Tag: Daequan Hardy

Daequan Hardy drafted by Bills in Round 6 of 2024 NFL draft

The speedy Daequan Hardy is racing his way to the NFL after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills.

Penn State cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] is ready to bring his game to the next level after getting a call from the NFL. Hardy was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Hardy was the 43rd pick in the sixth round, with the Bills using the 219th overall pick of the draft. Hardy was a member of Penn State’s Class of 2020 and finished his college career by earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. ?He then went on to impress scouts and NFL representatives at the East-West Shrine Game.

Hardy brings more value to the Bills in addition to what he may bring to the table on defense. Hardy could be used for special teams after standing out with his speed last season for Penn State. Hardy also showed off great speed at the NFL combine, making him a potential threat on special teams at the next level.

Hardy was the seventh Penn State player selected in the NFL draft. He followed Olu Fashanu, Chop Robinson, Caedan Wallace, Adisa Isaac, Theo Johnson, and Hunter Nourzad.

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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2024 NFL draft: Bills select CB Daequan Hardy in Round 6, No. 219 overall

2024 NFL draft: #Bills select CB Daequan Hardy in Round 6, No. 219 overall:

The Buffalo Bills have added to their secondary in the sixth round with Daequan Hardy.

The Penn State product came to the Bills via the No. 219 overall selection at the 2024 NFL draft:

Hardy has his best season in college in 2023. He put up

22 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a team-high seven pass breakups.

A versatile player, Hardy can lineup in the slot and outside corner, in addition to returning punts.

A highlight from Hardy’s college career can be found below:

[lawrence-related id=134966,134965,134918]

2024 NFL Draft: Instant Analysis of Bills Day 3 Draft Picks

Instant analysis of the Buffalo Bills 2024 draft picks for rounds 4-7.

The Buffalo Bills are scheduled to make seven draft picks on the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft. Entering Saturday, the Bills have one fourth-round pick, four fifth-round picks, one sixth-round pick, and one seventh-round pick.

While day three is a day for taking chances and finding depth in the roster, the Bills have done a great job at finding starting value late in the draft. During the Sean McDermott regime, Buffalo selected Matt Milano, Dane Jackson, Christian Benford, Siran Neal, Khalil Shakir, and Gabriel Davis on the third day of the draft.

Here is The Bills Wire’s analysis of Buffalo’s day three draft picks. Be certain to check for updates as the Draft progresses.

*Update: The Bills traded the No. 144 overall selection to the Chicago Bears for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The Bills traded pick 163 to the Green Bay Packers for selections 168 and 218.

Davis is a bowling ball of a running back, bringing massive power in a small frame. At 5-8, 211 pounds, Davis has little problem lowering his pads and making contact, as he uses his lower center of gravity to battle through defenders. Simply, Davis is a tough back for defenders to handle. He has good change-of-direction maneuverability as well. Davis is an above-average receiver back. He caught at least one pass in every game he played over the past two seasons (25 games). He led FBS running backs with seven receiving touchdowns last year. The knock on Davis is that he lacks top-end speed. Davis is a bit impatient waiting for lanes to open up, as he doesn’t always set up his blocks. However, his traits will fit with the Bills as a rotational back.

Grade: B. Davis’ pass-catching ability puts him on the edge of Buffalo’s roster.

Van Pran-Granger was a three-year starter for Georgia. He was a two-time captain for the Bulldogs. As a junior, Van Pran-Granger earned Second Team All-SEC honors. Last year, he earned Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC accolades. He started 44 games at center during his collegiate career. The Georgia product has earned high marks for his game IQ. Physically, he’s not the most agile in space. The only other knock is that there were occasions where he struggled against bull rushes. Van Pran-Granger does not have the position versatility that the Bills normally look for with deep draft picks.

Grade: A-. Van Pran-Granger is an intriguing pick. He has played a ton of snaps at center over the past three seasons. A good camp should propel him up the Bills depth chart at center.

Ulofoshio earned First Team All-PAC 12 honors last season after recording 94 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and an interception. Ulofoshio was a captain for the Washington Huskies last year. He was named the recipient of the Guy Flaherty Award, which is a player-voted award for the most infulential player on the team. He is a sideline-to-sideline player with great instincts who makes it his mission to find the ball. Ulofoshio gets downhill against running backs and loves to hit. He also plays well in zone coverage. However, Ulofoshio will be challenged with his adequate speed and size at the next level. In addition, he did not receive high grades for man coverage. Ulofoshio suffered two massive injuries in a short time: torn biceps (October 2021) and torn Achilles (January 2022).

Grade: B-. Ulofoshio has only one speed, which fits the Bills defense well. While the intangibles are high, his average athelticsim may limit how much time he will have on the field. Olofoshio adds depth to the linebacker room. His major contributions might be on special teams in the short term.

The Bills were looking for a pass rush specialist, and they found one in Solomon. Solomon recorded 16 sacks last season for Troy. He was named a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference player twice in his career. Solomon is a bit smaller at 6-0 and 246 pounds, but he uses his leverage and bend well to get around the edge of offensive linemen. His quickness is very good. He has very good instincts and tracks ball carrier nicely. He will need to diversify his pass-rush repetoire at the next level. He may need a little time to develop while facing the superior competition of the NFL. He’s going to deal with some massive tackles in the NFL who may be able to neutralize his speed. Solomon will be a passing-down specialist for the short term.

Grade: B+: All of the traits are there for him to be productive for Buffalo. Now, the Bills must work with him to get him to the next step in his development. There is going to be a bit of a learning curve going from what Solomon saw in college to his new oppoents in the NFL. Solomon has some work to do against the run as well.

Grable earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status last year at UCF. He started 43 games at offensive tackle during his six years of collegiate eligibility. Grable transition from tight end to tackle during the 2019 season. He has good agility, adapted from his time as a tight end. He still has a bit of work to do with respect to his technique. His development in such a short period of time is admirable. As Grable has played tackle for only a few seasons, he still needs to iron out some issues with hand positioning and body position against power rushes. Grable played exclusively at tackle in college. However, he did practice at center, which puts him on the radar for the Bills.

Grade: C. It seems like a lot to put on Grable at this point. He is a developmental prospect. Grable’s physical attributes are intriguing. There’s always the hope that the Bills have found another Jason Peters. Nevertheless, he’s new to the offensive line, and any inkling that he could adapt to center is concerning.

Hardy is a speedy corner with return experience. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the Combine. Hardy can close down on receivers with his speed. Hardy does well enough to diagnose plays. He worked out of the slot for Penn State. At 5-9, he rises up to the phsyicality of receivers. He was guilty of only one coverage penatly in his collegiate career. Hardy was Penn State’s main punt returner last year. While he did well to battle physical receivers in college, Hardy will face a completely new challenge in the NFL. His missed tackle rate increased in 2023. Contested chatches will be an issue moving forward. Hardy will be a slot-only receiver at the next level.

Grade: C+: The Bills need some depth at cornerback. However, Hardy offers only slot coverage. His ability to return punts is helpful. However, there’s a big jump that needs to happen in Hardy’s game if Hardy is to see defensive snaps.

Welp, the Bills looked long and hard for their final pick, settling on Travis Clayton from England. The former rugby player has a massive wingspan (84 inches) and the size of an offensive lineman. At 6-7, 301 pounds, Clayton could be a mauler in the NFL. The athleticism can translate to the NFL. He ran a 4.81-second 40-yard dash. However, it’s going to take some time for him to acclimate to the league. Clayton needs time to learn the position in greater depth. There’s a great deal of growth that needs to happen for Clayton to be a functional player in the NFL. He is a part of the International Player Pathway, so the Bills will have a couple of years to work with Clayton.

Grade: C+. It’s a seventh-round pick. Why not? Clayton’s upside is quite intriguing.

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.

Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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 Daequan Hardy

Best photos of NFL hopeful Daequan Hardy in a Penn State uniform.

The ever-steady nickel cornerback and return man, [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], is set for the NFL draft after a five-year career in Happy Valley, which included a three-year stint as the starting nickel.

Hardy had an eye-popping NFL combine performance. He flashed his speed with a 4.38 40-yard dash and a 42.50 vertical jump. Arguably one of the most athletic cornerbacks in this year’s draft, Hardy’s stock is trending in the right direction.

The new kickoff rules announced by the NFL last week could present an opportunity for sustained success for Hardy at the next level. Hardy projects as a late-round pick but has consistently moved up the ranks during the last couple of months.

Here are some of the best photos of Daequan Hardy during his time at Penn State.

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Daequan Hardy

Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy may be hurt by a down NFL combine performance overall.

Penn State has gained a reputation in recent years for having some of the most explosive athletes to enter the draft each year. It started with Saquon Barkley back in 2018 and has been a theme ever since, with guys like Mike Gesecki, Micah Parsons, and Odafe Oweh just to name a few.

This year is no different, with defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] putting up historic numbers at the NFL combine. They were not the only Nittany Lions who showed off their athleticism, however.

Cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] was one of the unsung heroes of Penn State’s defense in 2023, cementing himself as a legit NFL prospect from the slot. His toughness and playmaking ability was evident on film, and it extended to special teams as well. He returned two punts in one game against UMASS, and he will have return value at the next level with his explosiveness.

 

His vertical was tied for first at the combine with Boston College corner Elijah Jones, which should help him overcome his smaller frame. His speed was no surprise watching him on film, both when exploding into ball carriers and as a return man. He is likely limited to being just a slot corner in the NFL, which will limit his upside in the eyes of NFL teams.

Even though more and more defenses have three corners on the field the majority of the time, slot corners are still undervalued. While the top outside corners are making north of $20 million a year, the top slot corners are just over $10 million. Many teams look to the draft for a cheap way to address slot defender, and Hardy fits that bill.

Right now, he is considered an undrafted player based on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus rankings. I can’t imagine his stock has fallen that far after an impressive combine. NFL teams will at least draft him for special teams value even if they aren’t sold on his defensive potential.

Stock: Down

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.

Social media reacts to Daequan Hardy’s impressive NFL combine

Social media had plenty of reactions to Daequan Hardy’s impressive showing at the NFL combine.

A day after Penn State defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] set social media on fire with his speed in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, it was another former Nittany Lion drawing attention himself with his speed on the combine field. Cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] ran a 4.39 in the combine’s most high-profile scouting event on Friday, once again leaving many to wonder just what is in the water in Happy Valley that is turning these football players into combine stalwarts.

Hardy’s performance at the combine was boosted by a terrific showing at the vertical jump. Hardy may be considered undersized by NFL cornerback standards, but his speed and athleticism proved he belongs on the field at the next level in some capacity. And his special teams experience could help boost his future outlook with speed like he showed off in the combine.

Here is a look at some of the social media reactions to Hardy’s performance at the combine.

Watch Daequan Hardy show his speed with his 40-yard dash at the NFL combine

Daequan Hardy just showed the NFL world his speed can play at the next level

If Penn State defensive back [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] was looking to move his draft stock up a round at the NFL combine, he certainly didn’t disappoint with his 40-yard dash time. Hardy put NFL teams on notice that even though he may be an undersized nickel, his burst of speed and athleticism can play in the NFL.

Robinson’s official time was clocked at 4.38 (tied for fifth among cornerbacks). Although fast, it was still a full tenth of a second slower than Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, who recorded the fastest time of the day out of the defensive back group. Even more impressive is Hardy’s second attempt was also a 4.39.

Hardy joins edge rusher [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] as Penn State NFL hopefuls who have made their mark during the first two days of the combine. Hardy has the massive advantage of being a tremendous special teams player and return man. His speed that he showed off today will be vital to NFL teams as a gunner and returner on punts.

We’ll watch how the rest of the combine goes for Hardy, but this was a fantastic start for a player trying to lock down being a Day 3 draft pick.

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