The five Penn State players most expected would be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft over the weekend did get their names called.

The ones who didn’t found homes rather quickly, too.

Six Nittany Lions signed undrafted free-agent deals with NFL teams in the hours after the Draft:

  • OG Steven Gonzalez, who started 42 games for the Nittany Lions during his career, signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
  • P Blake Gillikin, a four-year starter, signed with the New Orleans Saints.
  • TE Nick Bowers, a backup to Pat Freiermuth who emerged as an important offensive weapon in 2019, will be joining the Las Vegas Raiders.
  • SAF Garrett Taylor, a two-year starter and respected veteran, signed on with the Buffalo Bills.
    • LB Jan Johnson, a former walk-on, is heading to the NFL after striking a deal with Bill O’Brien and the Houston Texans.
  • Another former walk-on, Dan Chisena, is heading to Minnesota on a free-agent deal.

Figured Taylor and Gonzalez would get pretty good shots to make rosters, given their experience with the Nittany Lions.

Gillikin to the Saints is interesting. He’ll reunite with the former Penn State special teams coordinator, Phil Galiano, who is currently a Saints assistant. Gillikin will also compete with an established starter, Thomas Morstead, who signed a five-year deal before the 2018 season.

Bowers and Chisena are going to be worth watching. For my money, Bowers was the third-best Penn State prospect available this year, and a good bet to make the team. Chisena ran a 4.3 40-yard dash and is a special teams terror. If someone can help develop some consistency catching the ball, he can be a productive player on offense, as well.