Every Penn State Player Picked in 2026 NFL Draft and Where They're Headed

Penn State's 2025 season didn't go as planned, but the 2026 NFL Draft could be another story. As many as 10 Nittany Lions could get drafted over the three-day job fair in Pittsburgh, potentially tying the program record in the seven-round draft era.

We're tracking every Penn State move here, so stay tuned all weekend. As a parallel, Penn State's future will be on display Saturday, when Matt Campbell brings the Nittany Lions to Beaver Stadium for their first open practice of the year.

Washington Commanders select Kaytron Allen

Penn State's all-time leading rusher enters prove-it mode after being drafted in the sixth round (at No. 181 overall) by the Wasington Commanders. Allen and Nicholas Singleton became the first pair of Penn State backs selected in the same draft since Mike Archie and Stephen Pitts in 1996.

Fun fact: Evan Royster, whose Penn State rushing record Allen broke, also was drafted by Washington in the sixth round (in 2011).

Allen's perceived lack of top-end speed likely contributed to his slide to the sixth round. However, Washington is getting a back who led the Big Ten in carries of 30+ yards last season (7) and was tied at the top in carries of 40+ yards (6) and 50+ yards (4).

Buffalo Bills select Zane Durant

The Bills got an interesting player in the sixth round in Durant, who spent his career at Penn State trying to follow the Aaron Donald career path of compensating leverage for size. Durant (6-1, 290) isn't the NFL interior prototype, playing on his leverage over width.

Durant's production fell last season (4.5 TFLs after making 11 in 2024), but he still has enough explosion to be a specific type of tackle in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans select Nicholas Singleton

After a long, winding road to the draft, running back Nicholas Singleton gets his opportunity with the Tennessee Titans, who selected him late in the fifth round at No. 165 overall. Singleton is the sixth Nittany Lion selected in the 2026 draft and the first Penn State running back drafted since Miles Sanders in 2019.

Of course, Singleton and Kaytron Allen occupied Penn State's backfield for the past four years, sending more than a handful of backs into the transfer portal. Singleton is still working his way back from a January broken ankle but has said he expects to be at full strength for training camp. The Titans will welcome a back who looks to hit the kinds of home runs he did early in his career.

Carolina Panthers select Zakee Wheatley

Safety Zakee Wheatley was the fifth Nittany Lion off the board, going to the Panthers in the fifth round with 151st overall pick. Wheatley, a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions, was the fourth Penn State safety drafted since 2023 and has the tools to become a contributor quickly.

Wheatley brings ball skills to the Panthers' secondary. He made six interceptions at Penn State, three in a 2024 season when he was an underrated player in the Big Ten. Wheatley is best as a backstop, and the Panthers should deploy him in zone schemes, where he will shine.

Green Bay Packers select Dani Dennis-Sutton

Another surprise for the Nittany Lions, as edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton lasted until the fourth round. That's where Green Bay selected him with the 120th overall pick.

Dennis-Sutton (12 TFLs, 8.5 sacks last season) recorded one of the best combine performances among edge rushers in Indianapolis. One point that might have pushed Dennis-Sutton to Day was his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. Sports Info Solutions graded Dennis-Sutton's first-step explosion at 4 and gave him a 5 regarding pass rush "repertoire."

So there's plenty to work on for Dennis-Sutton at rookie OTAs.

Dallas Cowboys select Drew Shelton

A surprise here, as the Dallas Cowboys select tackle Drew Shelton with 112th pick overall. Shelton is Penn State's third player selected in the draft and second offensive lineman.

Before the draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said Shelton, a two-year starting left tackle, was flying "under the radar" in this class. Shelton wasn't among the top 10 tackles in the draft, despite starting 34 straight games for the Nittany Lions over four seasons.

Shelton (6-5, 313 pounds) dealt with a hamstring injury that limited his participation at the NFL Scouting Combine but otherwise proved durable in college.

Pittsburgh selects QB Drew Allar

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was asked (more than once) about playing for the Cleveland Browns, his childhood favorite for whom his parents still hold season tickets. Now, he'll get a chance to play against them.

Looking for thei quarterback of the future, the Steelers selected Allar in the third round at No. 76 overall. Allar is the third Penn State player selected in the 2026 draft and completed a position sweep for his former head coach. All four of James Franklin's starters were drafted.

Allar didn't redshirt at Penn State. In fact, he made his debut in Game 1 of his freshman season at Purdue. In Pittsburgh, Allar should get a chance to sit out a year. Unless something goes haywire at the position.

'You made the right pick'

Take in this video from the Baltimore Ravens' social team. In it, Penn State lineman Olaivavega Ioane tells GM Eric DeCosta, "You made the right pick" when he receives the call.

On an occasionally wild first night of the draft, Ioane-to-Baltimore was one of the surest selections. Baltimore made clear that it valued Ioane atop its draft board. And it was roundly praised as the right call. Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame said Ioane should "immediately be a plus player."

First-round pick Olaivavega Ioane gets a visit from an old friend

Ioane kept alive Penn State's first-round streak Thursday, going to the Baltimore Ravens with the 14th overall pick. It was an expected selection, as multiple mock drafts had Ioane headed to the Ravens.

Ioane became the 45th first-round pick in Penn State football history and gave the Nittany Lions a first-rounder for the third consecutive year. And he had a special guest to his watch party near Tacoma, Washington.

Former Penn State coach James Franklin, who bid farewell to his former team last October, reunited with one of his top players a long way from Virginia Tech. Franklin watched the draft with Ioane and his family, something Franklin made a point of doing while at Penn State.

In 2024, Franklin hustled between around Maryland to attend two draft parties for first-round picks Olu Fashanu and Chop Robinson.

This was quite the reunion for Franklin and Ioane, who first joined forces in 2022, when Ioane was part of the Nittany Lions' superb 2022 recruiting class. More to come from that group.

A brief history of Penn State in the NFL Draft

Penn State ranks seventh in college football history with 395 draft picks dating to 1940. That includes 44 first-round picks, ranking the Nittany Lions at 14th all-time.

Over the last eight years, Penn State has been among the nation's top programs in the NFL Draft. Penn State is one of three schools (with Alabama and Georgia) to have at least five players selected in each of the last eight drafts.

Five Nittany Lions were drafted in 2025, including first-rounders Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren, and eight were drafted in 2024. Penn State also had eight players drafted 2022, led by first-round pick Jahan Dotson.

Penn State's best draft of the seven-round era was in 1996, when 10 Nittany Lions were drafted. That included four running backs. Well, two running backs (Stephen Pitts and Mike Archie) and two fullbacks (Jon Wittman and Brian Milne).

Penn State at the 2026 NFL Draft

Penn State will not have a player attending the NFL Draft, but four former Nittany Lions will be in Pittsburgh to announce picks.

Matt Millen, Shane Conlan, Paul Posluszny and Joey Porter Jr. will take the stage Friday to deliver picks in Rounds 2 and 3. Porter is among four current NFL players who will announce picks.

Read more about Penn State in the draft

Before the draft began, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. scouted five potential Penn State picks, saying one is flying "under the radar" among draftniks.

When the weekend is over, Penn State's 2022 recruiting class could finish with the most draft picks in program history.

Who are Penn State's best bets, steals and sleepers of the draft? We've got it covered.

Quarterback Drew Allar will be among the most fascinating players to watch in the draft. Could he go Friday night in Round 2 or 3? Will he wait through Saturday afternoon? Here's a primer on Allar's prospects.

Penn State has a lot players trending in mock drafts. But who's ready to play as a rookie?

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