New England Patriots pick OL Caedan Wallace in Round 3 of 2024 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots selected Penn State football offensive lineman Caedan Wallace with the 68th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He was a somewhat surprising 34th overall pick and fourth of Friday's third round, going higher than expected.
Wallace was the third Nittany Lion picked in the draft, following Thursday first-rounders Olu Fashanu (11th, New York Jets) and fellow defensive end Chop Robinson (21st, Miami Dolphins).
Wallace finally impressed with the long-desired blocking consistency (and ability to stay healthy) through his senior season that had been missing from the high-level talent at right tackle. He started all 13 games in 2023 and his draft stock seemingly rose during the fall and his winter all-star game and workout season.
Here’s everything you need to know about Penn State's Wallace:
What you need to know about former Penn State OL Caedan Wallace
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 314 pounds
High school: The Hun School (Princeton, New Jersey) | Hometown: Robbinsville, New Jersey
College stats for Caedan Wallace
Wallace allowed just one sack in 359 pass-blocking snaps during the 2023 season.
What kind of player is Caedan Wallace?
Wallace has been described as a "clock-puncher who plays with better fundamentals and technique than his highly-regarded teammate, (Olu) Fashanu," according to an NFL.com analysis. He owns the requisite skills and position versatility to be a solid performer in the NFL despite a limited talent ceiling. He showed that he can also excel at guard during a standout Shrine Bowl this winter.
Caedan Wallace's best highlights at Penn State
His steady improvements showed bright in the regular-season finale against Michigan State. There, he helped the offense produce 10 plays of 20+ yards (five run, five pass).
💎NFL Draft Gems💎- #38 Caedan Wallace OT (PSU) #nfldraft2024 #pennstate #psu @caedanw
Olu Fashanu gets all the love on Penn State’s offensive line. But, Right Tackle Caedan Wallace has a ton of appeal as a tackle or a guard at the NFL Level. Wallace is an explosive mover with… pic.twitter.com/YMr03oTYxl— The Mock Draft Guy ™️ (@MockDraftGuyYT) April 22, 2024
How did Caedan Wallace do at the NFL Draft Combine?
Wallace ran a solid 5.15 seconds in his 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split. He posted a vertical of 31 feet, 8 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, 8 inches.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State sports for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New England Patriots pick Caedan Wallace in 2024 NFL draft 3rd round.
