There are plenty of things that need to shake out before the clock begins on the 2026 NFL Draft. But while we patiently wait for football season to arrive, let’s take a look at where Penn State’s top players could land once they depart Happy Valley.
ESPN’s mock draft included two Nittany Lions being selected late in the first round. Cornerback A.J. Harris was the first off the board, projected as the 25th overall pick to the Washington Commanders — which would make him the first member of the Penn State secondary to be a first round pick. Harris, who is widely considered as an All-American candidate heading into the season, had 48 tackles with an interception and five pass breakups in his first season with the Nittany Lions. Harris spent one season with Georgia in 2023 as a true freshman before transferring to Penn State. He will have one more year of eligibility following the 2025 season, but may declare for the draft.
Drew Allar was projected two spots later as the 27th overall pick by the LA Rams. The Rams seem likely to be in the market for a quarterback soon to eventually succeed Matthew Stafford.
Here’s what ESPN’s Matt Miller had to say about Allar’s prospects as a Ram:
WithMatthew Stafford entering his age-37 season, this would be a good spot for the Rams to pick his eventual successor. Allar is a big-armed quarterback with good mobility for his size (6-foot-5, 238 pounds), but he hasn’t quite put it all together. He has the arm to make any throw and can escape crowded pockets but goes through cold stretches where his decision-making and accuracy drop off. His development in 2024, in which he increased his completion percentage from 59.9% to 66.5%, is encouraging and suggests that more improvement is on the way.
Allar was the fourth and final quarterback to come off the board in the first round mock draft, following Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers. Klubnick was the first overall pick in the mock draft.