Tag: Penn State

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated first round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re reviewing an updated first-round mock draft.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two-round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

2024 Eagles mock draft roundup: Philadelphia reloads at cornerback position

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Eagles will reshape the secondary by targeting a cornerback.

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 Ravens mock draft roundup: Baltimore reloads at offensive tackle

We’re looking at the updated mock draft roundup for Baltimore as the Ravens rebuild the offensive line

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Ravens are set for a rebuild in the trenches.

With the Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking for updated options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Two big draft analysts say this prospect should replace Trevor Penning

Two big draft analysts picked the same prospect to replace Trevor Penning. Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu may not get past New Orleans in April’s draft:

It’s always interesting when mock drafts are in agreement and a consensus starts to build — even unpredictable teams like the New Orleans Saints can tip their hand during the lengthy process leading up the annual NFL draft. And when major media outlets are linking the Saints to the same prospect ahead of the 2024 draft, it’s time to sit up and pay attention.

Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, two of the longest-tenured draft analysts around, have the Saints targeting a replacement for Trevor Penning. The third-year left tackle hasn’t shown much through his first two seasons, having lost his rookie year to injuries before being benched just six games into his sophomore campaign. He’s flirting with bust status.

And both Kiper and Jeremiah have the same player in mind to upgrade that left tackle spot: Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State. Here’s what Kiper had to say of the situation:

As I mentioned last month, the Saints have seen 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning struggle for two seasons; how much longer will they trot him out there at left tackle? In a deep and talented tackle class, they could upgrade in Round 1. Fashanu, who only turned 21 in December, has fantastic movement traits as both a pass- and run-blocker. At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, he looks like he could play tight end. He started 21 games on the left side in college.

New Orleans might also be in the market for a wideout to pair with Chris Olave, who has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Xavier Worthy (Texas) are the next receivers up in my rankings.

Jeremiah was more succinct, writing that “2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not worked out for the Saints. Fashanu is the new solution at left tackle.”

The Saints have expressed optimism that Penning can still develop into a starting-quality left tackle under the team’s new offensive coaching staff. But if Fashanu is the highest-rated player available when they’re on the clock, they shouldn’t hesitate to draft him. Penning can move to the right side and back up Ryan Ramczyk (who might be out of football in the next year or two, depending on how well his bad knee holds up) or learn a new position at left guard and compete to start there. Fashanu is the real deal, and the Saints would be lucky to have him.

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ESPN’s latest 2-round mock draft gives the Commanders help in key positions, including QB

The Commanders land a QB, OL and an edge rusher in this two-round mock draft.

With the NFL combine over, all 32 teams are looking ahead to free agency. Meanwhile, draft analysts are busy pouring over team needs and combine results to put together the latest mock drafts.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid released his first post-combine mock draft Tuesday and keeps things simple for the Washington Commanders with the second overall pick.

As with mock drafts, USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes No. 1 to the Chicago Bears. For Reid, he has North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye heading to Washington.

It’s widely known that Washington will select a QB if it stays put at No. 2, but which one? I elected to go with Maye, as his prior experience in an Air Raid-style offense, his size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) and ability to drive the ball downfield gives him the edge over LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The learning curve might not be as steep for him in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, and there is a lot of upside here with him throwing to receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

No surprise there. While some prefer Daniels to Washington, Reid has been consistent with his fit for Maye to the Commanders.

So what type of help did Reid give Washington with its two second-round picks.

At No. 36, Maye gets a big-time blocker from his college’s archrival: Duke’s Graham Barton.

The Commanders — who allowed 65 sacks in 2023, tied for the second-most in the NFL — could need as many as three new starters along the offensive line. Barton is a plug-and-play option along the interior and even has experience at tackle.

Maye may not like the Blue Devils, but he’d love to have Barton blocking for him over the next decade.

At No. 40, Washington selects a Penn State edge rusher — just not the one you are thinking of, as Chop Robinson lands in the first round in Reid’s mock draft.

The pick: Adisa Isaac.

Losing both Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline last October left the Commanders with mostly rotational and depth players off the edge. Isaac has the potential to be a dependable starter. He is explosive and has good bend around the corner.

Isaac has length and strength, but doesn’t have the athletic profile of Robinson. That’s no knock on Isaac, as Robinson’s testing numbers were ridiculous in Indianapolis. Isaac is going in round two. Why not Washington?

 

Possible Titans 1st-round pick Olu Fashanu suffers injury at combine

Possible Titans first-round pick Olu Fashanu saw his combine cut short due to an injury.

While Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is the preferred choice for the Tennessee Titans if they take a left tackle with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is a possibility if Alt is off the board in that spot.

Fashanu took part in the NFL Combine on Sunday but his participation was cut short due to a right thigh injury he suffered during his first attempt at the 40-yard dash, he told NFL Network’s Stacey Dales.

Penn State is scheduled to hold its pro day on March 15 and Fashanu thinks he’ll be fine by then, so he’ll have another opportunity to show his stuff.

Fashanu did deal with an unrevealed injury during his junior season, when he appeared in eight games before shutting it down. However, he started all 12 regular-season games for the Nittany Lions last year before opting out of the Peach Bowl.

Before his combine injury, Fashanu measured at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, with an arm length of 34 inches and a hand size of 8 and 1/2 inches. He was clocked at 5.11 seconds in his lone 40-yard dash attempt and posted a 10-yard split of 1.77 seconds. His vertical was 32 inches and his broad jump was 9-foot-1.

As compared to Alt, Fashanu recorded a smaller hand size and arm length, with the Notre Dame product, who shined in his combine workouts, registering 10 inches and 34 and 1/4 inches, respectively.

Fashanu did top Alt in the vertical jump (32 inches to 28 inches), but fell short in the broad jump (9-foot-1 to 9-foot-4) and 40-yard dash (5.11 to 5.05 seconds).

Tennessee met with Fashanu at the combine and the Penn State product said he would definitely be a fan of reuniting with former teammate Will Levis, who was with the Nittany Lions during Fashanu’s first year there.

Fashanu also credited Levis with helping him make the transition from high school to college, and the two have been in touch recently. You can check out all of Fashanu’s comments on Levis and his meeting with the Titans right here.

While Fashanu’s injury shouldn’t be considered a big deal under normal circumstances, it won’t make a Titans fan base that has been tortured with a ridiculous amount of injuries the past few years feel any better about taking him.

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Olu Fashanu hopes to reunite with Titans’ Will Levis, has been in contact with QB

Olu Fashanu credited Titans QB Will Levis with helping him transition from high school to Penn State.

One of the many possibilities for the Tennessee Titans at No. 7 overall in the 2024 NFL draft, Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is already quite familiar with quarterback Will Levis.

During Fashanu’s first year at Penn State in 2020, Levis was on the roster before eventually transferring to Kentucky.

Fashanu revealed that Levis was one of the older players who helped make his transition to Penn State easier and he would love to play with the second-year signal-caller again.

The pair have also been in contact recently.

“It would be great, playing with Will,” Fashanu said at his NFL Combine press conference on Saturday, per AtoZ Sports’ Sam Phalen. “Obviously, he was at Penn State my freshman year and he was one of the older guys that really made my transition to Penn State from high school ball a lot easier.”

“We were just catching up,” Fashanu said of his recent conversation with Levis. “I haven’t seen him in person since my freshman year, but it was a good conversation, we just caught up and just talked.”

Fashanu also said he has met with the Titans.

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“Yeah, I met with the Titans,” Fashanu said. “It was a great meeting. Love the coaching staff.”

One quality that will be important for any left tackle the Titans select is the ability to start on Day 1. Fashanu believes he is ready to do just that.

“At the end of the day, I am super-confident in my ability to play right now,” Fashanu said, per Jim Wyatt. “I have been ready for this moment for a while, especially with the last couple of weeks training. I am extremely confident, and I am ready for this moment.”

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PFF tabs Penn State EDGE as Buccaneers’ ideal pick for 2024 draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use some pass rushing help for 2024, and they could find that help in the Big Ten.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of different needs to address in the NFL draft, and there are a couple of different directions they can go.

Pro Football Focus recently released a list of team needs for all 32 NFL teams heading into draft season, along with their ideal pick. Writer Dalton Wasserman wrote that the Bucs could draft for best player available, and he recommended Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.

Here’s what he had to say about Tampa Bay’s potential draft needs?

The Buccaneers are truly in a “best player available” scenario. They massively overachieved last season and were the lowest-graded team to make the postseason. They have needs on the offensive line and across the board on defense. For now, we’ll take a swing on uber-talented pass rusher Chop Robinson here. The Bucs generally struggled to generate pressure without blitzing, so Robinson would add to Tampa Bay’s plethora of young defensive linemen. Looming over their draft situation, though, is Mike Evans’ contract situation. If he were to depart, wide receivers like Adonai Mitchell, Brian Thomas Jr. and Keon Coleman immediately become options to fill the void.

Robinson would indeed be a good get for the Bucs. He’s a bit unrefined, but he’s an explosive athlete with a high motor who can drop into coverage, much like head coach Todd Bowles may want. With development, he could serve as a nice piece alongside Yaya Diaby on the defensive line.

While PFF may have the Bucs as a team that could go with any position, EDGE and interior offensive line remain Tampa Bay’s two biggest needs heading into the 2024 offseason.

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Draft prospect draws comparison to current Dolphins OL

NFL draft prospect draws comparison to Dolphins offensive lineman.

The 2024 NFL draft is still months away, but teams and experts are furiously going through every crumb of information they can before over 250 players hear their names called during the annual selection process in April.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Matt Miller released his player comparisons for this year’s group of draft prospects that he believes are worthy of first-round grades.

While 16 players received first-round grades, one stood out because he was compared to a current Miami Dolphins offensive tackle.

Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu is expected to be one of the first offensive linemen selected in a draft that’s rich at the position following a collegiate career that included a consensus All-American final season.

Miller compares Fashanu to Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead, who was a third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints back in 2013 out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Here’s what Miller had to say about Fashanu:

“A long-armed, easy-moving left tackle, Fashanu is a massive man at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. The 20-year-old started 20 games over the past two seasons, allowing one sack in that time while being flagged only four times. He’s powerful and agile, and he is still getting better with more reps. Fashanu has the tools to become a top-five NFL left tackle.”

Armstead has been a Second-team All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler five times in his career, which is incredible considering the jump he had to make from a SWAC school to the NFL.

Fashanu will almost certainly be gone by the time the Dolphins are on the clock, but if some team is getting the type of player that Armstead has been in his career when healthy, they should be ecstatic about that.