Despite a subpar 2025 campaign, a large contingent of Penn State players declared for the draft with hopes of advancing to the next level.
While some Nittany Lions were selected on par with expectations, others were seemingly overlooked as the rounds wore on.
Here’s a tracker of who’s heard their name called this weekend.
Round 1, Pick 14: Guard Vega Ioane, Baltimore Ravens
The first Nittany Lion off the board was Ioane, who was also the first guard taken in this year’s draft. He became the fifth Penn State player drafted in the first round in a three-year span.
Round 3, Pick 76: Quarterback Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
Allar was the only Nittany Lion taken on the second day of the draft, which came as a bit of a surprise. He’ll remain in The Keystone State and is one of five former Penn State players on the Steelers’ roster headed into the 2026-27 season.
Round 4, Pick, 112: Offensive tackle Drew Shelton, Dallas Cowboys
Shelton kicked off a run of players selected on the third day of the draft, going higher than most expected. His pick was announced in Beaver Stadium during the team’s Blue-White Practice on Saturday afternoon.
Round 4, Pick 120: Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, Green Bay Packers
It didn’t take long for another Nittany Lion to come off the board, as Dennis-Sutton was nabbed eight picks later, and lower than projected, by the Packers. He’ll likely slot in opposite Micah Parsons, who played linebacker at Penn State from 2018-19 before sitting out the 2020 COVID year and being taken in the first round of the 2021 draft by the Cowboys.
Round 5, Pick 151: Safety Zakee Wheatley, Carolina Panthers
Wheatley drew a wide range of draft projections, but he landed slightly below the consensus in the fifth round, continuing a string of recent Nittany Lion safeties to go pro. He joins up with another Happy Valley product in safety Nick Scott.
Round 5, Pick 165: Running back Nick Singleton, Tennessee Titans
Still recovering from a broken foot, which potentially caused him to slip down draft boards, Singleton beat out his four-year co-starter Kaytron Allen with a fifth-round selection. He’ll battle Tony Pollard for snaps next season.
Round 5, Pick 181: Defensive tackle Zane Durant, Buffalo Bills
Durant snuck in with the final pick in the fifth round, filling a glaring need in Buffalo. New Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will run a 3-4-4 base defense, potentially requiring Durant to play nose tackle at the next level unless he moves to the outside.
Round 6, Pick 187: Running back Kaytron Allen, Washington Commanders
Rounding out the group is Allen, who fell farther than most expected after four extremely productive years of college football including multiple program records. Though Washington drafted running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt last season, Allen will likely compete for the starting role from day one and could prove to be another underrated pickup.
Undrafted free agent: Wide receiver Devonte Ross, Los Angeles Chargers
Ross saw a dip in production during his lone season in Happy Valley, but his speed and play-making ability were enough to earn him a contract with the Chargers. He’ll be in the same room as former Penn State and Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
Undrafted free agent: Center Nick Dawkins, Baltimore Ravens
Dawkins will have a chance to prove himself at the next level after signing with Baltimore, where he attended a Local Pro Day during the pre-draft process. He reunited with Ioane, who lined up off his left shoulder the past few seasons.
Undrafted free agent: Linebacker Dom DeLuca, Baltimore Ravens
Another former Nittany Lion headed to Baltimore is DeLuca, who continues his underdog story from walk-on to team captain and now to the NFL. He’ll join up with former Penn State linebacker Adisa Isaac with the Ravens.
Undrafted free agent: Offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, Indianapolis Colts
Though he didn’t live up to the lofty first-round expectations placed on him as a five-star recruit, Rucci has made his way to the big leagues as a priority free agent signing.
Undrafted free agent: Tight end Khalil Dinkins, San Francisco 49ers
Penn State’s tight end legacy remains alive after Dinkins signed with the 49ers, marking four consecutive seasons with a Nittany Lion making the league. Though his production was nothing noteworthy, Dinkins tested well to earn a chance in the league.
Undrafted free agent: Wide receiver Trebor Peña, Jacksonville Jaguars
Another Nittany Lion pass-catcher is headed to Jacksonville after Peña was signed by the Jaguars, joining tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington. Peña followed up a strong 2024 campaign at Syracuse with an up-and-down year at Penn State, but he showed enough flashed to warrant a contract.
Undrafted free agent: Long snapper Tyler Duzansky, Las Vegas Raiders
Penn State has accomplished a rare feat of putting back-to-back long snappers in the NFL, with Duzansky joining Chris Stoll in the professional ranks. Duzansky was viewed as one of the top prospects at the position, earning a spot as a free agent.
