Tag: Olu Fashanu

ESPN’s Jordan Reid predicts record NFL draft for Penn State in 7-round mock draft

The 2024 NFL draft could see Penn State match a school record for the most draft picks in a single draft according to this mock draft from ESPN.

The NFL draft is now just days away, and NFL draft analysts are putting out their final thoughts on the class. One popular final note that analysts churn out is a massive seven-round mock with every pick accounted for. It’s a huge (and potentially pointless) endeavor, but the amount of time and effort is praiseworthy.

Penn State has a large class of potential picks, and fans will be happy to hear that one analyst was able to fit all 10 draftable prospects into his final mock. Jordan Reid of ESPN took on the challenge of predicting every pick of the draft, and he clearly is a big fan of the talented Nittany Lions in this class.

Let’s start at the top, where he predictably had star offensive lineman [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] as his first Nittany Lion off the board. He selected him at 14th overall to the New Orleans Saints, one of his more popular destinations this draft season. Fashanu would likely be an immediate starter for the Saints and potentially a top-ten left tackle sooner rather than later.

[autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] was the next Penn State prospect off the board, landing with a popular destination for him as well at 26th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers need a young, explosive edge rusher to replace former Pro Bowl edge Shaq Barrett, so this landing spot could be great for Robinson.

Reid surprised me a bit with how high the next Nittany Lion came off the board, with edge rusher [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] being selected 40th overall by the Washington Commanders. Isaac is a high-floor player that new Head Coach Dan Quinn will likely value highly.

After those three, Penn State fans had to wait a while to see another Nittany Lion selected. Tight end Theo Johnson was selected at 121st overall by the Denver Broncos, likely slotting in as a good backup immediately. Two more Penn State prospects were picked up in the next five picks, with offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad at 122 to the Chicago Bears and fellow lineman Caedan Wallace going at 127 to the Houston Texans.

Not much farther down the board, Reid adds another Nittany Lion to Denver’s roster by grabbing linebacker Curtis Jacobs at 147th overall. Now in the sixth round, Reid ends corner Kalen King’s big slide down the board at 186 to the Arizona Cardinals. King’s draft season has been a disaster, but he would have a chance to make an impact for a Cardinals team desperate for defensive talent.

Reid finishes his predicted landing spots for Penn State prospects by picking corners Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy at 205 and 228 respectively. Dixon joins Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions, and Hardy ends up with the Baltimore Ravens. Both of those teams need help in the secondary, so they should have a chance to compete for a role early.

Overall, I like the fit for the majority of these picks. We all want to see these guys succeed at the next level, and I think if these picks were to happen for real all of them would have a good shot to make it in the NFL.

 

Packers get Penn State OT Olu Fashanu in Rob Rang’s final mock draft

The Packers got Penn State OT Olu Fashanu in Rob Rang’s final mock draft for Fox Sports.

A review and breakdown of first-round predictions for the Green Bay Packers in final 2024 mock drafts from a few of the most prominent analysts in the business:

The mock draft: Rob Rang, FOX Sports

The pick: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

The reasoning: “Like the Cowboys, the Packers need to reinforce their offensive line given that the club appears to be moving on from longtime starting left tackle David Bakhtiari. Fashanu has the size and grace to warrant a selection much earlier than this, but he isn’t as powerful as some of his classmates and could slip slightly as a result. At this point in the draft, however, he could prove to be a steal.”

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Our breakdown: This scenario sure seems unlikely, given the league-wide need for help at offensive tackle and Fashanu’s status as one of the two or three best tackles in the class. No one in Green Bay would complain if a top-20 overall player at a premium need position falls. Fashanu is 21 years old, has elite athleticism and Pro Bowl upside at left tackle and would be a steal at 25. Interestingly enough, Fashanu and current Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker were teammates at Penn State, and Fashanu took over the left tackle spot for the Nittany Lions after Walker was injured to end the 2021 season and entered the 2022 draft.

The player info

Olu Fashanu

Height: 6-6
Weight: 312
Age: 21
40-yard dash: 5.11
Vertical leap: 32.0″
Broad jump: 9-1
Three-cone: DNP
Short shuttle: DNP
Bench press: DNP
RAS: 9.58
Pre-draft visit: No
Senior Bowl: No

Consensus big board rank: 16

Draft profile from Lance Zierlein: “A toolsy two-year starter with loads of potential, Fashanu is still learning to be less mechanical and more instinctive with his play. At this point, he could impose his traits upon most collegiate opponents and stack the deck in his favor. As a pro, he will need to play with better control and more consistent technique to prevent being countered and beaten by NFL talent. There is still room to get bigger and stronger, but he’s already playing with good focus and drive as a run blocker. Issues with footwork and landmarks can be corrected with more coaching. He’s long and has really effective recovery agility to help keep his quarterback clean, but inconsistent pass slides and excessive leaning could make things harder than they need to be early on. Overall, the work ethic, traits and tape make it easier to project Fashanu’s continued improvement into a very good left tackle.”

Doug Farrar compares Penn State duo to a couple of solid NFL regulars

What NFL player to you see in Chop Robinson and Olu Fashanu? Doug Farrar gives his take

With the NFL draft approaching this week, rankings galore are in full swing as mock drafts, big boards, and comparisons are being released.

USA TODAY’s Doug Farrar took his top 50 NFL draft prospects and gave each one an NFL player comparison.

Offensive tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] and defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] made Farrar’s top 50 list.

After injuring himself at the combine, Fashanu did not have the best pre-draft process. He was once considered a top-10 selection but is now likely more of a mid-round pick. Farrar has the former Penn State left tackle as the 17th-best prospect and the third-best offensive tackle behind Washington’s Troy Fautanu and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga.

Farrar’s NFL comparison for Fashanu is Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Both are similarly athletic and big-bodied tackles who came into the NFL with questions surrounding technique.

Fashanu never allowed a sack in 733 pass-blocking snaps over three seasons for the Nittany Lions, and at 6′ 6″ and 312 pounds, he looks the very model of a modern left tackle with his speed and agility. There are some technique issues to work out, but in time, Fashanu could remind some of Darrisaw, who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 23rd pick of the 2021 draft out of Virginia Tech. Darrisaw is a lighter tackle at 315 pounds, and he’s had few consistency issues in pass protection, but he’s that same type of athletic blocker. – Doug Farrar, USA TODAY

Darrisaw and Fashanu are similar prospects slated to be drafted around the same spot in the first round. As Farrar stated, Fashanu never gave up a sack as a Nittany Lion, whereas Darrisaw has had issues in pass protection at both levels. Perhaps this gives Fashanu an edge when comparing the two as prospects.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Robinson has consistently been compared to current Dallas Cowboys and former Penn State great[autotag]Micah Parsons[/autotag]. It isn’t a bad comparison, but I believe there are more apt ones out there.
Farrar sees Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ edge rusher Shaquil Barrett in Robinson, and I like the pick.
Barrett and Robinson are flawed edge defenders, but they can be All-Pro or Pro Bowl-caliber players in the right situations. Robinson used his speed to dominate slower, less athletic tackles in college, but that won’t be the case in the NFL.

Robinson had three sacks and 26 total pressures in an injury-abbreviated 2023 season, but the metrics don’t concern me as much as the fact that his speed-rush game doesn’t always work — he can be eclipsed out of the rush by tackles and more persistent tight ends. As long as he’s set up in the NFL as a speed end as opposed to a do-it-all guy, he’ll be fine. In that regard, he’s a lot like Shaquil Barrett, who was an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State. The 2015 Denver Broncos took a flier on Barrett, and after a couple of seasons putting it together, Barrett had his first of four seasons of 10 or more sacks with the Broncos, and later, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. – Farrar

Considering Barrett went undrafted, Robinson, Farrar’s 30th-ranked player, is definitely the better prospect. However, peak Shaquil Barrett is probably what we can expect Chop Robinson’s ceiling to be at the next level. When Robinson gets his name called on draft day, the team and situation will be something to consider.
The NFL draft begins Thursday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET in Detriot.
Follow Charlie Strella on Twitter, Threads, and Instagram.

The 3 prospects mocked to Titans the most ahead of 2024 NFL draft

With just days to go until the 2024 NFL draft, a look at the prospects who have been mocked to the Titans the most.

When it comes to the Tennessee Titans’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the majority of mocks have had the Titans taking Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt. But who else has been commonly mocked to Tennessee?

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, there’s a wide gap between Alt and the other two choices, Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu and LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.

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Here’s the percentage of mocks that have them going to the Titans:

OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame: 58.4%

OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State: 19.1%

WR Malik Nabers: 4.3%

Other: 18.2%

With left tackle being the Titans’ biggest need, it comes as no surprise that Alt and Fashanu are the top two. Nabers is another logical choice, as the Titans still need more help at the position and a long-term solution on the outside.

While Alt and Nabers are realistic options for the Titans at No. 7, Fashanu figures to be a target for Tennessee if they trade back.

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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.

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

Commanders trading back into 1st round is the ‘worst kept secret in the draft’

Another top draft analyst believes Washington comes away with another first-round pick next week.

The Washington Commanders have nine selections in next week’s 2024 NFL draft. The fun begins on Thursday for the Commanders when they go on the clock at No. 2 overall, where they are expected to select a quarterback.

Washington holds five picks on Day 2, including two in the second round and three in the third round. With a massive need at offensive tackle, could the Commanders use some of that draft capital to move back into the first round?

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes it’s a good possibility. General manager Adam Peters didn’t dismiss the idea during his pre-draft press conference on Thursday.

In an interview with “Grant and Danny” on 106.7 The Fan on Thursday, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid weighed in on the Commanders’ interest in moving back into the first round.

“I think this is the worst kept secret in the draft right now, is the Commanders trading up from 36 or 40 to get an offensive tackle,” Reid said, via Lou DiPietro of Audacy.

“It just makes so much sense for them to trade up and take advantage of this deep offensive line class. I just don’t see Adam Peters having so many picks and just waiting till 36 or 40 for one of those guys to fall to him. I could see them trading up to the mid-to-late twenties, something like that, to get one of these guys that potentially is falling.”

This offensive tackle class is as deep as it has been in years. So, for teams needing an offensive tackle, it is a good year to find one. Washington needs two, including who can come in and start as a rookie at left tackle. Veteran Cornelius Lucas was re-signed, but he is best used as a swing tackle/spot starter.

Andrew Wylie starts on the right side and while he struggled during his first season with the Commanders, the current regime doesn’t think he’s as bad as the fans think.

Every draft, there is a run on positions. Once that run begins, you need to make a move. When does that run begin next Thursday? And how high would Washington be willing to go?

Joe Alt is considered the top offensive tackle and he could go as high as No. 5. That’s not happening. Taliese Fuaga is a potential top-10 pick, with Troy Fautanu, JC Latham and Olu Fashanu likely landing in the top 15.

Making the case for the Saints to draft a left tackle at No. 14

Should the New Orleans Saints draft a left tackle in the first round? Here’s the argument on why Trevor Penning shouldn’t stop them:

You never want to have much uncertainty about your left tackle spot, but that’s where the New Orleans Saints find themselves one week before the 2024 NFL draft. It’s a position that should be clearly in their crosshairs in the first round, where New Orleans is scheduled to pick at No. 14 overall. So should the right tackles available at the top of this draft class, but that’s a conversation for another day.

The Saints drafted Trevor Penning as a developmental prospect in 2022, but gave him little time to develop after he essentially redshirted his rookie year with injuries. Penning was benched six games into his career in 2023. It’s been two years but six or seven real games’ worth of experience hasn’t been enough for Penning to learn from. He instead has been relegated to watching from the sidelines. Not only was this a disservice to Penning, it’s also a disservice to the new offensive coaching staff inheriting him.

They will have to decide if Penning is the left tackle of the future with limited tape to judge from. Getting benched after six starts in 2023 is unfair, but it also speaks volumes to how the team viewed his performance. Based on how quickly the last offensive coaching staff gave up on Penning, pressing the reset button at the position is a valid way to go. In a strong offensive line class, Penning could be written off as a failed experiment in favor of a player with a higher ceiling.

Options will be available, including readymade starters like Olu Fashanu (Penn State) and Troy Fautanu (Washington). Drafting a left tackle with the 14th pick doesn’t have to spell the end of Penning, however. The Saints can move him inside to guard (where some believed he projected better coming out of the draft) or move him to right tackle, where they also have a major vulnerability. The possibility of converting Penning at guard or right tackle furthers the claim he shouldn’t keep you from drafting your franchise left tackle. It all comes back to one critical question: How much does the new staff believe in Trevor Penning?

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NFL draft analyst has the ideal selections for the Saints in first two rounds

Who are the ideal selections for the Saints in the first two rounds? NFL draft analyst answer that question at two critical positions.

As the NFL draft inches closer, you’ll be flooded with mock drafts every other day. These are interesting ways to predict how the draft may play out and who will be on the board when the New Orleans Saints pick at 14 and their subsequent picks.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter put a spin on the typical mock drafts we’ll see flying around over the next week. Reuter laid out the ideal player for each team with their first two picks. He didn’t pick a player twice and attempted to keep it realistic to what range a player may be picked. The New Orleans Saints’ first two selections are at Nos. 14 and 45, and here’s who Reuter says they should choose:

Round 1: No. 14 overall: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Round 2: No. 45 overall: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Former first-round pick Trevor Penning struggled at left tackle, and veteran right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is dealing with a chronic knee issue, so the Saints will be looking for offensive line help early in the draft. Fashanu possesses the size (6-6, 312 pounds) and length (34-inch arms) to excel in the NFL if he can continue to grow as a player. He would seemingly be a great answer at left tackle if Penning is moved to left guard or right tackle. The Saints could also use another outside threat to pair with Chris Olave now that veteran Michael Thomas has been released. Coleman’s long speed is only average (4.61 40 at 230 pounds), but he has some open-field quickness for his size. 

It’s difficult to argue the positions. You may prefer a different player, but wide receiver and offensive tackle are two of the Saints’ bigger needs entering the draft. Drafting Fashanu brings the question of what do you do with Trevor Penning? However, draft a guy you know can be a cornerstone at left tackle and decide from there. Reuter does leave room for the new staff to salvage Penning, which would shift focus to right tackle.

Keon Coleman specifically fits the build of wide receiver to replace Michael Thomas in New Orleans. Coleman’s frame would be beneficial as a target across the middle. As stated, his 40 yard dash time wasn’t great but his speed through position drills at the NFL Scouting Combine quelled many concerns. These could be the ideal picks for the Saints in each of the first two rounds, but they may be realistic, too. We’ll find out in just one more week.

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Draft analyst believes Commanders most likely to move up in 1st round for non-QB

Will the Commanders come away from this month’s NFL draft with two first-round picks?

The Washington Commanders are well-positioned in general manager Adam Peters’ first draft. Washington has nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft, including six in the top 100, beginning with No. 2 overall.

The Commanders will likely select a quarterback with their first pick, either Drake Maye (North Carolina ) or Jayden Daniels (LSU). From there, it’s about finding the best available players to add to a roster desperately in need of young talent.

Peters, as with most GMs, would always prefer to move back and add more picks. But with a desperate need at offensive tackle, could Peters use some of his day two picks to move back into round one?

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller believes Washington is the team most likely to back into the first round for a non-quarterback.

We all believe they will take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, but I also think they’re the team most likely to move up for a non-quarterback. The Commanders currently own pick Nos. 36 and 40 in the second round and are in the market for a left tackle after signing interior linemen Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz in free agency. Per the Jimmy Johnson draft trade chart, packaging the two second-rounders would be good enough to get to pick No. 16 overall and grab a left tackle before the run on the position likely starts around pick No. 20 with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the clock. I think Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Washington’s Troy Fautanu and/or Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton could be available in that range.

The Commanders are definitely in play to trade back into the first round. Not addressing offensive tackle in free agency was a clear indication that Peters loves the depth of this tackle class and he’ll make sure he comes away with one of the top OT prospects on his board.

Will he need to move up for one of those guys? Well, it depends on when the run begins. If Washington could move up and land Fashanu around No. 16, that’d be a steal. The Commanders would come away with a potential franchise quarterback and a left tackle prospect with a massive upside.

Regardless, the first two days of the draft will be exciting for Washington fans.

Field Yates’ new mock draft makes an unconventional pick for the Saints

Field Yates’ new mock draft makes an unconventional pick for the Saints. Does Georgia prospect Kamari Lassiter have what they look for at cornerback?

We’re finally entering the fun part of draft season: with only weeks remaining before the 2024 NFL draft kicks off, analysts like ESPN’s Field Yates are expanding their mock drafts to explore the first two rounds of picks (if not more). The real drama on draft day picks up after the obvious selections are made early on. And for a team with as many needs as the New Orleans Saints, it’s important to know what their options may be in the second round.

And with that in mind, we’re spending more time today talking about Yates’ pick for the Saints at No. 45 overall rather than the 14th selection (Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu, who has been a popular choice for New Orleans in the first round). Yates has the Saints picking Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Kamari Lassiter after addressing their bigger need at left tackle early on.

“The Saints restructured Marshon Lattimore’s contract late last season, fueling speculation that he could be a trade candidate this offseason,” Yates wrote. “Lassiter would add depth there if such a move happened. He’s sudden, confident and capable in man coverage.”

Lassiter weighs in at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, just meeting the Saints’ thresholds at the position, but his incomplete athletic testing makes it tough to say whether they would consider drafting him. His poor performance in the 40-yard dash on a fast track at Georgia’s pro day doesn’t help his case.

Yates reported that Lassiter timed the 40-yard dash between 4.50 and 4.51 seconds at Georgia’s pro day, but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reports that he was timed much lower, between 4.61 and 4.63 seconds. NFLDraftScout.com, which has been working in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame while tracking pro day results for decades, had him at 4.65. Yates is still high on Lassiter but other media draft analysts like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah no longer rank him among their top 50 prospects. Before his pro day, Lassiter was Jeremiah’s 36th-best prospect.

Dubious pro day results aside, Lassiter doesn’t have the production of other players going early in the draft, or similar defensive backs the Saints have drafted in recent years. He only intercepted one pass in college while recording more than 1,000 snaps in coverage. Depending on where you look, in his three-year career he broke up either 9 passes (according to Pro Football Focus charting), 14 passes (College Sports Reference as well as ESPN), or 15 passes (Georgia’s team website). Marshon Lattimore, for comparison, had 4 interceptions and 11 passes defensed in just 357 coverage snaps at Ohio State.

The Saints could very well draft a cornerback regardless of their plans for Lattimore; Paulson Adebo is entering a contract year and Alontae Taylor was a liability in the slot. Lassiter’s future may lie in that same role guarding the slot, given his subpar size, and his controlled aggression making plays upfield. Lassiter only missed 8 tackles on nearly 1,700 defensive snaps in college, per PFF, and he was credited with making 8.5 tackles for loss the last two years. Getting him closer to the line of scrimmage where he can make plays in traffic and not worry about running in stride with faster receivers downfield could let him play to his strengths. If Lattimore is traded this offseason, Taylor makes the most sense as his immediate replacement, and the Saints would need someone else to man the slot.

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