Penn State had six players picked in the 2023 NFL Draft, from cornerback Joey Porter Jr.’s slide out of the first round to wide receiver Parker Washington’s selection in the sixth round. In between, players like tight end Brenton Strange, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, safety Ji'Ayir Brown and quarterback Sean Clifford all found new NFL teams.
Lions247 already looked at the fit for each player with their new team. Some players landed in spots where their talents could be used in interesting ways, and others are headed for early playing time. A couple others might have longer roads to contributing.
As is the case after every NFL draft, grades take center stage as the primary way to evaluate selections, so Lions247 rounded up how some analysts and pundits viewed the Penn State players selected this year.
Here’s our roundup.
JOEY PORTER JR., CB, PITTSBURGH STEELERS (Round 2, No. 32)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: A+
Trapasso’s take: “Exceptionally long, man-coverage corner. Play is a bit up and down, but his highs are All-Pro caliber. Athletic and plus ball skills. Exactly what the Steelers need.”
Pro Football Focus: Elite
PFF’s take: “Pittsburgh takes PFF’s CB4 and 21st-ranked prospect to open up Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Porter wins with his length. The former Nittany Lion’s 34-inch arms make it easy to disrupt his opponent at the catch point and line of scrimmage. His 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks.”
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: B
Dochterman’s take: “The Steelers had three target areas entering the draft: offensive tackle, cornerback and inside linebacker. With their first two selections, the Steelers hit the target. And this one hits home. … In this organization, you can bet Porter is going to feel the responsibility of upholding his family name. The only question for the Steelers is not trading out and turning down some pretty good offers to draft him.”
Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: A+
McDonald’s take: “We get the family bond here between the Porters and the Steelers get a qualified prospect who could have come off the board in Round 1 without anyone blinking an eye. This is a perfect fit for the Steelers for a variety of reasons.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: A+
Sobleski’s take: “But this selection isn't just a great story. Porter fits a major need in the Steelers secondary after Cameron Sutton left in free agency. Plus, the 22-year-old rookie will have the opportunity to play opposite of and learn from Patrick Peterson.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: A
Iyer’s take: “The Steelers make the ideal pick to fill their need at corner opposite venerable newcomer Patrick Peterson, staying in state to grab the son of their one-time star pass rusher. Porter’s size and playmaking skills give him first-round talent.”
BRENTON STRANGE, TE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (Round 2, No. 61)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: A-
Trapasso’s take: “Love this pick. Strange was a low-volume weapon at Penn State but flourishes after the catch thanks to outstanding athleticism and power through contact. Can get open too. Fun pairing with Evan Engram for Trevor Lawrence.”
Pro Football Focus: Below Average
PFF’s take: “This could very well be a long-term replacement for Evan Engram because Strange projects far better as a receiver than he does as a run blocker. He caught 62.5% of the contested targets he saw in 2022 and had a drop rate of just 3.0%. His 60.5 run-blocking grade confirms that you probably don’t want him taking on defensive ends as an in-line blocker.”
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: C-
Dochterman’s take: “The run of second-round tight ends continues with the Jaguars taking the Penn State pass catcher. Like with Dallas, Jacksonville chose to pass up two top-51 ranked tight ends by Brugler in favor of one ranked No. 97. It seems perplexing in both situations.”
Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: D
McDonald’s take: “Strange is a quality prospect, but no one had him going this high. The Jags could have had this guy on the third day of the draft. They're in the process of working out a contract with Evan Engram as well, so he might not have too many opportunities for targets as a rookie.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: C
Sobleski’s take: “Strange's experience as an inline option should prove to be valuable, with Evan Engram already on the roster. Engram is far more effective as a detached option. Furthermore, Strange serves as an insurance plan if the Jaguars' franchise player doesn't agree to terms on a long-term contract.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: D
Iyer’s take: “This is a weird reach for Strange, a deep-day three tight end, especially as a pure depth move behind Evan Engram and Luke Farrell. Darnell Washington would have been better here, too.”
JUICE SCRUGGS, OL, HOUSTON TEXANS (Round 2, No. 62)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: C+
Trapasso’s take: “Battler on the inside. He's a wall-off blocker, not a one-on-one masher. Tested more athletically than he plays. Plenty of experience. Solid combo blocker. Does have starter upside and not brutal in any area but doesn't have a specialty.”
Pro Football Focus: Below Average
PFF’s take: “Scruggs comes off the board before Ohio State’s Luke Wypler after producing 67.5 and 71.5 PFF grades in each of the past two seasons. The 138th-ranked player on the PFF big board still needs plenty of development, and he is likely scheme dependent. He produced a 72.6 PFF run-blocking grade on zone plays and a 62.9 PFF grade on gap plays.”
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: B
Dochterman’s take: “Fit and powerful, Scruggs (6-3 ¼, 301) fills a position of need and brings a tenacious attitude to Houston. A car accident nearly derailed his career in 2019, and he was out for the entire season. He returned a year later and started his final 26 games with the Nittany Lions. With good arm length (33 ¼) and great technique, Scruggs has the chance to become a longtime starter with his old rival and new quarterback C.J. Stroud.”
Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: F
McDonald’s take: “Man, what a reach. Not one person had Scruggs going this high in the draft and he struggled against Shrine Bowl competition. Major overpay for someone who projects to be a depth player.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: C
Sobleski’s take: “With the addition of Penn State's Juice Scruggs, the Houston Texans' offensive line is complete. The team already traded for Shaq Mason this offseason. Both tackles–Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard–are former first-round picks, as is left guard Kenyon Green. However, the Texans chose Scruggs over Ohio State's Luke Wypler, who's still available. The thought of bringing C.J. Stroud's batterymate with this year's second-overall pick should have been strongly considered to make a smooth transition for the quarterback.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: C
Iyer’s take: “The Texans trading up for a pure center they could have gotten deep into Day 3 is also a strange second consecutive pick from Penn State. They got a little desperate to replace Scott Quessenberry in front of C.J. Stroud.”
JI’AYIR BROWN, S, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (Round 3, No. 87)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: B
Trapasso’s take: “Magnet to the football. Plays much more explosively than his timed workout. Misses a fair amount of tackles but will lay the lumber. One of the best pure ball hawks in the class.”
Pro Football Focus: Good
PFF’s take: “Brown was a do-it-all safety for the Nittany Lions. He seamlessly went from deep safety to the box to the slot to outside linebacker to mugging the A-gap, and he executed each role at a high level. Brown’s ball skills, in particular, jump off the screen. He secured 10 interceptions across the past two seasons.”
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: B
Dochterman’s take: “Perhaps the Big Ten’s most underrated defensive back, Brown was as active as any defender the past two seasons. Last year, Brown recorded seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. In 2021, Brown had six interceptions and 11 breakups. He combined for 147 tackles in those two years. A physical tackler and team leader, Brown (5-11 3/8, 203) is strong (18 bench press reps), but his 40 time (4.65) is not ideal. However, there’s no doubt Brown will find a way to see the field early in his career with the 49ers.”
Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: C-
McDonald’s take: “No need to really trade up for Brown here, but we're reaching the point of the draft where trading up for these picks isn't very harmful, so no need to ding them too much. The 49ers needed depth at safety.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: B
Sobleski’s take: “The San Francisco 49ers had to wait a long time to make their initial pick in this year's draft. The team did get a little impatient, though, and traded up to select Brown. Three reasons likely led to this particular selection. First, Brown is just a good football player. Second, Tashaun Gipson Sr. turns 33 later this year. Finally, Talanoa Hufanga's previous injury history can't be completely overlooked.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: A
Iyer’s take: “The 49ers made a great pick here with the intention of helping to replace Jimmie Ward, who followed DeMeco Ryans to Houston. Brown is a perfect fit with Talanoa Hufanga with his toughness, quickness and big-play flair in coverage.”
SEAN CLIFFORD, QB, GREEN BAY PACKERS (Round 5, No. 149)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: C-
Trapasso’s take: “Physical long-time starter at QB with some creativity but lacks consistent coverage-reading ability or accuracy. Strange selection but not a the worst idea to address the QB spot.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: D
Sobleski’s take: “Clifford is an experienced starter with a highly competitive nature. At the same time, his leadership doesn't mean as much when he's not spearheading the program, and he's certainly lacking when it comes to the physical tools to play the position.”
PARKER WASHINGTON, WR, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (Round 6, No. 185)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: A
Trapasso’s take: “Draft crush of mine. Short but stocky, Deebo Samuel-like YAC monster. Balance is unreal. Absorbs contact outstandingly well. Not a major separator or speed threat. Wins underneath and with the ball in his hands. Can outplay this draft position.”
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: B
Sobleski’s take: “By coming back to the offense, Baalke found a good fit in Penn State's Parker Washington. The Jaguars have an excellent receiving trio in Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Calvin Ridley. All three can play from the slot, but Washington provides some toughness on the inside. Plus he can create after the catch.”
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for Lions247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at daniel.gallen@cbsinteractive.com. Follow Daniel on Twitter at @danieljtgallen.
