Where is Penn State guard Vega Ioane in the latest NFL mock drafts?

Penn State guard Vega Ioane has not yet declared whether or not he will leave school early to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. But, the Washington native will before December ends. Ioane, a former three-star recruit in the Rivals Industry Rankings for the Class of 2022 who signed during the traditional Signing Day in February of that year thanks to a connection with former special teams coordinator Stacy Collins, is one of the best developmental stories of the James Franklin era in State College. And, he’s about to get paid handsomely because of it.

“I think he’s one of the best guards in the country,” Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said in November. “He continues to get better, is really working on his pass pro, and I think his run blocking is really good. Scouts want great players and also smart players who loves ball. Vega is one of those guys. His story is really cool. It’s incredible. And that’s just the type of kid he is, and that’s the type of kid we have in this program. They understand the big picture. It’s cool that he’s doing what he’s doing and getting better every single week.”

Where is Penn State guard Vega Ioane in the latest mock drafts?

Dane Brugler of The Athletic sends Ioane to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22.

“One draft pick isn’t going to rectify the Eagles’ run-game woes, but adding an athletic mauler such as Ioane (pronounced “Yo-wahn-ay”) sure would help,” Brugler writes. “Tyler Steen has been up and down in his first year as a starter, and the Eagles have to be concerned about Landon Dickerson’s long-term durability.”

For CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson sends the Penn State guard to Detroit at No. 17.

“Ioane is one of the cleanest prospects in this class, excelling as an earth-mover in the run game, and the athleticism to be effective in both gap and zone schemes,” Wilson writes. “In pass protection, he plays with a strong base, using a well-timed, powerful punch to neutralize the bull rush.”

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY sends him to Houston at No. 18.

“A workable starting front for Houston has finally emerged after plenty of tinkering throughout the early season,” he writes. “That shouldn’t prevent the team from continuing to address its peskiest problem, however, and Ioane’s reliability in both limiting interior pressure and creating a push in the run game should be a major draw for the Texans.”

A new mock draft from ESPN’s Field Yates has Ioane going at No. 24 to the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Ioane is my No. 1 guard in this class, as he would help any offensive line get tougher and more physical,” Yates writes.