evaluation than Issac received.

Center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] received the no. 111 ranking from the PFF big board, making him a potentially draftable asset. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] is ranked no. 135. Offensive tackle [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag] come sin at no. 142 overall.

[autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], once viewed by draft analysts as a potential first-round pick and arguably the top cornerback in the draft pool, has seen the biggest slide in his overall draft stock. PFF currently ranks King at no. 177 overall, a far cry from his previous draft outlook. [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] makes an appearance at no. 192. Linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] is ranked no. 207, and could be a potential bargain at that ranking for some NFL team. Speedy cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] is ranked no. 251 on the PFF big board.

See the full PFF big board to see how the draft pros[ects stack up before the 2024 NFL draft.

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Best photos of NFL draft prospect LB Curtis Jacobs of Penn State

Check out some of the best photos of Penn State linebacker and NFL draft hopeful Curtis Jacobs.

Penn State is hoping to send another linebacker to the NFL draft this spring with one of its top defensive leaders from the 2023 season. [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] proved his value as a team leader and felt it was an obligation to not skip out on Penn State’s bowl game this past offseason, and now he is hoping to land a spot on an NFL roster by way of the draft.

Jacobs was always involved in Penn State’s solid defense in 20234 and he became the first Nittany Lion player in the school’s Big Ten era to recover two fumbles in the same game against Iowa. Jacobs ended the season with the third-most tackles on the roster with 49 tackles and the second-most tackles for a loss (9.0).

Here are some of the best photos of Curtis Jacobs from his time at Penn State and on his path to the NFL draft.

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Curtis Jacobs

Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs could be trending in the right direction just ahead of the NFL draft.

The NFL draft is often a good indicator of what positions and types of players are in demand. For years running backs and safeties, in particular, have been getting pushed down the board in favor of “premium positions” like quarterback, tackle, and receiver.

There are outliers, like the Atlanta Falcons picking Bijan Robinson 8th overall and the Detroit Lions picking Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall last year. On the flip side, there hasn’t been a safety drafted in the top-20 picks since Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2018. Now, linebacker seems to be the next position to start trending lower in terms of draft value.

So many of the best linebackers in the NFL are players selected outside the first round, and teams recognize that the position isn’t valuable enough to use a high pick unless they are a true freak of nature. Teams now look to draft athletes who they can mold into starting-caliber players, and Penn State has just what they are looking for in linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag].

Jacobs is the latest in a long line of athletic, productive linebackers that Penn State has had on campus over the years. He showed off his skills at the NFL combine, putting up impressive numbers.

 

His RAS fell a bit after some lower agility numbers, but he is still an above-average athlete with plenty of experience. His flaws in run defense and coverage have kept his stock relatively low, but they are issues that good coaching and time can fix. Despite a strong draft process, his stock has fallen in recent weeks according to NFL Mock Draft Database.

Even if it isn’t initially the best thing for him, Jacobs’s lower projection could benefit him in the long run. A team can select him without feeling any pressure to play him early, allowing him time to develop as the third or fourth linebacker while contributing on special teams. After a year or two, he could find himself playing significant snaps. He is well worth an early day-3 pick.

Stock: Down

Quick look at 2024 NFL draft landscape at linebacker for Packers

The Packers need linebackers. The best avenue for adding at this point? The 2024 draft.

Brian Gutekunst went to the market to sign a veteran linebacker to pair with Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie. Unfortunately, Green Bay’s general manager discovered that the linebacker aisle was picked over, like the toy aisle the day before Christmas. 

With the linebacker market barren, the Packers will likely need to trade for a veteran or use the draft to bolster the linebacker room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Let’s take a look at some linebackers that the Packers could target in the 2024 NFL draft.

Potential Target at 25

Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

Cooper is an explosive mover and a true difference-maker. He can impact the game as a run defender, as a blitzer, or in coverage. If Cooper were to land in Green Bay he’d be the best linebacker on the roster, and no that’s not a shot at Walker. It’s a credit to Cooper. 

Cooper may be viewed as a bit of a reach in the first round, but the same thing can be said about Eric Stokes, Quay Walker, etc. Cooper would be a home run pick at 41, but Gutekunst may see the value in taking the impactful linebacker with the 25th overall pick. 

Day 2 Targets

Cedric Gray, UNC

Gray was all over the field this past season for the Tar Heels. He recorded 121 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. The UNC linebacker works his way through the trash against the run and has the movement skills to hold up in coverage.

Junior Colson, Michigan

Mr. Always in the Right Place at the Right Time, Colson would be a steady presence in the middle of Green Bay’s defense. Colson is comfortable dropping in space and does a good job of reading the quarterback’s eyes. He has the range as a run defender to shut-down outside runs and is a reliable tackler. He is quick to diagnose and beats blockers to the spot. 

Payton Wilson, NC State

Every team could use a Payton Wilson. If he had a clean bill of health (two leg injuries), he’d be in the Potential Target at 25 tier with Cooper. The NC State product is the complete package at linebacker. He’s a physical, downhill defender against the run and he has the movement skills to hold up in coverage.

Day 3 Targets

Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington

From walk-on to captain, Ulofoshio had quite the journey during his time at Washington. The Alaska native is all heart and his motor is always running. He trusts his eyes and is quick to react to meet ball carriers in the hole. The Husky linebacker shows good instincts in coverage.

Jordan Magee, Temple

Magee isn’t a hulking linebacker, but he has the functional strength to destroy blocks and disrupt the action. He’s a smart player that is quick to read and react. The Temple linebacker gets good depth on his drops and looks comfortable moving laterally. Magee logged 307 snaps on special teams during his collegiate career and could carve out a role in that regard immediately as a rookie. 

Marist Liufau, Notre Dame

Liufau plays like his hair is on fire and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball carrier. He has the sideline-to-sideline quickness and is comfortable dropping into space.

Trevin Wallace, Kentucky

Wallace is an outstanding athlete with the sideline-to-sideline range to chase down ball carriers. A former track athlete, Wallace is the type of prospect that Gutekunst has a history of targeting. If his instincts ever catch up to his athletic traits, Wallace could develop into quite the difference-maker at the next level.

Curtis Jacobs, Penn State

A team will roll the dice on the Penn State linebacker’s athletic traits. With his quickness and his experience on special teams, it’s a safe bet that he could develop into a core player on special teams. Jacobs is a twitched-up athlete with the movement skills to hold up on coverage. 

JD Bertrand, Notre Dame

Bertrand is a cerebral player who trusts his eyes and is quick to read the action. He’s a downhill player, who does a good job of sifting through the trash to locate the ball carrier. With his instincts, relentless motor and special teams experience, Bertrand would be a solid addition to Green Bay’s linebacker room. 

2024 NFL combine: Tracking the results of Penn State’s prospects

We are keeping tabs on all of the NFL combine results of Penn State players in Indianapolis.

Penn State sent 10 players to this year’s NFL combine in Indianapolis and it did not take long to leave a mark on the NFL scouting world. Defensive end Chop Robinson set the combine on fire with his 40-yard dash time as he looked to improve his outlook for a potential first-round draft pick. So the first day of the combine was quite electric for Penn State football going to the next level.

Olu Fashanu is Penn State’s top draft prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. Adisa Isaac and Curtis Jacobs were among the players looking to follow up strong showings in the college football all-star games after the season. Meanwhile, Kalen King was a player looking to redeem his draft profile a bit after a shaky finish to the season and all-star game performance.

Here is a quick rundown of how every Penn State player at the NFL combine measured up and performed.

Bills, Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs, speak at 2024 NFL combine

#Bills, Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs, speak at 2024 NFL combine:

The Buffalo Bills appear to be keeping an eye on linebacker depth this upcoming offseason.

Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs said at the 2024 NFL combine that he has spoken with the Bills.

A three-year starter with the Nittany Lions, Jacobs had 2.5 sacks, 49 tackles, including nine for loss, in 2023. Over his career, he had three takeaways as well.

According to most draft profiles including NFL.com, Jacobs is currently viewed as a Day 3 selection that could produce on special teams in the pros. Pro Football Focus graded him a career-worst 63.9 last year, leading PFF to only grade Jacobs the No. 234 prospect on their big board ahead of the upcoming draft.

In terms of the Bills, linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Tyler Matakevich are slated to become free agents in March. Neither are anticipated to be starters on defense, but Jacobs is a candidate for the future and on special teams.

Jacobs chatting with WUFO radio can be found in the clip below:

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How to watch the NFL combine: Friday, March 1

After a great day at the combine by former Penn State players, Friday is shaping up to be a massive day as well.

After a big day at the NFL combine by former Penn State players [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag], and [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag], the fun continues on Friday as the NFL combine sees the defensive backs and tight ends hit the field for combine drills. And once again, it should be a busy day for Penn State Nittany Lions at the combine.

Penn State will have four more players getting on the combine field today with cornerbacks [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag], and [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] competing against the nation’s top defensive backs for the best 40-yard dash times and more. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] will also be on the field looking to improve his draft outlook. Yesterday’s defensive ends and linebackers will complete their workouts as well with the bench press, should they choose to participate.

Here is everything you need to know about the NFL combine for today and what to watch from the former Penn State players in attendance for the day’s workouts.

Eagles 7-round mock draft 2.0 as we kick off the 2024 NFL offseason

The Philadelphia Eagles are retooling and we’ve unveiled are second 2024 NFL Mock draft of the offseason and ahead of the scouting combine

The Eagles are looking for a reset after exiting the playoffs following a loss to the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs.

Even with Nick Sirianni’s team clinching a playoff berth for the third straight year, there have been significant changes to the coaching staff following a historic collapse that saw Philadelphia lose 6 of their final seven games.

It’s never too early to look ahead at the NFL draft, and with so many holes on defense, Howie Roseman has the assets to retool the roster.

Philadelphia has never drafted an off-the-ball linebacker in the first round, and they won’t this spring either, but Howie Roseman will reload in the trenches and could get a familiar name in the second round.

We’re looking ahead and releasing our second Eagles Wire mock draft of the offseason via the PFF simulator, with the Birds restocking in the trenches and the secondary.