Which 2 Penn State players are in The Athletic's new NFL mock draft?

Penn State players have lots of time left until they have to make a stay-or-go decision following the 2024 season. But, that isn't stopping the media from kicking off mock draft season as the NFL hits the midway mark of its slate. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic has a new look at how the first 32 picks in next year's pro selection process could go. At the moment, he sees two Penn State players, one on each side of the ball, as possible first round selections. The first is no surprise. Lions defensive end Abdul Carter is listed at No. 15 overall. At the moment, that would send him to Tampa Bay.

"Carter's range feels pretty wide right now. The 2024 season is his first as a full-time edge defender, and it's been good — but not "whoa" good," Baumgardner writes. "And though his 18 percent win rate is terrific, it's down from last year. Still, it's not hard to see the potential payoff should everything click, as he's far closer physically to Micah Parsons than Chop Robinson was last year."

This promises to be the first of what will likely be many draft analysts wondering exactly where Carter will end up. Most agree that he's a first round pick. But, whether he lands in the top 10, top 20, or goes over the final 12 picks seems to be up for debate.

The second first round projection may surprise some Penn State fans, but it should not

The other Penn State player listed is tight end Tyler Warren . He is having a standout senior season, of course, and is a finalist for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top tight end nationally. Baumgardner projects him to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 32.

"If there was an award for the guy who spent this year having more fun than anybody else, it'd have to go to Warren," Baumgardner writes. "He's played tight end, receiver, running back, center and probably a few other positions I'm forgetting. More than anything, though, he's a powerful presence at the line of scrimmage and the catch point and has a lot of room to grow."

To date, Warren has scored as a passer, rusher, and thrower, and has also snapped the ball this season. He has 51 receptions for 606 yards and four receiving touchdowns ahead of this weekend's tilt with the Huskies (8 p.m. ET, Peacock). His pro profile should only continue to rise in the weeks ahead.