Official NFL Draft 1st Round Thread

[Joemailman]

Joe Alt

Overview
Long-limbed team captain with NFL-quality tackle play coursing through his veins. Alt plays a disciplined brand of football, avoiding penalties and working with fluid transitions from entry to sustain to finish as a run blocker. Alt is a capable drive blocker with the foot quickness to play onto the second level. He struggles to bend enough to compensate for his height and ends up playing with waist-bending and forward lean that can hamper his anchor against bull-rushers. Alt has quick hands and outstanding arm extension, promoting his ability to sustain blocks and redirect pass-rushers. He’s a good technician who carries himself with confidence from snap to snap. Alt clearly has the talent to become a Day 1 starter on the left side, but he’ll need to clean up his habit of leaning forward, or he could be in for some bumpy action early on.

Strengths
Father, John Alt, was a Pro Bowl NFL tackle and brother, Mark Alt, was an NHL player.
Creates pre-snap plan for combo blocks and is rhythmic getting from one to two.
Adjusts stride length and footwork to capture first contact with balance.
Maintains feel and keeps feet moving to mirror and ride opponents for block sustain.
Scores early with stiff right hand into rusher’s inside shoulder in pass pro.
Feet are fluid and instinctive to consistently mirror edge-to-edge rush challenges.
Uses arm extension to successfully steer arc runners and inside counters off the track.
Technically sound with good instincts to withstand attacks from twists.

Weaknesses
Gets off the snap with excessive forward lean in an attempt to lower pad level.
Leverage-based opponents can stand and stall drive blocking attempts.
Too much waist-bending and not enough chin-tuck in protection posture.
Beaten by late movement when feet start to sink too deep.
High center of gravity could make it hard to find emergency brakes against NFL power rushers.

[Joemailman]

Malik Nabers

Overview
Nabers is the next big thing coming out of LSU’s receiver room, with the pure explosiveness and talent to be mentioned in the same breath as former LSU stars starring in the league today. Despite a lack of polish and precision as a route-runner, Nabers’ gliding movements and speed alterations seem to disguise the top-end speed and separation potential that await opposing coverages. He’s a bouncy leaper with the athletic ability to make the impossible catches possible. He tucks away accurate throws and displays the toughness and play strength to fight for tight-window victories over the middle. Nabers will need to address his tendency to track and play deep throws with finesse, or his early advantages will turn into 50/50 battles. He can play all three receiver spots and has the profile to become a productive, high-volume target over all three levels as a potential WR1.

Strengths
Skills and traits needed to produce effectively on all three levels as a pro.
Glides and burns past defenders deep or pushes them into retreat for easy stop routes.
Changes speeds inside the route to tilt defenders off the break point.
Good hand-fighting and post-up talent to win positioning battles against big corners.
Frames up defender to finish contested catches underneath.
Premium leaper with contortionist’s talent for in-air adjustments on jump balls.
Catches off-frame balls with strong, sudden hands.
Has grab-and-go acceleration to catch it short and take it long.

Weaknesses
Runs free into big spaces but needs additional route schooling.
Inconsistent hip sink to snap routes off at crisp angles.
Would benefit from eliminating wasted motion in early phases of the route.
Lackadaisical to capture positioning and stack coverage behind him.