Overview
Position: Center
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 300 pounds
School: NC State Wolfpack
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.92 seconds (third-best among offensive linemen)
Bench press: 34 reps (second-best among offensive linemen)
Vertical jump: 31.0 inches
Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.41 seconds (best among offensive linemen)
20-yard shuttle: 4.53 (tied for fifth-best among offensive linemen)
Garrett Bradbury 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Garrett Bradbury is one of those prospects who successfully converted to a position he didn’t play in high school. He won two state titles at Charlotte Christian as a tight end, posting 918 yards and two touchdowns off of 53 catches for his career. Both Scout and ESPN rated him as a top 60 prospect at the position. But he ultimately followed a different pathway towards becoming an NFL-caliber player.
After sitting out in 2014, the NC State coaching staff kicked Bradbury inside to guard ahead of his redshirt freshman season. He played mostly as a reserve that year but things changed precipitously in 2016. It was the first of three seasons where Bradbury made his mark as a consistent contributor. He eventually went on to start every single game he played in during the rest of his college career.
At the end of each regular season, Bradbury garnered some form of honor for his play. His excellence in the classroom was recognized during his sophomore year as he earned the Earle Edwards Award for having the highest GPA on the team. One year later, he received honorable mention all-ACC recognition and won the Bo Rein Award, given to the Wolfpack’s biggest unsung hero. His senior season culminated in him taking home the prestigious Dave Rimington Trophy given annually to the nation’s top center.
Strengths
- impressive movement post-snap when quick setting in pass protection;
- well-schooled as a combo blocker, reaching laterally then climbing into the second level;
- fundamentally sound mirror combined with upper body strength nullifies bullrushes;
- footwork and overall positioning of feet is ideal;
- consistently shuts down defenders when participating in double teams;
- can adjust on the run and won’t panic when initially beat;
- capable of kicking out to guard if need be;
- exudes versatility and capable of excelling in zone and gap-blocking schemes;
- tested quite well at the Combine;
- background as a tight end gives him plus athleticism;
- boasts high football intelligence and should quickly grasp pro-level concepts;
- heavily experienced prospect, boasting 37 career starts in college.
Weaknesses
- could play in a more leveraged position with better knee bend;
- pad level can veer too far forward when run blocking;
- inconsistent punch and overall usage of hands;
- power rush sometimes backs him into his quarterback;
- needs to be more assertive seeking out opponent when second-level blocking;
- some scouts could elicit concerns over his sub-33″ arms.
NFL Comparison: James Daniels
Teams With Need at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Late first to early second round
Bottom Line
Bradbury locked down a starting job as a redshirt sophomore and never looked back. He proceeded to start every game for the Wolfpack over the next three years. With an impressive college career in the rearview mirror, the next step is finding out which NFL team will select him in the draft. And there’s much to like. Bradbury is a naturally athletic center prospect with impressive upper body strength which he showcased at the Combine. He executes fundamentally sound blocking technique and is scheme-versatile. While he’s a tad undersized, could optimize his ability to generate leverage better, and needs to play with better hand usage, Bradbury should immediately compete for starter-level reps in an NFL training camp come summer.
