Recapping Penn State's First-Round History at the NFL Draft

How many Nittany Lions have been first-round picks? A look at Penn State's draft story.

Penn State is a getting on a roll first-round roll at the NFL Draft. Coach James Franklin's team likely will extend its streak to three years with at least one first-rounder at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.

Cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. is set to make Penn State draft history, becoming the program's first defensive back selected in the first round. He also would be Penn State's 41st first-round pick dating to 1956, when halfback Lenny Moore became the first Penn State player drafted in the first round.

How many first-round draft picks has Penn State recorded? The Lions entered the 2023 NFL Draft with 40 first-rounders. Penn State ranked 14th nationally, four behind Georgia, in first-round picks, according to Winsipedia. Ohio State led all programs with 87 first-round picks.

If Porter goes in the first round, he'll extend Penn State's streak to three consecutive years with a first-round pick. That would be the best such run since the Lions had first-rounders selected in six consecutive drafts from 1979-84.

Penn State has sent 37 first-round picks to the NFL since the common draft began in 1967. The Lions' best draft for first-rounders was 2003, when four of the six players selected went in the first round.

Other unique stats about Penn State's first-round draft history:

2: No. 1 overall picks: Ki-Jana Carter (Cincinnati, 1995) and Courtney Brown (2000, Cleveland)

4: Picks under James Franklin

5: Linebackers selected

7: Defensive linemen selected since 2000 (of 14 first-round picks)

11: Running backs selected

14: Defensive players selected

21: Top-10 picks

26: Offensive players selected

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Here's a look at Penn State's first-round history in the NFL Draft:

1956: 9, Halfback Lenny Moore, Baltimore

1960: 4, Quarterback Richie Lucas, Washington (NFL)

1963: 14, Linebacker Dave Robinson, Green Bay (NFL)

1969: 7, Tight end Ted Kwalick, San Francisco

1970: 7, Defensive tackle Mike Reid, Cincinnati

1972: 13, Running back Franco Harris, Pittsburgh

1974: 8, Linebacker Ed O’Neil, Detroit

1974: 11, Running back John Cappelletti, Los Angeles Rams

1979: 10, Tackle Keith Dorney, Detroit

1980: 4, Defensive tackle Bruce Clark, Green Bay

1981: 28, Running back Booker Moore, Buffalo

1982: 8,  Guard Mike Munchak, Houston

1982: 17, Guard Mike Farrell, Tampa Bay

1983: 3, Running back Curt Warner, Seattle

1983: 7, Quarterback Todd Blackledge, Kansas City

1984: 4, Wide receiver Kenny Jackson, Philadelphia

1987: 8, Linebacker Shane Conlan, Buffalo

1987: 14, Running back D.J. Dozier, Minnesota

1990: 2, Running back Blair Thomas, New York Jets

1993: 25, Wide receiver OJ McDuffie, Miami

1995: 1, Running back Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati

1995: 5, Quarterback Kerry Collins, Carolina

1995: 9, Tight end Kyle Brady, New York Jets

1996: 23, Guard Jeff Hartings, Detroit

1996: 30, Tackle Andre Johnson, Washington

1998: 5, Running back Curtis Enis, Chicago

2000: 1, Defensive end Courtney Brown, Cleveland

2000: 2, Linebacker LaVar Arrington, Washington

2003: 12, Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, St. Louis

2003: 14, Defensive end Michael Haynes, Chicago

2003: 17, Wide receiver Bryant Johnson, Arizona

2003: 27, Running back Larry Johnson, Jr., Kansas City

2006: 20, Defensive end Tamba Hali, Kansas City

2007: 5, Tackle Levi Brown, Arizona

2009: 11, Defensive end Aaron Maybin, Buffalo

2010: 28, Defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Miami

2018: 2, Running back Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

2021: 12, Linebacker Micah Parsons, Dallas

2021: 31, Defensive end Odafe Oweh, Baltimore

2022: 16, Wide receiver Jahan Dotson, Washington

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