Two Penn State standouts selected in recent NFL mock draft

NFL Network analyst Eric Edholm has a couple of Penn State players in his latest mock draft.

Throughout much of the NFL draft process, two Penn State stars have consistently found themselves in the first round of most mock drafts. Offensive tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] and edge rusher [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] have parlayed their excellent careers as Nittany Lions into being mainstays high on most draft boards.

That trend continued in NFL Network analyst Eric Edholm’s latest mock draft, with both players landing in the first round. Fashanu came off the board first, with Edholm having the New Orleans Saints select him at 14th overall. The Saints have been a popular landing spot for Fashanu in recent mocks, likely due to the uncertainty of All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s health.

The struggles of former first-round pick Trevor Penning at left tackle is also an incentive for the Saints to heavily consider addressing the position early. Fashanu would be a huge upgrade over Penning, especially as a pass protector. He is also a good enough athlete to try him at right tackle if he shows he is capable of it if Ramczyk misses time.

Down the board at 26, Edholm had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Robinson to bolster their pass rush. The Buccaneers shocked the football world with their NFC South division title in 2023 behind the right arm of Baker Mayfield, but their defense has lost several key players from their title run a few years back.

The release of Shaquil Barrett in particular left a massive hole at edge rusher, and Robinson could potentially fill that spot early for Todd Bowles’s defense. His explosiveness was off the charts at the NFL combine, testing as one of the most athletic edge rushers ever.

That speed and burst is his calling card, often getting off the ball so quickly that many of his opponents were far too slow to do anything to stop him. That skill translates well to the next level, but the amount of easy wins will drop dramatically against NFL competition. He still needs to learn how to win as a pass rusher in more ways, but he has a solid floor thanks to that speed.

While I think there are better landing spots for them, it would be very fun to see Fashanu and Robinson play each other twice a year in the NFC South. It could potentially bring out the best in them while also providing a chance to claim bragging rights over each other. Count me in for that.