Where will former Nittany Lions go in the 2022 NFL Draft? Here’s a look at projections
Penn State football has four players receiving projections to land in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Nittany Lions have previously had two players projected for the first round in Arnold Ebiketie and Jahan Dotson, and those two remain projected for the first round in two separate mocks.
Let’s take a look at some of the current landing spots and potential fits for the former Nittany Lions.
WR Jahan Dotson
No. 30 to the Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have been a common destination of late for Dotson and for good reason. With Tyreek Hill’s departure, Kansas City is in need of a No. 1 option to go alongside star tight end Travis Kelce. Dotson provides some of the speed lost in Hill, but more than that he gives the Chiefs a player they can get the ball to in space and make things happen in the open field.
Kansas City would give Dotson the opportunity to win and to contribute early on in his NFL career.
No. 33 to the Jacksonville Jaguars
While the Chiefs would allow Dotson to win, Jacksonville would give Dotson a massive target share early on in his NFL career. Yes, the Jaguars signed Christian Kirk to a long-term deal at wide receiver, but Dotson could easily overtake him as the team’s top receiving option by the end of the regular season. The two receivers can play inside and outside, allowing new Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson to be creative with his offense.
Of course, it helps that Dotson would be catching passes from the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft in Trevor Lawrence.
EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
The Giants are starting over with a new head coach and general manager, so it would make sense for them to build in the trenches at the beginning of the rebuild. Ebiketie is a high upside option for New York defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who tends to run a 3-4 scheme that includes multiple stand up edge rushers.
That’s where Ebiketie would fit in the defense, allowing him to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback, maximizing his strengths in the early stages of his NFL career and giving him time to grow as a run defender.
The Jets, much like the Giants, are in the midst of a rebuild. Head coach Robert Saleh is heading into his second year at the helm and is in need of pass rushers that he can trust to get to the quarterback consistently. Ehiketie fits the mold as a player who can stand up in a 3-4 or put his hand in the dirt in a 4-3. He’s at his best when he’s chasing quarterbacks, but this is another opportunity where he can grow as a run defender in a low stress environment where winning isn’t expected immediately.
S Jaquan Brisker
Brisker landing in Saleh’s defense would help solidify its back end moving forward. He’s a good all-around safety who can turn in run in man coverage, can stay steady in his zone and can bring down running backs when he needs to take a step up into the box to provide run support. The safety is the type of player who could be a cornerstone on defense for whichever team takes him.
In this case it would be for a young team that he could help stabilize in the secondary for the early portion of his career.
Dallas is in need of a second safety to pair with Jayron Kearse and Brisker could be an ideal fit for the job. Kearse broke out in 2021 and was good against both the run and the pass, making Brisker a good partner that would allow defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to use the two safeties interchangeably.
There would be some added level of pressure with Dallas, thanks to the increased expectations, but Brisker would be reunited with former teammate Micah Parsons, who established himself as one of the game’s best pass rushers in his rookie year.
OLB Brandon Smith
No. 46 to the Minnesota Vikings
Smith going within the first two rounds hasn’t been something that has popped up during draft season, but at least one mock has him there. Landing with the Vikings could allow the former Nittany Lion to play in a role where he should fit best — as a stand up pass rusher. Smith struggled to play in the middle of the field, but has the size, athleticism and flexibility to be good at getting to the quarterback in the NFL.
New Minnesota defensive coordinator Ed Donatell could use him in that role and hope the upside of Smith comes out when he’s asked to get after passers.
