Nine Penn State players land in ESPN's seven-round mock draft

The NFL Draft is just over two weeks away for Penn State football’s pro prospects.

With the draft to take place in Las Vegas beginning on April 28th, several former Nittany Lions aren’t too far from learning their fate. ESPN analyst Jordan Reid released a full seven-round mock draft on Monday, which included nine Nittany Lions.

Here’s a full rundown of Reid’s projections.

WR Jahan Dotson– Kansas City Chiefs, 30th overall

It’s no surprise that Jahan Dotson has been the first Penn State player off the board for most experts considering the season he had a year ago. Dotson posted 1,182 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021, and Reid projects him to help replace the departing Tyreek Hill in Kansas City.

“Outside of his 5-foot-11 size, there aren’t a lot of holes to Dotson’s game,” Reid wrote. “Along with Drake London, he has the biggest catch radius of any receiver in this class. It’s routine for him to catch passes well outside of the strike zone and put his body into uncomfortable spots in order to haul in throws.”

S Jaquan Brisker – New York Jets, 35th overall

NFL Draft prognosticators have struggled more to come to a consensus regarding Jaquan Brisker, who has been mocked anywhere from the second round to the fourth. Reid is higher on Brisker, predicting that he’ll go to a New York Jets team that desperately needs defensive help. Reid touted Brisker’s versatility as a major reason he slots in at the top of the second round.

“Some teams just asked me what I could do, if I could play all six [secondary] positions,” Brisker said at pro day. “And I say yes. Throughout junior college and throughout my time here I’ve shown my versatility. I showed that I could play anywhere in the secondary, whether that’s corner, nickel, boundary nickel or both safety spots.” 

DE Arnold Ebiketie – New York Jets, 38th overall

Reid has another first-team All-Big Ten Nittany Lion slotted three picks after Brisker. Also heading to New York in this projection is defensive end Arnold Ebiketie. The Temple transfer arrived in State College last season to become one of the Big Ten’s top pass rushers. He concluded the season with 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Reid thinks he could contribute early as a pass rusher in New York.

“As a pass-rusher, with his hand in the ground and also in space, I think he can be a guy that can help you maybe even going in reverse,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said of Ebiketie. “I think the versatility’s there. Coaching will be important. System will be important. I think probably more of a second-round pick now. But he’s going to be a good second-round pick for somebody.”

T Rasheed Walker – Baltimore Ravens, 76th overall

Notably, Reid is high on offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, who struggled at times last season and missed out on the combine and pro day after suffering an injury in the leadup to Penn State’s bowl game. Reid touted Walker as a long-term project for teams in projecting him 76th overall to the Baltimore Ravens.

“He has spurts of positive play, but his technique leaves him still far away from being ready to step in and play meaningful snaps,” Reid wrote.

More Penn State players in the latest ESPN mock draft

LB Brandon Smith – Seattle Seahawks (via NYJ), 109th overall

Reid isn’t as high on Brandon Smith as Kiper, his ESPN colleague, who suggested Smith could come off the board before Ebiketie. Reid has him falling to the early fourth round, where he projects Smith to be selected by the Seahawks in a pick acquired from the Jets.

DE Jesse Luketa – Baltimore Ravens, 119th overall

Another Nittany Lion defender is slotted 10 picks after Smith. Reid projects that linebacker-turned-defensive-end Jesse Luketa will bolster the defensive line in Baltimore. If that prediction comes true, he would join former Nittany Lion Odafe Oweh.

CB Tariq Castro-Fields – Los Angeles Chargers, 160th overall

Moving onto the fifth round, Reid has Tariq Castro-Fields going to the Los Angeles Chargers. A three-year starter at PSU, Castro-Fields impressed with a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

LB Ellis Brooks – Pittsburgh Steelers, 208th overall

In the sixth round, Reid has Ellis Brooks staying in the Keystone State and joining the linebackers room in Pittsburgh. Brooks concluded the 2021 season with a team-high 100 tackles in 12 games.

P Jordan Stout – Los Angeles Rams, 218th overall

Reid is one of the only draft analysts this winter to show some love to Jordan Stout, projecting him to be selected in the seventh round by the defending Super Bowl champion LA Rams. Stout was the Big Ten’s punter of the year in 2021.