Penn State's all-time first-round NFL draft picks
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Penn State's all-time first-round NFL draft picks

Bystrictlysports

Penn State has a rich history as one of the oldest college football teams in the nation. Countless legendary players have donned the iconic blue and white uniforms since the program’s inception in 1887, many of whom continued the Nittany Lions' legacy in the NFL. Some schools only focus on having collegiate success, and others take a more developmental approach, but Penn State always tried to accomplish both simultaneously.

From old-timers like Dave Robinson, who was selected back in the 1960s, to relative newcomers like Micah Parsons, who has only been in the league for a few years, the Nittany Lions know how to produce talent that has success at both levels. In all, Penn State has 44 all-time first-round draft picks by NFL teams, and a good number of them went on to have successful NFL careers, and some are truly just hitting their stride or beginning

Here is every Penn State player ever taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Lenny Moore, Running Back

Unknown date and location; Baltimore Colts running back #24 Lenny Moore runs against the Detroit Lions. Moore finished his 12-year Hall of Fame career with 12,451 combined yards, 5,174 rushing yards and 113 touchdowns. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1956

Pick: 9

Team: Baltimore Colts

Richie Lucas, Quarterback

Year: 1960

Pick: 4

Team: Washington Redskins

Dave Robinson, Linebacker

Apr 25, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Hall of Fame former Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson announces the team’s selection with the 87th overall pick during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Year: 1963

Pick: 14

Team: Green Bay Packers

Ted Kwalick, Tight End

1972, San Francisco, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; San Francisco 49ers tight end Ted Kwalick in action during the 1972 season at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1969

Pick: 7

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Mike Reid, Defensive Tackle

Dec 26, 1970; Baltimore, MD USA: FILE PHOTO; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Mike Reid (74) against the Baltimore Colts during the 1970 AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1970

Pick: 7

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Franco Harris, Running Back

Dec 27, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Former Penn State Nittany Lions player Franco Harris looks on against the Boston College Eagles during the second half of the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Penn State won 31-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1972

Pick: 13

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Ed O’Neil, Linebacker

Year: 1974

Pick: 8

Team: Detroit Lions

John Cappelletti, Running Back

Oct 30, 1978; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Rams running back John Cappelletti (22) prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1974

Pick: 11

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Keith Dorney, Tackle

Year: 1979

Pick: 10

Team: Detroit Lions

Bruce Clark, Defensive Tackle

Sep 1979; State College, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Bruce Clark (54) during the 1979 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1980

Pick: 4

Team: Green Bay Packers

Booker Moore, Running Back

Oct 16, 1983; Balitmore, MD, USA; FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills running back Booker Moore (34) carries the ball against the Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1981

Pick: 28

Team: Buffalo Bills

Mike Munchak, Guard

Nov 24, 1988; Irving, TX, USA; Houston Oilers guard Mike Munchak (63) in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1982

Pick: 8

Team: Houston Oilers

Sean Farrell, Guard

Year: 1982

Pick: 17

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Curt Warner, Running Back

Oct 1, 1989; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Curt Warner (28) in action against the Los Angeles Raiders at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1983

Pick: 3

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Todd Blackledge, Quarterback

Sep 9, 1984; Cincinnati, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Todd Blackledge (14) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY NETWORK

Year: 1983

Pick: 7

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Kenny Jackson, Wide Receiver

Year: 1984

Pick: 4

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Shane Conlan, Linebacker

Oct 4, 1992; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Shane Conlan (58) in action against the Miami Dolphins at Rich Stadium. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1987

Pick: 8

Team: Buffalo Bills

D.J. Dozier, Running Back

Jan 13, 1988; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings running back D.J. Dozier (42) in action against the New Orleans Saints during the 1987 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at the Superdome. The Vikings defeated the Saints 44-10. Mandatory Credit: MPS-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1987

Pick: 14

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Blair Thomas, Running Back

Sep 24, 1990; E. Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Blair Thomas (32) carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills at Giants Stadium. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Year: 1990

Pick: 2

Team: New York Jets

O.J. McDuffie, Wide Receiver

Dec 1, 1996; Oakland, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Miami Dolphins receiver O.J. McDuffie (81) in action against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

Year: 1993

Pick: 23

Team: Miami Dolphins

Ki-Jana Carter, Running Back

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Year: 1995

Pick: 1

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Kerry Collins, Quarterback

Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins (5) walks off of the field after losing to Jacksonville Jaguars 17-6 at LP Field Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tenn. Collins threw for 169 yards and two interceptions. Collins Is Out Rookie Is In Ready Or Not

Year: 1995

Pick: 5

Team: Carolina Panthers

Kyle Brady, Tight End

Sep 7, 1997; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Jets tight end Kyle Brady (88) in action against the Buffalo Bills at Giants Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK

Year: 1995

Pick: 9

Team: New York Jets

Jeff Hartings, Guard

Feb 5, 2006; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Jeff Hartings celebrates after a play towards the end of the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XL at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 John David Mercer

Year: 1996

Pick: 23

Team: Detroit Lions

Andre Johnson, Offensive Tackle

Year: 1996

Pick: 30

Team: Washington Redskins

Curtis Enis, Running Back

Oct 11, 1998; Tempe, AZ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears running back Curtis Enis (39) in action against the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

Year: 1998

Pick: 5

Team:Chicago Bears

Courtney Brown, Defensive End

Nov 17, 2002; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tackle Willie Anderson (71) in action against Cleveland Browns defensive end Courtney Brown (92) at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2000

Pick: 1

Team: Cleveland Browns

LaVar Arrington, Linebacker

Washington Redskins' linebacker LaVar Arrington celebrates after stripping the ball from St. Louis Rams' quarterback Kurt Warner in the final seconds of the game to seal a 20-17 win for the Redskins 24 November 2002 at Fedex Field in Landover, MD. AFP PHOTO/HEATHER HALL (Photo by HEATHER HALL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HEATHER HALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Year: 2000

Pick: 2

Team: Washington Redskins

Jimmy Kennedy, Defensive Tackle

Nov 1, 2009; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy (73) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Vikings defeated the Packers 38-26. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2003

Pick: 12

Team: St. Louis Rams

Michael Haynes, Defensive End

July 26, 2006; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive linemen Alex Brown (96) and Michael Haynes (97) walk to the practice fields before the start of training camp at Olivet Nazarine University in Bourbonnais, IL. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright 2006 Jerry Lai

Year: 2003

Pick: 14

Team: Chicago Bears

Bryant Johnson, Wide Receiver

Dec. 2, 2007; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Bryant Johnson (80) catches a third quarter touchdown pass in front of Cleveland Browns defensive back Leigh Bodden (28) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Arizona defeated Cleveland 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2003

Pick: 17

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Larry Johnson, Running Back

October 18, 2009; Landover, MD, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (27) watches from the sidelines against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2003

Pick: 27

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Tamba Hali, Defensive End

Jan 6, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali (91) rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the second half in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2006

Pick: 20

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Levi Brown, Tackle

Sep 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals tackle Levi Brown (75) is tackled after recovering a fumble against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2007

Pick: 5

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Aaron Maybin, Defensive End

October 21, 2012; Foxboro, MA USA; New York Jets linebacker Aaron Maybin (51) during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2009

Pick: 11

Team: Buffalo Bills

Jared Odrick, Defensive Tackle

Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jared Odrick (75) runs out of the tunnel before a football game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2010

Pick: 28

Team: Miami Dolphins

Saquon Barkley, Running Back

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on September 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Year: 2018

Pick: 2

Team: New York Giants

Micah Parsons, Linebacker

Dec 26, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons (11) celebrates a sack in the second quarter against the Washington Football Team at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Year: 2021

Pick: 12

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Odafe Oweh, Linebacker

Dec 27, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) react after a defensive play against the Houston Texans during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Year: 2021

Pick: 31

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver

Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts as wide receiver Jahan Dotson (2) returns to the bench during the second quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Year: 2022

Pick: 16

Team: Washington Commanders

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Tackle

Nov 17, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets offensive tackle Olu Fashanu (74) blocks against Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Year: 2024

Pick: 11

Team: New York Jets

Chop Robinson, Defensive End

Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson (44) reacts after attempting to recover a fumble against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Year: 2024

Pick: 21

Team: Miami Dolphins

Tyler Warren, Tight End

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) pulls in a catch for a first down Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Year: 2025

Pick: 14

Team: Indianapolis Colts

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State's all-time first-round NFL draft picks

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