Penn State is expected to have one player go in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN's Mel Kiper thinks he'll go to an NFC North team.
Penn State entered 2025 with expectations to compete for a national championship.
The Nittany Lions were loaded with talent that helped the program make the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2024.
Before the season, cornerback A.J. Harris and quarterback Drew Allar were projected as likely first-round picks in 2026.
However, the season-ending broken left ankle to Allar hurt his stock. He'll have a chance to show scouts he can play at the next level during the Scouting Combine and Pro Day, but he's likely going to wait a while during draft weekend.
Harris is transferring to Indiana after PSU went 7-6.
One PSU player boosted his draft stock during the disappointing season that saw head coach James Franklin get fired after a 3-3 start. Offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane impressed people in the league.
He could be drafted on Day 1.
ESPN's Mel Kiper is predicting Ioane to be the one Penn State player drafted in the first round. Kiper thinks Ioane will go to the Detroit Lions at No. 17 in April.
"Detroit took guard Tate Ratledge in Round 2 of the 2025 draft, but there are still issues on the interior," Kiper wrote. "The Lions were 31st in pass block win rate at 55.5%. With all their skill on offense, that has to be fixed.
"And while taking a guard in the first round isn't the most exciting pick, Ioane is extremely talented. Jared Goff would appreciate Ioane's ability to sustain blocks and that he hasn't given up a sack since 2023."
While the protecting Goff is important, the Lions are built to run the football. New offensive coordinator Drew Pretzing might like the idea of using Ioane to pave the way for Detroit's loaded backfield.
"And Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will love the way Ioane gets to the second level and moves defenders out of rushing lanes," Kiper wrote.
The Lions will need reinforcements on the offensive line for next season. On Thursday, offensive tackle Dan Skipper announced his retirement due to health reasons.
Skipper is an offensive tackle, but the Lions are going to need to add depth at the interior and exterior parts of the line. Ioane would make sense for Detroit to draft if he's the best player available.