With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, it’s a fitting time to take a look back at the past century and evaluate the top draft picks to come out of Penn State.

From Super Bowl champions to All-Pro superstars, the Nittany Lions have produced a steady stream of NFL talent and success at the next level.

No. 1: Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley was a four-star recruit out of high school and ranked as the No. 2 overall player in Pennsylvania. He spent three seasons in Happy Valley, totaling 3,843 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. His most notable campaign came in 2017, when he was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, ultimately finishing fourth in the voting behind other future NFL standouts like Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.

Following his collegiate career, Barkley was selected No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. After recording 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, he earned Pro Bowl honors and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

After five seasons with the Giants, Barkley entered free agency and signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. During the 2025 season, he ran for 2,005 yards, ranking eighth all-time in a single season. Barkley was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year while playing a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory. In reward for his historic season, the Eagles rewarded Barkley with a two-year, $41 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

Now entering his ninth NFL season, Barkley will be aiming for his third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign with the Eagles. At 29 years old, he has shown little sign of slowing down and has already cemented his legacy in both Penn State and NFL history.

No. 2: Micah Parsons

Micah Parsons was a consensus five-star recruit out of Harrisburg High School and has lived up to the billing from the start. Although he spent only two years in Happy Valley, he sure left his mark. In 26 games with the Nittany Lions, he recorded 192 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Following his standout sophomore season, he earned consensus All-American honors, was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, won Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP, and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.

He declared for the 2021 NFL Draft following the 2019-20 season and was selected No. 12 overall in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys.

Parsons wasted no time translating his production to the NFL, instantly becoming an impact player in Dallas. In his rookie season, he posted 84 tackles, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Those stats helped him win the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as well as a First-team All-Pro selection. His dominance only continued from there, earning additional All-Pro selections in 2022 and 2025, along with five consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2021-25. He also joined Reggie White as one of the only players in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of their first four seasons. While his time in Dallas was phenomenal, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers before the start of the 2025 season.

Parsons was acquired in a blockbuster deal that included two first-round picks. The Packers wasted no time signing the star to a lucrative contract worth $188 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Due to a torn ACL in Week 15, Parsons only appeared in 14 games in his first season with the Packers, but still managed to put up 41 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Like the rest, Micah Parsons’ dominance began early in State College and smoothly transferred to the NFL, solidifying his status as one of the league’s most dominant defenders. If Parsons can stay healthy in the coming years of his career, he could very well be on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

No. 3: NaVorro Bowman

NaVorro Bowman spent all three years of his collegiate career with Penn State, totaling 117 tackles. In 2008 and 2009, he was named to the first-team All-Big Ten honors. Bowman left Penn State following his junior season and was selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

During his seven seasons in San Francisco, he earned four first-team All-Pro selections (2011-2013, 2015) and three Pro Bowl selections (2012, 2013, 2015). During the 2015 season, he led the NFL in tackles and played a key role in the 49ers’ playoff run, where they ultimately lost to the Ravens 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII. He spent his final season with the Oakland Raiders in 2017, concluding a dominant eight-year career.

Despite Bowman’s standout career, it was impacted by two major, late-career leg injuries. He unfortunately suffered a devastating torn ACL and MCL in his left knee during the 2013 NFC Championship game, sidelining him for the entire 2014 season. Later, a torn Achilles tendon in 2016 limited him to just 19 games following his All-Pro return in 2015. Even so, Bowman’s resilience and physical style still allowed him to leave his mark as one of the NFL’s most dominant tacklers.

No. 4: Tamba Hali

Tamba Hali spent just two seasons at Penn State before declaring for the 2006 NFL Draft. Following his 11-sack senior season, he was selected at No. 20 overall in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Hali became the definition of loyalty at the professional level, spending all 12 seasons of his NFL career in Kansas City.

During that time, he earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (2010-2015) and was a two-time second-team All-Pro (2011 and 2013). He finished his career with 89.5 sacks and 33 force fumbles, both ranking second all-time in Chiefs franchise history. Hali was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2024, in recognition of his defensive excellence.

Although he was not part of a Super Bowl-winning team, Hali played a key role in the Chiefs’ 2016 season, including a 30-0 Wild Card victory over the Houston Texans that marked the franchise’s first postseason win since 1993 and ended a 22-year drought.

Hali appeared in 177 games over his 12-year career, serving as a defensive cornerstone in the trenches for Kansas City.

No. 5: Chris Godwin Jr.

Chris Godwin Jr. was a four-star prospect out of Middletown High School in Delaware. In his senior season, he recorded 1,150 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year honors and first-team all-state recognition.

He went on to spend three years at Penn State, totaling 2,421 yards and 18 touchdowns, finishing his collegiate career ranked among the top ten in program history in receiving yards. After his junior year, Godwin declared for the 2017 NFL Draft and was selected No. 84 overall in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the 2025-26 season recently coming to a close, Godwin wrapped up his ninth year with the franchise. While his production has dipped over the past two seasons, Godwin has still recorded four 1,000+ yard seasons in his career (2019, 2021-2023). In 2019, he earned Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors.

Though not always the flashiest player on the field, Godwin brings a level of consistency that is hard to come by. Alongside Mike Evans, he is one of only two players in the Buccaneers franchise history to surpass 600 receptions and 7,500 receiving yards. His 2020 season marked a career highlight for the Penn State product. Playing alongside legend Tom Brady, Godwin played a crucial role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV championship run.

Even without a first-team All-Pro selection or major award, Godwin stands out as one of the most dependable receivers to come through Penn State Football. In an era where the Nittany Lions have often struggled with consistency at the receiver position, a guy like Chris Godwin stands out for his reliability.

---

From dominant pass rushers to elite playmakers, Penn State has produced some of the best talent in the game. With recent names such as Tyler Warren and Abdul Carter already making noise in the league, it’s clear the Nittany Lions know how to develop elite players at every position. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the program’s next wave of prospects, including Olaivavega Ioane and Drew Allar, will look to build their own legacies. While this year’s draft brings plenty of uncertainty, one thing remains clear: Penn State continues to produce high-level NFL talent.