Where will former Nittany Lions go in the 2023 NFL Draft? Here’s a look at projections

Penn State football has three players receiving projections to land in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. seemingly has a first round pick projection everywhere you look, while safety Ji’Ayir Brown and tight end Brenton Strange have both popped up as day two picks.

Let’s take a look at some of the current landing spots and potential fits for the former Nittany Lions.

CB Joey Porter Jr.

No. 16 to the Washington Commanders

Three separate mock drafts have Porter going to the Commanders at this pick. It makes sense, with the team’s need for a true No. 1 cornerback and the depth at the position in the class, that Washington would identify him as one of their top targets. He’s long and athletic and plays a physical brand of defense, something Washington head coach Ron Rivera would surely appreciate. This is the upper-middle portion of Porter’s range with a chance he could ascend even higher if a team just outside the top 10 decides he’s their guy.

No. 24 to the Jacksonville Jaguars

While Washington is the upper-middle portion of Porter’s range, Jacksonville is the lower-middle. Still, there are worse places to go than an ascending franchise that has its quarterback of the future locked in. In fact, while the money in the contract will be lower, Jacksonville might still be a more desirable destination. The Jaguars’ defense will need to improve and Porter could provide the type of high end talent that could help the franchise go further than its divisional round exit this season.

S Ji’Ayir Brown

No. 94 to the Philadelphia Eagles

Brown has been projected mostly on the fringes of day two, but this is the dream scenario for his mom, Joy Ingram. He said at Penn State’s pro day that his mom wanted him to go to the Eagles because she’s a fan of the team. From an on-field standpoint, he would immediately have a chance to compete for a starting job. Philadelphia lost both of its starting safeties from last season’s defense and only filled those spots with free agents that qualify more as depth additions than surefire starters. Brown could be an impact player early on in Philadelphia.

TE Brenton Strange

No. 54 to the Los Angeles Chargers

Not many mock drafts have Strange in the first three rounds, but ESPN’s Todd McShay did. The landing spot would be a good one for the former Nittany Lion. The Chargers have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert and he leads what should be one of the best offenses in the NFL. Strange would presumably have the first crack at the starting job if he goes in the second round and would provide a balanced option for the Chargers at tight end. His improved blocking ability along with his good hands and ability to run after the catch should allow him to stick around in the NFL for a long time.

The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29.