Penn State 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: How many Lions make the first projections?
Penn State football put five players into the NFL in 2025. It marked the eighth straight year that the Lions had at least that many draft picks. The high-water mark in the James Franklin era is eight, which has happened twice, once in 2022 and again in 2024. The 2026 Nittany Lion draft class is likely going to shatter that mark. The program could even run its streak of having multiple first-round picks to three years, according to the first mock drafts for next year.
USA Today has senior quarterback Drew Allar as the No. 1 overall selection. It presumes the Cleveland Browns will have that pick. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz also sends running back Nicholas Singleton to the Washington Commanders at No. 26.
“While Brian Robinson Jr. – who is entering the final year of his rookie contract – has been reliable, Singleton would change the complexion of the Commanders’ attack with his breakaway speed while still maintaining the power and versatility to be a three-down threat,” Middlehurst-Schwartz writes.
Bleacher Report also has Allar going to the Browns, albeit at No. 2. The Draft Network has Singleton as the first Penn State player off the board next year. He projects to go at No. 13 to Dallas. The site takes a stance in saying that Allar will not be a first round pick at this juncture. DraftWire, meanwhile, has Dani Dennis-Sutton going at No. 2 with Allar and Singleton also going in the top 20. CBS Sports, then, has Allar going at No. 2 to the Browns and ‘DDS’ to Baltimore at No. 31.
“The Ravens love those versatile players along the defensive front and DDS fits the mold of the rangy edge-rusher they’ve looked for in the past,” Blake Brockermeyer writes.
More: Top Penn State takeaways, things you missed, drive results, and more of what they’re saying about the Blue-White game
The Sporting News is not yet compiling a mock draft. But, it’s top prospect board has Allar at No. 8, Singleton at No. 18, cornerback AJ Harris at No. 20, and running back Kaytron Allen at No. 50.
Top 10
- 1New
Greg McElroy
Polarizing Top 10 QB ranking
- 2Hot
CFB Top 25
Post-spring rankings
- 3
2026 NFL Mock Draft
Heavy QB emphasis
- 4
Paul Finebaum
Blasts Quinn Ewers
- 5
Baseball Top 25
Substantial movement in rankings
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“Harris (6-1, 193) is one of the best cover corners in this draft,” Bill Bender writes. “The Big Ten has a solid group of cornerbacks returning in 2026, including Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds, Michigan’s Jyaire Hill and Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun.
“Harris graded out well last season, and he allowed a 56.3% completion percentage and one TD as the primary defender. How will Harris fare with new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles? Penn State has never had a cornerback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.”
At Pro Football Focus, its first big board has only Allar in the top 25 at No. 17.
“While his performance in the final game of the season was rough (36.6 PFF passing grade), Allar quieted many critics by quarterbacking the Nittany Lions all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals this past season,” Max Chadwick and Trevor Sikkema write. “He showed off his rifle right arm far more as a junior, increasing his average depth of target by over a yard.
“There are still some things to clean up in terms of his footwork and accuracy and plenty of questions surrounding Penn State’s wide receiver room, but Allar will enter his senior season as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. With a loaded roster surrounding him, he has the potential to take the Nittany Lions on an even deeper run next year.”
