Several former Penn State football players sign as undrafted free agents. Here’s where they’re heading
The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone and five former Penn State football players have heard their name called during the three-day event.
Yetur Gross-Matos and K.J. Hamler heard their names called in the second round of the draft, while John Reid, Cam Brown and Robert Windsor were all drafted on Day 3.
Those five aren’t the only former Nittany Lions who will have a chance to make an NFL roster. Several players will sign with teams as undrafted free agents or receive invitations to team camp.
Let’s take a look at where those players are expected to begin their NFL careers.
TE Nick Bowers: Oakland Raiders
Oakland doesn’t exactly have an inviting depth chart at TE, but Bowers will at least have a chance to learn under protective players. He’ll be behind starter Darren Waller, veteran Jason Witten and backup Foster Moreau, at the very least.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound tight end tallied 17 catches for 279 yards and five touchdowns while battling hip injuries throughout his Penn State career.
WR Dan Chisena: Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is in need of some wide receiver help, but it’s unlikely Chisena will make enough of an impact there. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound former track standout has high-end speed but hasn’t shown the ability to reliably catch passes. If he does, Chinsena could prove to be very useful as a downfield threat.
For now, the former Nittany Lion is best suited on special teams, where he can use his speed to get downfield and make plays as a gunner.
P Blake Gillikin: New Orleans Saints
Gillikin will have a chance to stick with New Orleans as the team’s punter. Veteran punter Thomas Morstead will be 34 years old before the season starts and is set to make just over $8 million over the next three years. The team can save $1 million against the cap by cutting Morstead, while paying Gillikin at less than a third of his salary.
It might be unlikely that Gillikin beats out Morstead, but he’ll have an opportunity to show what he can do when he gets to punt in front of the New Orleans coaching staff. He averaged 43.03 yards per punt in his Penn State career, tying for second on Penn State’s all-time list.
G Steven Gonzalez: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year, which should give Gonzalez a chance to make the roster if he can impress. Gonzalez isn’t the best athlete at 6-foot-4 and 341 pounds, but has the power to dominate opponents.
He started 42 games for Penn State and was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and media as a senior. Gonzalez has a believer in former NFL scout and current Ourlads general manager Dan Shonka.
““He’s a smart kid and hard worker,” Shonka told the Centre Daily Times, “he’s just a limited athlete.”
LB Jan Johnson: Houston Texans
Johnson had a unique and successful career at Penn State, and will get a chance to prove himself alongside long-time teammate John Reid. He was on the 2016 National Championship wrestling team as the team’s heavyweight, then returned to football for the 2016 regular season. He earned a scholarship in 2018 and started 26 games in his final two years as a Nittany Lion.
He’s unlikely to make the Texans’ roster, but it’s impressive nonetheless that he signed with the team. His best opportunity to make a roster will be as a special teams player.
The former Nittany Lion also had contract offers from the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, according to Rich Scarcella of the Reading Eagle.
S Garrett Taylor: Buffalo Bills
Taylor is not likely to make the Bills roster, but like Johnson, will have his best shot at doing so by excelling on special teams.
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are locked in as Buffalo’s starting safeties, but Taylor will compete for a backup spot that can play special teams.
He started 25 games at safety over the last two years of his career at Penn State, and was named a team captain as a senior. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in both his junior and senior seasons. Taylor finished his career with 169 total tackles and four interceptions.
This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
