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Penn State pair find new homes in Mel Kiper's latest NFL mock draft

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•02/28/24•

GregPickel

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Penn State has had multiple players go off the board in the first round of the NFL Draft three times since 2000. The latest instance came in 2021, when Micah Parsons went to the Dallas Cowboys while Odafe Oweh headed to the Baltimore Ravens. Could 2024 be the next year added to a list that also includes 2003 and 2000? One NFL Draft analyst thinks so.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., released his latest mock draft this week ahead of the NFL Combine starting on Thursday. He has long had both Lions offensive tackle Olu Fashanu and edge Chop Robinson going within the first 32 selections. However, in January, he sent them to the New York Jets and Tampa Bay, respectively. A month late, he has revised those choices. Starting with Fashanu, he is slotted to go No. 14 overall to the New Orleans Saints.

“Trevor Penning, a first-round pick in 2022, has started just six games in two seasons and was one of the league’s worst pass-blocking left tackles when he did play in 2023,” Kiper Jr., writes. “Could the Saints decide he’s not going to be their left tackle of the future? It shouldn’t be out of the question, especially as they again have salary cap issues.

“If there’s not an edge rusher or wide receiver they like available here, they should take Fashanu, who has the potential to be that guy in New Orleans. Fashanu, who turned 21 in December, allowed a single sack and eight total pressures in 21 college starts. He often dominated edge rushers.”

More: Penn State at the NFL Combine: How, when, to watch the Lions in Indianapolis this week

Robinson, meanwhile, is projected to go at No. 31 overall to the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

“San Francisco could take the comp pick for defensive end Chase Young and let him walk in free agency, opening up a spot on the other side of Nick Bosa,” Kiper Jr., writes. “That’s where I’d slot in Robinson , whose sack numbers were a little disappointing the past two seasons (9.5 total, four in 2023) but who has the potential to be a star. At 6-3, 250 pounds, he is extremely explosive.

“Give him time with 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek and he could be a star. The reason Robinson might be a late Round 1 pick is because of that questionable production, but scouts and execs love his tool set.”

Fashanu and Robinson are among 10 former Penn State players set to work out at the NFL Combine. It airs Thursday-Friday at 3 p.m. ET on NFL Network. On Saturday and Sunday, it starts at Noon ET. Here’s when ex-Lions will be on the field:

Thursday, Feb. 29: Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac, Curtis Jacobs
Friday, March 1: Theo Johnson, Johnny Dixon, Daequan Hardy, Kalen King
Saturday, March 2: None.
Sunday, March 3: Olu Fashanu, Hunter Nourzad Caedan Wallace

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