Penn State mock draft roundup: Where PSU prospects are trending after the combine
Penn State Nittany Lions football’s 2022 NFL Draft prospects achieved mixed results at the NFL Combine last week in Indianapolis.
Following the combine, some NFL Draft analysts have updated their projections. Let’s take a look at where Penn State’s draft class is trending.
Dotson’s 4.43 40-yard dash was 11th among wideouts at the combine. At 7.28, his three-cone drill ranked 10th, along with a 36-inch vertical (11th) and 121-inch broad jump (23rd). The combine doesn’t seem to have impacted his stock much, with analysts split on whether he’ll be a first-round pick, much as they were before the event.
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly has him at No. 25 overall to the Bills, which is the high-water mark for Dotson among the mock drafts sampled by BWI. At Sports Illustrated, Ric Serritella mocks him 30th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Dotson going in the early second round, with the New York Jets using their 35th pick on the Penn State standout. Pro Football Network has him 53rd overall to the Raiders in its seven-round mock.
“He’s got some weaknesses that are going to give him trouble in the league, but you can’t really crush him for them because he can really run and he’s a very smart player,” an anonymous NFC scouting director told NFL.com.
Ebiketie probably impressed the most out of all the Penn State prospects in Indianapolis. He ranked second in the vertical and the broad jump among defensive ends at marks of 38 inches and 128 inches, respectively. His 21 reps on the bench press tied for sixth.
At The Athletic, Brugler has the Atlanta Falcons selecting Ebiketie at 43rd overall. Pro Football Network has him going ahead of Dotson with the 46th pick to the Minnesota Vikings.
It was a tough week for Brisker in Indy, with a back injury suffered during the bench press no doubt impacting his performances. His 22 reps on the bench were second-best among safeties. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash (10th), posted a 124-inch broad (6th) and a 34.5-inch vertical (12th).
Brugler projects him at the back of the second round, going 61st overall to the San Francisco 49ers. Pro Football Network has him going in the same spot. Sports Illustrated is slightly higher on Brisker, predicting that he’ll land at 51st overall in Philadelphia.
“He’s got good size and athletic ability and played with a lot more confidence because you could tell that he understood the game better (in 2021),” an anonymous area scout told NFL.com.
Smith tested very well, as many suspected he would. His 4.57 40 ranked fourth among linebackers. He also finished fourth in the broad jump (128) and the vertical (37.5).
At Pro Football Network, which is the only mock in this sample to go beyond the second round, Smith is projected to go 106th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
The only event Castro-Fields partook in was the 40, He ran a 4.38, which placed him fifth among cornerbacks.
Pro Football Network projects that performance to be sufficient for him to land 125th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Having suffered an injury in the leadup to Penn State’s bowl game, Walker did not partake in any events in Indy.
He is projected by the Pro Football Network to be the first selection of the fifth round, going 161st overall to the New Orleans Saints.
Working out with the defensive ends, Luketa also unfortunately suffered an injury running his second 40-yard dash. His 4.89 mark there was 16th among defensive ends. He also posted a 114-inch broad (18th) and 37.5-inch vertical (5th).
Pro Football Network slots him in at No. 170 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
Stout was the only Nittany Lion to partake in the combine and not crack any of these mock drafts. He ran a 4.65 40-yard dash.
