2026 NFL Draft roundtable: Here’s where we think Penn State players will end up
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, with plenty of former Penn State players expected to hear their names called.
Last week, we projected where quarterback Drew Allar will begin his career. And this week we’re projecting where seven other Nittany Lions will go, and if any others will hear their name called across the three-day event.
Let’s take a look at where we think Penn State’s former players will begin their careers.
Running back Kaytron Allen
Jon Sauber: 5th round, No. 159 overall, Carolina Panthers
Allen will have a chance to be in the NFL for a long time with his contributions in the passing game and as a short-yardage back, and this landing spot would allow him to have a role early on. The Panthers lost Rico Dowdle to free agency and will likely look for a back to pair with Chuba Hubbard, who is expected to start. Allen would likely get a handful of carries every game if he were to end up in Carolina, with more than a few chances to score near the goal line as a short-yardage back.
Josh Moyer: 5th round, No. 141 overall, Houston Texans
He met with the Texans back in February, and Houston’s on the market for a bruising back who can help shoulder the load on the early downs. Allen provides great value and should be scooped up in the fourth or fifth round.
Sean Regenye: 5th round, No. 148 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Allen has driven up his draft stock over the past two seasons after taking a back seat to Nick Singleton in his freshman year. In his final season, the Virginia native averaged over 100 rushing yards per game and scored 15 touchdowns. However, his profile lacks twitch and explosiveness, which won’t place him highly in the draft or on the depth chart. The Chiefs possess one of the NFL’s weakest running back rooms, even with the acquisition of Kenneth Walker, and Allen would be a solid fit as a power back on the depth chart.
EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Sauber: 2nd round, No. 54 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia is in need of some help with its pass rush with the departure of Jaelen Phillips. The Eagles signed former Nittany Lion Arnold Ebiketie but he’s a rotational player, and they’ll likely look to add someone with starting upside down the line — especially with defensive end Nolan Smith looking at an uncertain long-term future with injuries beginning to pile up in his career. Dennis-Sutton is the type of elite height-weight-speed athlete this front office usually targets and would fit in well in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.
Moyer: 3rd round, No. 68 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle, who picks at the end of the second round, has also been connected to Dennis-Sutton. But, as long as he slips to the third, the Eagles know upside when they see it — and they already spent a top-30 visit on the EDGE rusher. This pick would make an awful lot of sense.
Regenye: 3rd round, No. 72 overall, Cincinnati Bengals
Dennis-Sutton is one of the most athletic defensive ends in the draft and is a top choice at his position, but I project him as a backup that could make his way into the defensive rotation during long drives. He fits as a draft pick for a team like the Bengals, which has a long history of drafting defensive players, yet still struggles to field a top defense. Dennis-Sutton’s athleticism provides a solid floor for him and gives the Bengals security to use a day-two draft pick on him.
Defensive tackle Zane Durant
Sauber: 5th round, No. 153 overall, Green Bay Packers
Durant, like many Nittany Lions this week, is expected to land in the middle rounds and have to earn his keep to stay on a roster. The ideal landing spot will be somewhere he can be a backup and get snaps as an interior pass rusher while he continues to refine his craft and add strength. He’d be able to rotate into defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defense in Green Bay, which relies on the front four to get pressure and could allow him to earn situational snaps as a rookie.
Moyer: 3rd round, No. 93 overall, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams draft a defensive tackle just about every year, and there’s some clear interest here as Durant has said as much. He’s an athletic, “twitchy” interior lineman whose projections from other analysts are all over the map. The bottom line: He boasts a high ceiling and shouldn’t make it past the fourth round.
Regenye: 6th round, No. 188 overall, Seattle Seahawks
There’s a lot to love about Durant’s combine numbers. He surpasses other defensive tackles in most athletic tests, but that comes at the expense of a typical defensive tackle frame. Durant is 6-foot-1 with a reach that ranks in the 24th percentile of his position. Once an offensive lineman has his hands on him, Durant stalls. Using a sixth-round pick, the Seahawks can view him as a project — if Durant develops countermoves, he could see playing time, but at the very least, he’s a depth piece that won’t see time on Sundays.
Guard Vega Ioane
Sauber: 1st round, No. 11 overall, Miami Dolphins
I was tempted to have Ioane go even higher, because I think there’s a real chance he goes in the top 10 because he’s seen as a sure thing in a draft that has very few of them. Still, the positional value dings him a bit here because he’s a guard only and will likely go behind a tackle or two. He’d step in as a starter right away in Miami and help pave the way for what could be a very good running game that features Malik Willis at quarterback and De’Von Achane at running back.
Moyer: 1st round, No. 14 overall, Baltimore Ravens
Ioane is widely seen as going somewhere between No. 14 and No. 22, with the Los Angeles Chargers seen as the latest Ioane would likely go. I’m bullish on the technically sound guard, who’s a low-risk and high-reward prospect who should be a Day 1 starter. Even if the Ravens pass, I can’t see Ioane lasting to No. 20.
Regenye: 1st round, No. 14 overall, Baltimore Ravens
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound guard is Penn State’s most touted prospect. Ioane allowed only four pressures over 614 snaps last season and was flagged once. He is a force to be reckoned with in the trenches and is one of the best interior blockers available. With a mid-first-round pick, the Ravens should look to beef up their offensive line, which allowed 45 sacks last season – Ioane didn’t allow one last season.
Offensive tackle Drew Shelton
Sauber: 5th round, No. 145 overall, New York Giants
Shelton’s landing spot will be interesting because it will likely dictate what position he plays in the NFL. While he was a tackle at Penn State, there are questions about his strength and whether he would be able to hold up on the edge against pass rushers who win with strength. Instead, he could move to center where his athleticism would play and where he would have help against stronger interior players rather than being put on an island on the outside.
Moyer: 5th round, No. 146 overall, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is in rebuild mode, and it could use a swing tackle with the ability to play on both ends of the line. Shelton could go at any point on Day 3 — he’s a bit of an enigma — but his versatility should certainly help his draft stock.
Regenye: 4th round, No. 117 overall, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have a fun couple of days ahead of them, with their inevitable pick of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall, but they have some other positions to round out as well, including offensive tackle. Shelton posted a solid career at Penn State, recording nearly 2,500 offensive snaps, and in his 721 senior snaps, he allowed a single sack. However, Shelton’s frame is undersized, and powerful rushers will exploit it. He’ll slot in as a late-day two or early-day-three pick for a team, such as the Raiders, that needs to add depth.
Running back Nick Singleton
Sauber: 4th round, No. 124 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars said goodbye to starting running back Travis Etienne when he left for New Orleans and free agency, and while Bhayshul Tuten is well thought of and will likely start, I have to think Jacksonville is going to want to find someone who can back him up. Singleton would help as a pass protector and as a big-play threat as part of a committee approach.
Moyer: 5th round, No. 179 overall, New York Jets
The Jets had a top-30 visit with Singleton, indicating real interest, so maybe New York chooses to grab him earlier at No. 140. The Jets want some insurance for backup Braelon Allen and, with some additional draft capital, this is a solid match.
Regenye: 5th round, No. 163 overall, Minnesota Vikings
The former Big Ten Freshman of the Year is an interesting case; after his stellar first year, his production noticeably regressed. By his senior year, his backfield partner, Kaytron Allen, took the driver’s seat. To cap it off, his final year finished with a metatarsal fracture at the Senior Bowl. With this said, Singleton’s best attribute, his burst, may be compromised, and his draft stock has, in turn, fallen. The Vikings, who re-signed 31-year-old Aaron Jones to a one-year deal, should look to add youth and speed to pair with their future running back, Jordan Mason.
Safety Zakee Wheatley
Sauber: 3rd round, No. 98 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
Wheatley is the second Nittany Lion I have joining the Eagles after Dennis-Sutton, and I could see a world where he would start at safety in Philadelphia this season if he landed there. The Eagles prioritize versatility on the back end in Fangio’s defense and Wheatley, having started his career at corner, would provide that. He’s excellent in coverage with really good ball skills, and he’s proven to be a willing tackler. He’s my pick to outperform his draft position among all the Penn State players who go this week.
Moyer: 4th round, No. 111 overall, Denver Broncos
Denver is looking to add safety depth with high upside, and Wheatley definitely fits that bill. He’s a versatile playmaker with a lot of potential, and he could be the type of developmental player who eventually pushes for a starting spot in future years.
Regenye: 3rd round, No. 98 overall, Philadelphia Eagles
The Penn State-to-Philadelphia pipeline is strong, and it’s only going to get stronger with the selection of Wheatley. The Maryland native took over as Penn State’s top safety in his senior year after posting remarkable numbers in the 2024 College Football Playoffs. His final season in the blue and white was strong, recording an interception and 59 solo tackles over 658 defensive snaps. After losing Reed Blankenship in free agency and having Andrew Mukuba fresh off an ankle injury, the Eagles are in dire need of a safety, and Wheatley fills that need.
Will any other Penn State player hear their name called?
Sauber: No.
I was tempted to say someone would grab Khalil Dinkins because of his blocking ability at tight end, but at the end of the day he’s still the type of player who goes to a team as an undrafted free agent.
Moyer: No.
TE Khalil Dinkins and OL Nick Dawkins are both possibilities, and we’ve seen surprises in past seasons. But I think it’s more likely those two — and others — remain priority undrafted free agents.
Regenye: No.
The most likely Nittany Lion not listed above to get picked is Nolan Rucci, son of former NFL offensive lineman Todd Rucci. If he were to go it would be in the departing rounds of the draft, but it’s more likely he signs as an undrafted free agent among his fellow Penn Staters, Nick Dawkins, Trebor Peña and Khalil Dinkins.
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 1:22 PM with the headline "2026 NFL Draft roundtable: Here’s where we think Penn State players will end up."
