Overview
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 315 pounds
School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 5.20 seconds
3 cone drill: 8.03 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.90 seconds
Ronnie Stanley 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Stanley had some big shoes to fill when he made the move from right to left tackle heading into his junior season. After all, he was replacing four-year starter Zack Martin who finished his collegiate career by winning the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl, an accolade very rarely achieved by a player at his position. Martin would get drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft and has made the Pro Bowl each of his two seasons in the league. It’s very possible that Stanley could do the same at the next level.
The Las Vegas, NV native could’ve easily declared for the draft after his junior season in South Bend. That’s especially true considering he was responsible for just a single sack in his 13 starts and was named Notre Dame offensive lineman of the year. But, like Martin, he decided to remain for his senior season in the hope he could bring Notre Dame its first national championship in nearly 30 years. Even though the Irish fell short, Stanley’s draft stock has only improved given another impressive season. He was one of three consensus All-Americans on the offensive line in 2015.
Strengths
- perfect combination of size, strength and agility.
- exceptional lateral movement which aids him greatly in pass protection against edge rushers.
- has a high motor; always playing until the whistle.
- very rarely do opposing defensive linemen beat him towards the inside.
- great hand placement enables him to control the point of attack.
- extremely durable; started every game as sophomore, junior and senior.
- patient blocker able to reset hands without panicking.
- isn’t easily confused on stunt movements.
Weaknesses
- will likely need to work on upper body strength.
- won’t necessarily overpower players; more reliant on footwork.
- struggles squaring lower body when run-blocking, especially downfield.
- tends to be a few steps late to assignment on screen plays.
- lacks explosiveness immediately after snap.
- can lose leverage with overly physical players.
NFL Comparison: David Bakhtiari
Teams with Need at Position: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins
Projection: Early to middle first round
Bottom Line
Stanley fits the bill as a dynamic player on the offensive front able to play on both sides of the line. His ability as a pass blocker will be highly coveted in the lead-up to the draft. There are plenty of teams on the cusp of playoff contention looking to cut down on sacks and keep their respective quarterbacks upright. Stanley’s skill set will make him a valued asset as a result. An added year of experience in college despite possibly being NFL-ready as a junior could only have helped enhance those skills. He’ll certainly be one of the first offensive lineman off the board this year. And like his predecessor at the position for ND in Martin, he might be able to start right off the bat and potentially become an instant impact player.
