2 Weeks Away: Where the Top Nittany Lions will go in the NFL Draft

Tagged under: Penn State, Pennsylvania Colleges

Mason Eddinger | April 10, 2025

All Photo Credit to Paul Burdick’s Sports Images

The 90th annual NFL Draft kicks off in two weeks in historic Green Bay, Wisconsin, at Lambeau Field. Teams might not realize it, but the draft wins Super Bowls. Look at any past champions, and you’ll see a bulk of their roster built within three days, draft days. Whether it’s the Chiefs taking Patrick Mahomes in the first round in 2018 and winning three Super Bowls, or the Eagles taking Jalen Hurts in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft and winning this past year, teams are built through the NFL Draft.

This year, Penn State boasts an impressive array of talent to display to the 32 NFL teams. From Barkley to Freiermuth to Parsons, the Nittany Lions have built a history of being one of the top College Football programs at the NFL draft. In the last 5 years, Penn State ranks 6th in the country in players drafted. This year, the Nittany Lions expect to boast another impressive class in the draft, but where will they go? Let’s make some predictions.

Pick 2 Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE 

Miami QB Cam Ward is expected to go #1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and Carter falls right into the Browns’ lap. Cleveland was able to retain Myles Garrett after he requested a trade from the organization in February, and now they need to capitalize. Pairing one of the finest defensive players in the league in Garrett, with one of the finest defensive players in the draft in Abdul Carter, would create an elite pass-rushing duo. In a division where Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and potentially Aaron Rodgers are playing QB, the Browns will love the addition of Carter to bolster the defense. In 2024, Abdul Carter was a complete game-wrecker, getting to both QBs and RBs with ease. Carter led the country in Tackles For Loss in 2024 with 24, and had the 7th most sacks with 12. The temptation of Travis Hunter for Cleveland would certainly be there, but I feel they will secure their defensive line for the next 5-10 years and add a top-3 player in the class in Abdul Carter.

Pick 14 Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE

One of the greatest seasons in Tight End history, not just for Penn State, but for the entire country. Warren’s heroics earned him the Mackey award, given to the nation’s best Tight End. His finest moment of his career? A 224-yard performance in an Overtime win in So.Cal against the USC Trojans. Now, Warren’s focus turns to the NFL Draft, and in this case, the Indianapolis Colts. Warren, however, would not be the first #44 to grace Indianapolis, as Dallas Clark made a living out of being Peyton Manning’s safety blanket. Number and team aside, Clark and Warren play nothing alike. Tyler Warren embodies the modern Tight End: Versatile. In 2024, Warren lined up at QB, RB, WR, TE, FB, and Center. For the Colts, they could use his receiving ability in a bad way. Last year, the Colts ranked 25th in passing yards. Whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones at the helm in 2025, the Colts’ receiving corps would benefit mightily from Warren. Expect plenty of Tight Ends going in the first two days, and don’t be surprised if Tyler Warren slips just ever-so-slightly due to the depth of the TE class.

Pick 59 Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Winston Jr, S

After a devastating ACL tear in 2024, Kevin Winston Jr. decided to enter his name in the NFL draft. If not for said injury, there’s a good chance Winston could hear his name called in the first round this year. However, with the injury, Winston’s draft stock goes down. Baltimore has already cemented one of their safeties in All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, but they need another. Currently, Ar’Darius Washington is the other starting safety. Washington is servicable, but the Ravens will surely be looking to upgrade their secondary, and Winston will do that. Most current mock drafts have Winston as a late-3rd round selection, but expect contending teams like Baltimore to take a flyer on a player like Winston to bolster their secondary. In a conference with the likes of Mahomes, Jackson, Allen, Burrow, Herbert, and others, there will be a premium on safeties to stop these elite QBs. Winston’s talents are undeniable, but his injury history may prevent him from going high in the draft. Whoever does land him will get a top-40 player in the class, with skylike upside.

Pick 153 Cincinnati Bengals: Kobe King, LB

The Bengals need defense badly. In 2024, they had the passing yard leader, the passing TD leader, the Receiving TD and yards leader, but failed to make the playoffs. Why? Their defense was unbearable. The Bengals ranked 25th in the league in Points Per Game allowed, and it’s expected to get worse. Over the off-season, sack leader Trey Hendrickson requested a trade, so the thin got thinner. Adding Kobe King would provide stability through the heart of the defense. In 2024, King was a 2nd-team Big Ten selection with 8.5 Tackles for Loss and 3 sacks. As far as King’s pro potential, it’s complicated. King will take time to develop, and might be a late bloomer. Early in his career, Kobe King will learn behind many of the starters, but as his career progresses, he can find himself being one of the leaders on a depleted Bengals defense. At his best, King can be a top-3 player on any given defense, but will he reach his peak? Only time will tell.

Pick 220 New England Patriots: Jaylen Reed, S

Both Penn State safeties are expected to hear their names called sometime throughout the weekend from Green Bay, but Reed will have to wait longer. Reed flashed for Penn State in big ways over the time he played. He led the team in tackles in 2024 and was nominated for a 2nd-team Big Ten selection. Another strength of Reed’s game is his run defense. Last year, he recorded 6.5 Tackles For Loss, which is impressive for a Safety. The fit for Reed in New England couldn’t be better. Although projected here as a 7th-rounder, the Patriots are famous for being able to develop late-round selections into perennial Pro Bowlers. With Mike Vrabel at the helm, Reed expects to fit in as a special-teams player with upside to make the 53-man roster with great play in mini-camps and preseason. If there’s one location for late-round picks, it’s Gillette Stadium and Foxboro, Massachusetts.

UDFA Philadelphia Eagles: Julian Fleming, WR

Julian Fleming has too much upside not to be signed by a team after the draft. The former 5-star Southern Columbia product has struggled at the next level both at Penn State and Ohio State. His size and physicality could serve him as a possession receiver or as a receiving tight end. It makes too much sense to bring in the Pennsylvania kid to his hometown team. Fleming has a tendency of coming back home with his move from Ohio State to Penn State, and he could stay in the Keystone State with a signing to the Eagles. He would face an uphill battle to make the final roster, but the upside still may reside inside the former 5-star.

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