Penn State football roundtable: Where we think former Nittany Lions will go in the 2022 NFL Draft
There are less than two weeks until the 2022 NFL Draft begins and many former Penn State football players are set to go across the three day event.
From Jahan Dotson to Jordan Stout, we project where each of the former Nittany Lions will land to begin their NFL careers, and ask you to share your thoughts in a series of polls.
Jahan Dotson
Jon Sauber: Round 1, No. 28 overall, Green Bay Packers
This is a loaded wide receiver class, which could push Dotson down to the second round, but I’ll take the chance and say he’s one of many receivers that go in the first 32 picks of the draft. The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs are the common destinations for Dotson in most mock drafts, but we’ll lean toward Green Bay, with general manager Brian Gutekunst attending Penn State’s Pro Day back in March.
Kyle Andrews: Round 2, No. 38 overall, New York Jets
At 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, the expectation is that he’ll go early in Day 2 of the draft. His catch radius is among the best in football, let alone college. He reeled in a number of errant throws to make them look routine. He beat corners over the top, he cut through the middle of the field to beat linebackers and safeties. The Jets need weapons.
Josh Moyer: Round 1, No. 29 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Yes, I initially wrote in “Green Bay Packers” and then changed the pick, figuring they might go after a bigger body to work the outside. But, wherever Dotson winds up, he boasts a bright future — and he would feel right at home with the Chiefs. The 184-pound receiver, whom NFL analyst Greg Cosell compared to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Diontae Johnson, is fearless in the middle of the field. And he’ll bring yet another weapon to a Chiefs’ offense that never seems to have enough. Dotson will not escape the first round.
Bret Pallotto: Round 2, No. 40 overall, Seattle Seahawks
This pick is contingent on the Seahawks trading Tyler Lockett before they’re on the clock. Lockett and Dotson are physically similar, and trading Lockett could allow Seattle to hasten their rebuild.
Jaquan Brisker
Sauber: Round 2, No. 43 overall, Atlanta Falcons
There’s some volatility here, with the first round being in play for the versatile safety. Brisker can help in run support as well as he can turn and run with tight ends and linebackers and should be one of the first three safeties off the board. Assuming Atlanta goes wide receiver in the first round, it could go with a pass rusher or safety here. We’ll go with Brisker, assuming the run on EDGE players has already happened.
Andrews: Round 2, No. 52 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brisker is incredibly athletic and can play from end to end of the field. He has a nose for the ball, picking up two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The ability to play both tight ends in the slot and in-line will make him a targeted selection in the draft, not to mention his toughness. He’s a Steeler.
Moyer: Round 2, No. 39 overall, Chicago Bears
With only six picks in the NFL draft, the Bears can’t afford to take early-round projects and must strive for value. And Brisker, who should start Day 1, certainly fits the bill. A versatile safety and a ball-hawk, Brisker could start opposite Eddie Jackson as the competition at safety is pretty thin. The PSU alum recently visited Halas Hall and, if he somehow slips to the Bears’ next pick at No. 48 overall, there’s a solid chance they pick him then, too.
Pallotto: Round 2, No. 34 overall, Detroit Lions
Brisker could become the most highly drafted Nittany Lion safety in history. He’d take the claim from Bryan Scott, who was selected 55th overall by the Falcons in the 2003 draft.
Arnold Ebiketie
Sauber: Round 1, No. 18 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Some will say this is too high for Ebiketie, but he feels like he has a chance to rise higher than most expect on draft day. He’s an excellent speed rusher who needs to work on his ability to get off blocks in the run game, but few general managers value pass rushing more than Eagles GM Howie Roseman. That, and pass rushers always fly off the board when they start going, and Ebiketie has as much upside as any of the second tier of defensive ends.
Andrews: Round 2, No. 33 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
Not only does he use his power to cause headaches for offensive linemen, but his speed pops on tape. He does get too low at times and becomes unbalanced, but it’s something that’s expected with pass rushers. He’ll be a headache in any scheme, but he profiles as more of a 3-4 hybrid linebacker. Sacksonville is looking to make its return.
Moyer: Round 2, No. 36 overall, New York Giants
If Ebiketie lasts this long, he seems like a great fit for New York, which needs help just about everywhere. The top EDGE rushers could be off the board by the time the Giants pick at Nos. 5 and 7 overall, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. — who loves Ebiketie — should start mentioning him as a possibility in the early 20s. If this draft wasn’t so loaded with EDGE rushers, Ebiketie would be a guaranteed first-rounder. As it stands, he might become a second-round steal.
Pallotto: Round 1, No. 30 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Ebiketie is part of a strong class of pass rushers. He likely won’t be one of the first off the board, but could help a team like the Chiefs that finished near the bottom of the league in sacks.
Brandon Smith
Sauber: Round 4, No. 107 overall, Houston Texans
Whoever takes Smith will need to temper expectations if he’s going to play linebacker. The former Nittany Lion struggles to tackle, and can get lost in the shuffle in the run game. He has the athleticism to be helpful in man coverage, but his work in zone needs work as he occasionally gets caught watching the quarterback and loses his man. To be frank, whoever takes Smith should consider moving him to EDGE, where he can use his athleticism and flexibility to attack the quarterback.
Andrews: Round 3, No. 86 overall, Las Vegas Raiders
He plays so fast that he overruns plays at times (4.52 40-yard time). Smith attacks everything with the relentlessness of a cougar. It’s not the hardest thing to fix, especially since he has the typical tools to be successful with a 128-inch broad jump and 38-inch vertical jump.
Moyer: Round 3, No. 88 overall, Dallas Cowboys
The former five-star recruit is a bit of an NFL draft enigma. He tested well at the combine — 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash — but wasn’t exactly the Nittany Lions’ most consistent defender. Still, he’s a versatile player with great coverage skills. Plus, I’m pretty sure the Cowboys are pleased with the Penn State linebacker they drafted last season.
Palotto: Round 3, No. 74 overall, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have five picks in the first three rounds as they look to rebuild and move on from Matt Ryan. Smith could be an athletic option for Atlanta, a team that allowed nearly 30 points per game last season.
Rasheed Walker
Sauber: Round 3, No. 79 overall, Los Angeles Chargers
Walker did well in making the decision to return to Penn State for 2021. He wasn’t good in 2020 and rebounded to show NFL scouts why they liked him in the first place. Walker has the size and length to stick at tackle, but has never switched to the right side in his career. That might be his best spot in the NFL, which makes his eventual landing spot interesting. Ending up with the Chargers would almost guarantee a switch to the right side with Rashawn Slater locking down left tackle for the foreseeable future.
Andrews: Round 4, No. 108 overall, Houston Texans
Walker is probably best suited to play guard in the NFL. While he has the ability to push defensive linemen off of the ball, he often gets beat in pass sets by quicker rushers. He tends to lean into his back foot when he drops deep into sets as well. Walker does possess the hand placement to be a decent pass blocker and if he adds more strength to his base, he’ll be a very good run blocker.
Moyer: Round 3, No. 70 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
Widely regarded as a top-100 recruit, Walker was looked upon as a first-rounder as recently as September. But he failed to live up to expectations this season, and his draft stock took a serious hit. It’s clear there’s potential, but it’s also evident there are issues with his technique. That being said, Walker’s prototypical size (6-foot-6, 312 pounds) makes him an intriguing developmental prospect, and a team like the Jaguars could use more protection for franchise QB Trevor Lawrence.
Pallotto: Round 4, No. 86 overall, Las Vegas Raiders
Only three Nittany Lion tackles have been drafted since the start of the 21st century — Kareem McKenzie to the Jets in 2001, Levi Brown to the Cardinals in 2007 and Donovan Smith to the Buccaneers in 2015. Walker might be moved to guard in the NFL, but could be a valuable addition no matter his position.
Jesse Luketa
Sauber: Round 4, No. 129 overall, Dallas Cowboys
Despite Luketa playing inside linebacker for most of his career, it would be a surprise if an NFL team drafts him with the intention of playing him there. He’s not good in coverage but has the upside to crack a rotation as a defensive end early. Micah Parsons is manning one of the defensive end spots for Dallas, and DeMarcus Lawrence has the other, but Luketa could help with the team’s pass rushing depth. Of course, it helps that he could slide to linebacker in a pinch.
Andrews: Round 4, No. 132 overall, Green Bay Packers
His versatility to play defensive end and outside linebacker will make him an enticing pick for teams. One of the biggest issues for Luketa is his 4.89 speed. He will put in the work to become quicker and still plays with high-effort. Quicker running backs and tight ends will beat him in coverage, even some the ones that are less swift of foot.
Moyer: Round 4, No. 124 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Luketa isn’t the most explosive player and doesn’t boast the highest ceiling of this draft class, but he’s a versatile athlete who has the ability to wear a few different hats in the NFL. That should make him a coveted pick in the middle rounds, as he could provide depth for a defense sorely in need of it. The Eagles have already set up a pre-draft interview with him.
Pallotto: Round 4, No. 140 overall, Green Bay Packers
Luketa is a physical linebacker that could fit in well with the Packers with his ability to slide down to defensive end. He could also carve out an early role on special teams and develop into a starting role.
Tariq Castro-Fields
Sauber: Round 4, No. 135 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Castro-Fields is another player that has a chance to rise in the draft thanks to his 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine and his ability to turn and run with big receivers at 6-feet-tall. He will need to work on his tackling, so moving him to safety isn’t a good option for a team. That being said, he should be able to help a press man team, especially if he improves at getting his head around and tracking the ball downfield.
Andrews: Round 5, No. 153 overall, Seattle Seahawks
He’s a cornerback that has the size to play man-to-man and press at six feet tall. At the same time, he will have to pick up his production on the field. He isn’t a ballhawk, but he can be put in the correct position by the right staff to be a constant contributor to a secondary.
Moyer: Round 6, No. 187 overall, San Francisco 49ers
Castro-Fields turned in a blazing 40-yard dash time of 4.38 seconds at the NFL combine, and that speed turned some heads. The 49ers could use some depth at corner and, with an opening at nickelback, Castro-Fields would even have an opportunity to see some snaps as a Day 3 pick.
Pallotto: Round 5, No. 156 overall, Minnesota Vikings
Castro-Fields has the size to stick on an NFL roster, and the Vikings aren’t loaded at the position. Two of their corners are on one-year deals.
Jordan Stout
Sauber: Round 7, No. 253 overall, Los Angeles Rams
It’s usually not advisable to take a punter in the draft, but Stout and San Diego State’s Matt Araiza both could go on the third day. Stout can pound the ball downfield, and has the athleticism to have a sustained career. Not to mention, he can also be a kickoff specialist with his leg strength. It’s a guessing game most of the time when it comes to determining who will take a punter, but the defending Super Bowl winners will have the leeway to take one late.
Andrews: Round 7, No. 249 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stout the punter is elite. He’s one of the best in the country and will cause some teams to bite in the seventh round. Nearly 30% of his punts went over 50 yards and he will pin teams within the 10. His precision with using different types of spin on the ball will make him a long-time punter in the NFL.
Moyer: Round 7, No. 238 overall, Los Angeles Rams
Sure, the Rams did recently sign punter Riley Dixon to a one-year contract. But Dixon was one of seven punters last year to average less than 40 net yards a punt, and both he and the Rams’ special-teams coordinator were together in Denver in 2016. The Rams clearly value special teams — as evidenced by their seventh-round Nick Scott pick in 2019 — and some extra competition in camp wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Pallotto: Round 7, No. 254 overall, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ special teams unit has been poor for years. Stout could win the punting job coming out of training camp.
Who’s the most likely other Nittany Lion to get drafted?
Sauber: LB Ellis Brooks
It’s easy to see a team taking a chance on Brooks as a traditional inside linebacker who can be helpful in the run game with his intelligence and tackling. That being said, it’s probably more likely that chance comes as an undrafted free agent, even if he is the most likely among the group of other Penn Staters to get drafted.
Andrews: DT Derrick Tangelo
If Derrick Tangelo played his entire career at Penn State, he’d be a sharper player. One team will get a player that can cause problems as an interior rusher with two sacks and a forced fumble last year. While at Duke, he picked up 4.5 sacks in three seasons. He had a 4.94 40-yard time, which should be put on display in either type of defensive front.
Moyer: LB Ellis Brooks
He’s not the tallest (6-foot-1), the biggest (226 pounds) or the fastest (4.77 40-yard dash) — but he’s smart and productive. He doesn’t have a high ceiling — don’t expect him to develop into an NFL starter — but his floor will also be higher than a lot of Day 3 selections. If he’s not drafted in the sixth or seventh rounds, he should at least be a priority for teams after the draft.
Pallotto: LB Ellis Brooks
Ellis Brooks may hear his name called in the back half of the draft. He led the team with 100 tackles last season, and also pitched in a sack.
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 9:13 AM.
