Where will Penn State players go in the 2025 NFL Draft? We debated 5 prospects
The 2025 NFL Draft is nearly here and a handful of Penn State players are expected to hear their names called over the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Let’s take a look at where we predict the former Nittany Lions will begin their NFL careers.
EDGE Abdul Carter
Jon Sauber: New York Giants, Round 1, Pick 3. For a good portion of this draft cycle it seemed like Carter could go higher than this. There was a brief time where he was in the discussion to go No. 1 before Tennessee seemingly settled on Miami QB Cam Ward, and there’s still even a chance that the Cleveland Browns take him at No. 2. That being said, the most likely spot is him slotting in at No. 3 and heading to the Giants, with Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter going to the Browns.
He’ll fit in right away with fellow EDGE Brian Burns, and should immediately become a starter opposite him in New York’s defense, with a good chance at competing for the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year.
Josh Moyer: New York Giants, Round 1, Pick 3. NFL Network’s lead draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, recently said he was “pretty confident” the Giants would take Carter. I tend to agree.
Carter isn’t without some questions, mainly when it comes to foot and shoulder injuries, but he’s also arguably the most talented player in the draft. Carter boasted an 18.5% pressure rate — third-best in the nation this past season — and he has the tools, explosiveness, instincts and range to make an immediate impact.
Carter is definitely going in the top 5. My biggest question is whether the Cleveland Browns might take Carter over WR/CB Travis Hunter at No. 2.
Bret Pallotto: New York Giants, Round 1, Pick 3. In a league that asks “What have you done for me lately?” more than any other, Carter’s dominant performance in the College Football Playoff seemingly makes him a lock to be a top three pick. If that happens, he’d be the first Nittany Lion since running back Saquon Barkley was drafted No. 2 overall by the Giants in 2018.
TE Tyler Warren
Sauber: New York Jets, Round 1, Pick 7. Warren has mostly been projected from 7-14 throughout the draft process, with his stock seeing an uptick later in the cycle. And while most see the Jets as his ceiling, I could see him going even higher. I wouldn’t discount the Jaguars taking him at No. 5 — or even the Patriots giving him a look at No. 4 if they decide not to take an offensive lineman (which they likely will do).
Warren is the top tight end in the class and should give whichever team he goes to a legitimate receiving option at tight end, which could be especially helpful to a team with a young quarterback or a weak quarterback situation. I have him landing with the Jets and becoming a go-to target as a rookie for Justin Fields.
Moyer: Chicago Bears, Round 1, Pick 10. I see Warren likely going somewhere between Nos. 7 and 14. Unless RB Ashton Jeanty is still available, or the Bears reach for another running back, I can’t see Chicago passing him up.
QB Caleb Williams needs another weapon, and new coach Ben Johnson values versatile tight ends. Warren lined up behind center, at center, in the backfield, split wide — virtually everywhere at Penn State — and almost completely satisfies every box on Johnson’s wish list.
Warren is a special talent. And, if Chicago doesn’t take him, think of the Indianapolis Colts or another team trading up to grab him.
Pallotto: Indianapolis Colts, Round 1, Pick 14. This is lower than Warren should get drafted, but history tells us tight ends don’t often go in the top 10. You could also make a compelling case for the Bears at No. 10. Hedging aside, Warren’s in line to be the first Nittany Lion tight end drafted in the first round since Kyle Brady in 1995.
S K.J. Winston
Sauber: Philadelphia Eagles, Round 2, Pick 64. This is higher than most people will have Winston, but I’m a believer in the talent and he’s the type of player a team will take in a draft full of question marks. He should be an NFL starter and is a high-character players with no off-field red flags to speak of. His straight line speed has been a question, but then he ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at Penn State’s pro day and quelled some of those concerns.
Winston won’t get the same recognition that Carter or Warren will, but I think he has a good chance for being in the league into his 30s, much like they do.
Moyer: Carolina Panthers, Round 3, Pick 74. Winston’s draft stock has consistently put him somewhere in Rounds 2-3, despite him missing most of the 2024 season due to what was reportedly a partially torn ACL. His run-stuffing ability could make him a fit for a few teams, but the Panthers might be in most need of a safety.
Granted, Carolina is more in need of a free safety than a strong safety like Winston. But, with only three safeties on the roster and having allowed a league-worst 31.4 ppg last season, Carolina needs to make the best of a bad situation. Winston has a high floor, despite the injury, and could start from Day 1.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Panthers take him in the second round, at No. 57 overall.
Pallotto: Carolina Panthers, Round 4, Pick 111. He’s talented but relatively inexperienced because of his season-ending injury last season. He has good size, particularly with his wingspan that’s in the 97th percentile among defensive backs.
S Jaylen Reed
Sauber: Baltimore Ravens, Round 4, Pick 129. Reed has risen up draft boards thanks to a good NFL Scouting Combine performance — that saw him run a 4.49 40-yard dash — and should hear his name called in the middle of the draft. He has a chance to sneak into the second day in the second or third round, but I tend to think he’ll slip a little bit because of positional value.
He’d fit in nicely with the Ravens and have a chance to compete to start opposite Kyle Hamilton at safety. Reed has good instincts, is a high IQ player and has a nose for the ball. He showed some versatility this year and has a chance to outperform expectations in the NFL and eventually become a starter.
Moyer: New York Jets, Round 5, Pick 154. The Jets need some safety help after 2025, which means they can wait to draft a Day 3 safety in hopes of developing him into an eventual starter. The organization recently held a pre-draft visit with Reed, so the interest is clearly there.
First-year head coach Aaron Glenn, a former NFL defensive back, knows a thing or two about the importance of a strong secondary. I considered having the Jets take Reed in the fourth round, but ultimately felt more comfortable with the fifth.
Regardless where Reed goes, I still think the Nittany Lion has a realistic chance at becoming an eventual starter. But he should earn an early roster spot for his ability on special teams.
Pallotto: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, Pick 121. His production got better each of his four years in Happy Valley. He’ll also be buoyed by a strong combine performance, which included a 4.49 40-yard dash.
LB Kobe King
Sauber: Cincinnati Bengals, Round 6, Pick 193. At this point in the draft it’s about finding depth or taking upside swings on players that are outliers — and King is much more the former than the latter. He’s good at attacking downhill in the run game but will likely struggle in space at the next level. Realistically, his best chance of sticking in the league is as a backup and special teamer — two roles he should be able to excel in.
Moyer: Detroit Lions, Round 6, Pick 196. King may have finished this past season as a second-team all-conference player, but he’s shown enough to garner a fair amount of interest as a Day 3 pick. Teams such as the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions have scheduled pre-draft visits, as King’s on-field awareness and physicality mean he can contribute early on special teams and the early downs.
Teams aren’t expecting King to develop into an every-down starter. But the run-stuffer could still find a role with teams as a developmental athlete and situational contributor. He could go at any point on Day 3, and he’ll have to work to earn a roster spot.
Pallotto: Buffalo Bills, Round 6, Pick 206. King projects as a two-down inside linebacker with the potential to develop into a starter. His 8 1/2 tackles for loss were second on the team behind Carter.
Will anyone else be picked?
Sauber: No. I think CB Jalen Kimber has the best chance to hear his name called because he has excellent speed and should be a quality special teamer right away. OG Sal Wormley could go, but his foot speed will likely be a disqualifier for many teams.
Moyer: OG Sal Wormley. Some were surprised when Wormley wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, especially considering his strong showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Whatever your feeling, the fact is that Wormley was a three-year starter at Penn State — and he boasts ideal size at 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds. Wormley will either be a priority free agent, or he’ll likely go in Rounds 6-7. He’ll get a chance to show he can provide some quality depth to an NFL team.
Pallotto: No. There are other intriguing Nittany Lions, but it’s tough to see more than a handful hear their name called in this otiose exercise.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM.
