Penn State and the NFL: What's next for Miles Sanders, and where is Joey Porter Jr., in the latest mock drafts?
Former Penn State running back Miles Sanders nearly made it to the top of the tallest mountain in sports. However, he and the Philadelphia Eagles came up just short in Super Bowl 57. Kansas City outlasted the NFC champs 38-35 inside of Arizona’s State Farm Stadium.
Sanders, who was riding a hot streak from a two touchdown performance in the NFC title game, was not used often in the biggest game of the year. He finished with only seven carries for 16 yards and didn’t catch a pass in what may have been his final game as an Eagle.
What’s next for Miles Sanders?
A second-round pick of the NFC East franchise back in 2019, Sanders enters the 2023 offseason as a free agent for the first time. He has 739 attempts over 57 career games (49 starts) and has rushed for 3,708 yards and 20 touchdowns over four seasons. Any of the 32 NFL teams, including Philadelphia, could certainly use the 25-year-old’s skillset moving forward.
“I haven’t really thought about it yet, but that’s just the way this league is,” Sanders told reporters earlier this year when asked about his looming free agency. “There’s going to be certain people with better opportunities. There’s going to be some people that can’t be here. You know how this business is. It’s a business. So you can’t take nothing really personal. You go out there and do the best you can, and hopefully you’re set up for your future. That’s all I can really say about that.”
Sanders had the best season to date since leaving Penn State. He ran for a career-best 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns to help propel his team to the Super Bowl. He could be franchised tag, work out a new deal with the team, or head elsewhere. Time will tell. But, Sanders continues to show recruits what can be accomplished by playing at Penn State. And, he’ll continue to do that whether its in Eagles green or not next fall.
Where is Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr., in the latest mock drafts?
While Sanders could have a new NFL home for the 2023 season, former Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr., will be getting his first. The latest NFL mock drafts are in with the offseason now officially underway.
The Draft Network slots ‘JPJ’ at No. 16 to the Washington Commanders.
“Washington is in need of a star corner and this is quite the draft for cover corners,” Brentley Weissman writes. “Joey Porter Jr. has rare size and length for the position and offers tremendous ball skills.”
At Fantasy Pros, Matt Freedman puts the onetime Lions at No. 10 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jason McIntyre of FOX Sports, meanwhile, also projects Porter Jr., to be a Commander.
As one of seven former Penn State players invited to the NFL Combine, Porter Jr., will have a chance to up his draft stock even more at the annual scouting event, which runs Feb. 28-March 4. However, it looks like a guarantee that he will be one of the first 32 players off the board.
