Ranking which draft-eligible Lions will be best NFL players

ALTOONA, Pa. -- The NFL Combine is under way this week, and 10 Penn State players are on hand in Indianapolis for the most important job interview of their lives.

Here's a list of the Nittany Lions invited to the Combine:

OT Olu Fashanu
OT Caedan Wallace
C Hunter Nourzad
TE Theo Johnson
DE Chop Robinson
DE Adisa Isaac
CB Kalen King
CB Johnny Dixon
CB Daequan Hardy
LB Curtis Jacobs

We'll see how everyone tests, both at the Combine and at Penn State's pro day, and those things will go a long way toward determing where each player is drafted.

Regardless of each player's draft fate, here's my ranking from 1-10 of who ultimately will end up having the best pro careers. Some of these are pretty simple, while others may be a bit of a surprise.

1. OLU FASHANU

No need to overanalyze this one. Fashanau almost certainly will be a top 10 pick and has a chance to be very, very special. And by that, I mean a 10-year starter and star in the league.

Fashanu (6-6, 317) has the size you want in a left tackle, plus the tremendous work ethic and football IQ.

2. THEO JOHNSON

OK, so here's the first suprise, to the many who would have expected to see Chop Robinson in this spot.

I'm taking a flyer on Johnson (6-6, 260), who I think will go in the second round, because he is a complete tight end, and the NFL has a way of turning guys like him into major contributors.

Johnson isn't as good of a pure receiver as past Penn State tight ends Pat Freiermuth, Mike Gesicki or Jesse James. But those three guys were not good blocking tight ends at all -- and in some cases they were pretty terrible -- so Johnson has a huge leg up on them in that department.

I can see Johnson developing into one of the better all-around tight ends in the league, and also a guy who makes a bunch of catches every year.

Here's a good clip of Johnson's blocking and catching abilities.

3. CHOP ROBINSON

He'll go in the first round and should be a very good pro. His explosiveness off the ball and consistency are outstanding. He's also a very smart player who's good against both the run and the pass.

I don't necessarily believe Robinson (6-3, 254) will be a superstar in the NFL, but I do see him as a very productive and reliable guy over a long period.

Marvel at how quickly he explodes off the line and into the backfield on this play.

4. CAEDAN WALLACE

Hmmm, a very big surprise here, many of you would say.

I could see Wallace (6-5, 328) being a longtime starter in the NFL, first at right tackle and then perhaps moving over to the left side if he proves he can play with consistency. That was an issue throughout his career at Penn State, but he did much better his final season.

I'm taking a big risk putting Wallace this high on my list, and some of you might think I'm crazy for doing so. That's cool. I just know that offensive linemen can end up being way more appreciated and valuable in the NFL, even if they didn't necessarily enjoy a great college career.

5. ADISA ISAAC

I really like Isaac, so don't take offense that I've got him at No. 5 and below Wallace. Like I said, I know I'm taking a gamble on Wallace, especially when Isaac is a guy who could go in the second round and end up being very good.

Isaac (6-4, 249) has all the tools to be a terrific edge rusher in the pros, from quickness to strength to instincts. He's sort of been in Robinson's shadow as a defensive end, but that may not be the case much longer.

6. KALEN KING

If you've read any of my recent coverage of King, you've already figured out I'm not terribly high on him. Which is why I've got him all the way down here in my rankings.

King's stock has slipped significantly since the start of the 2023 season, when many believed he could be a first-round pick. He did not play well during the season, then had a disastrous showing at the Senior Bowl.

I see King (5-11, 190) dropping as low as the fourth round, and perhaps wondering if he should have returned to college for another year.

Here's a good video recap of King, calling him a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

7. JOHNNY DIXON

I actually gave thought to putting Dixon ahead of King in these rankings. But I couldn't quite go there because King does have a lot of outstanding physical traits and has been a CB1 in college, something Dixon never was at Penn State.

Dixon (6-0, 196) played very well in 2023, and I believe he could be a major sleeper pick in this draft in the fifth or sixth round. He's good in coverage and proved to be a sure tackler.

8. CURTIS JACOBS

There are some who follow Penn State who believe Jacobs will be a very good NFL player. I'm not quite so sure.

Jacobs (6-1, 235) looked really good at times for the Lions, but he often disappeared in games and was very inconsistent. I always felt like he was a pretty average college linebacker, particularly by Penn State standards.

Maybe Jacobs will prove me wrong and end up being a really good pro. He'll probably go in the fifth or sixth round.

9. HUNTER NOURZAD

I really kind of hate having him this low, but that's what happens when you've got a whopping 10 guys invited to the Combine.

I think Nourzad (6-3, 320) can develop into an NFL starter at center, even if he does go undrafted, which might happen.

There's nothing all that sexy about Nourzad as a player, but he gets the job done. He's consistent and reliable, which is what NFL teams are looking for on the line. And he does have good size.

Watch this excellent block downfield against Ohio State.

10. DAEQUAN HARDY

A good, versatile player, Hardy (5-9, 178) could end up going in the seventh round and emerging as a jack-of-all-trades kind of defender in the NFL. And perhaps a special teams ace as a punt returner.

He's not necessarily great at anything, but he's just a good, solid football player.