DId skipping out on Penn State's pro day have a detrimental effect on the NFL draft stock of Penn State's top draft prospect, edge rusher Abdul Carter? That remains to be seen, but one new mock draft form USA TOODAY sees Carter failing to go in the top three picks.
A fresh mock draft from USA TODAY Sports writer Nate Davis projects Carter to go to the New England Patriots with the fourth overall pick. That is a coup[le of picks later than the consensus No. 2 pick most mock drafts had for Carter leading up to Penn State's pro day event last week. Davis notes that the Patriots do not have a quarterback need, and the temptation to provide support on offense will not outweigh the opportunity to draft the best player on the board when it comes time to make a draft pick. Davis also projects that Colorado's Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter will be off the board one pick earlier to the New York Giants, making Carter the seemingly obvious pick.
Also appearing in the first round of the new mock draft from Davis is Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. Davis slots Warren at the no. 14 pick to the Indianapolis Colts. A number of mock drafts have previously placed Warren in Indinaapolis, although Warren has at times been prokevcted as a top-10 player. Warren also did not participate in Penn State's pro day workouts.
"More Rob Gronkowski than Travis Kelce – just in case you enjoy outlandish pre-draft comparisons – Warren (6-6, 256) would help this team both in the run game and as an intermediate threat down the field," Davis said.
Carter and Warren are the only two Penn State players expected to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, and this new mck draft sticks to that expectation.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: USA TODAY Sports mock NFL draft projections updated for Abdul Carter