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Penn State in the NFL mock drafts: Where are some Lions landing after the Combine?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•03/16/25•

GregPickel

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Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Penn State football had an uncharacteristically quiet week at the NFL Combine. With Abdul Carter and KJ Winston Jr., sidelined while recovering from injuries while Tyler Warren opted not to work out since his top 10 status is all but assured, only Kobe King and Jaylen Reed were left to test. King decided to do just on-field work. That left Reed as the only former Lion to do a majority of the testing tasks in Indianapolis. He surely helped his stock some. But, Reed nor King are climbing in the mock drafts released by various media outlets since the Combine. Where do Carter Winston, and Warren stand?

For The Athletic, Dane Brugler sends Carter to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 overall selection. However, it would not be absurd to see the AFC North team trade that pick come late April when the Draft is held in Green Bay. The longtime draftnik later sends Warren to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9.

“Regardless of who’s going to be the quarterback, the Saints are missing offensive playmakers — an issue that has allowed opposing defenses to dictate the action, rather than the other way around,” Brugler writes. “But Warren and his diverse skill set would greatly open up Kellen Moore’s offense.”

For ESPN, Jordan Reid sees Tennessee moving out of the top spot via a trade with the New York Giants. That would move the Titans to No. 3, where they’d take Carter, Reid projects. He does join Brugler in saying Warren will go to the Saints at No. 9.

More: How Penn State’s 2024 Transfer Portal wideout targets fared last fall

“Does first-year GM Mike Borgonzi feel comfortable tying his tenure to either one of the QBs? Based on the intel I gathered at the combine, Tennessee will explore trading down while staying in range to pick the first non-QB off the board, as it does here,” Reid writes. “In his first full season as an edge rusher, Carter tallied 12 sacks and registered an 18.5% pressure rate, which ranked third in the FBS. With Harold Landry III being granted permission to seek a trade, the Titans currently have minimal pass rush. Picking Carter could be a great start to Borgonzi’s rebuild.”

Over at NFL.com, Lance Zierlein is holding firm on sending Carter to Tennessee at No. 1. He sends Penn State All-American Warren to Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17.

“The AFC is an arms race, and the Bengals are lucky enough to snare a do-everything tight end who adds another layer of danger to their offense,” Zierlein writes about his Warren predictions.

Zierlein’s NFL.com colleague, Charles Davis, has Carter at No. 4 to New England. And, he sends Warren to the Colts at No. 14.

For The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner has three Nittany Lions going in the first three rounds. He sends Carter to Tennessee at No. 1, Warren to the Saints at No. 9, and Winston to the Dolphins at No. 48, which is a second-round selection.

All eyes now turn to Penn State Pro Day on March 28. Then, personnel from all 32 teams should be in State College to get a look at the Lions. It goes without saying that how much Carter and Winston decide to do will be a top talking point. But, some of their former teammates will have a chance to boost their pro stock, as well, during the daylong event that starts at the Lasch Building and ends at Holuba Hall.

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