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Penn State’s Rasheed Walker Leads The Way In Way-Too-Early 2022 NFL Mock Drafts

If you thought we were done with NFL draft content, think again.

Eight Penn State football lettermen joined NFL teams this weekend. With the 2021 NFL Draft now all wrapped up, it’s never too early to turn toward 2022’s main event.

Penn State offensive tackle Rasheed Walker is projected as a first-round pick by many “draft experts” in their way-too-early 2022 mock drafts, which would make him the first Nittany Lion lineman drafted in the first round since Levi Brown in 2007.

Without further ado, here’s where some draft analysts have Walker landing during the 2022 draft cycle.

Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)

Ian Cummings has the Carolina Panthers selecting Walker with the No. 13 overall pick in his mock draft. He said the pick would help new Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold, who was acquired from the New York Jets earlier this offseason.

“Penn State’s Rasheed Walker was a player who had a lot of respect as a potential 2021 NFL Draft prospect,” Cummings wrote. “However, rather than declaring, he decided to return to school for another year. Standing at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, he’s an impressive athlete with mechanical definition beyond his years, and he can help keep Darnold from going down in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.”

Jason McIntyre (Fox Sports)

Fox Sports’ Jason McIntyre released his 2022 mock draft, and he has Walker going No. 16 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.

“In a strong class of left tackles, Walker has the size (6-foot-6, 312 pounds), credentials (All-Big Ten) and career starts (22) to be in the first-round discussion,” he wrote.

Walker was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media and was an honorable mention by the coaches in 2020.

Dane Belbeck (theScore)

Dane Belbeck of theScore has the New Orleans Saints taking Walker with the No. 23 overall pick. If this mock draft proves true, Walker would be the fourth offensive tackle and sixth offensive linemen selected.

“Terron Armstead is entering the last year of his contract, and the Saints would replace him with Walker,” Belbeck wrote. “The Penn State star has recorded 22 starts over two years at left tackle, and he could be the first offensive tackle off the board in 2021.”

Zach Buckley (Bleacher Report)

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley sees Walker going higher in the first round than others in his mock draft. He has Walker going No. 11 overall to the New York Giants, which would make him the second offensive tackle taken.

Walker has appeared in 26 games with the Nittany Lions thus far during his career with 22 starts at left tackle. He appeared in four games during his true freshman season and made his first career start during his redshirt freshman season in 2019.

If the Giants picked Walker, the offensive tackle would of course join fellow Penn Stater Saquon Barkley in New York.

Trevor Sikkema (The Draft Network)

Trevor Sikkema, a draft analyst for The Draft Network, has Walker reuniting with Pat Freiermuth and Lamont Wade in Pittsburgh with the No. 17 overall pick.

“Rasheed Walker is a massive offensive lineman at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds,” Sikkema wrote. “He has appeared in 26 career games with 22 starts, all of which came at left tackle. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t prioritize offensive tackle in the 2021 draft and will likely need to do so a year from now.”

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About the Author

Gabe Angieri

After a four-year career with Onward State, Gabe is now a college graduate and off to the real world. He shockingly served as the blog’s managing editor during the 2022-23 school year and covered football for much of his Onward State tenure, including trips to the Outback Bowl and Rose Bowl. For any professional inquiries, please email Gabe at [email protected]. You can still see his bad sports takes on Twitter at @gabeangieri.

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