Overview
Position: Offensive line
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 309 pounds
School: Wisconsin Badgers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 5.23 seconds
Bench press: 21 reps
Vertical jump: 28.0 inches
Broad jump: 8 feet, 9 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.88 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.81 seconds
Michael Deiter 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Wisconsin offensive lineman Michael Deiter is listed as a guard, but the Ohio native offers so much more than that. The three-year collegiate starter boasts unparalleled versatility, starting at every position along the offensive line. Deiter spent the entirety of his senior season at guard, starting all 13 games. The Wisconsin product certainly made a name for himself, as Deiter earned first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors for his fantastic work along the interior.
Deiter initially arrived at Wisconsin prior to the 2014 college football season. After redshirting through his first season, Deiter started all 13 games in 2015. He put his versatility on display early, as he played seven games as a left guard and six as a center. 2016 was more of the same, as Deiter played 10 games at center and four games at left guard. His strong play helped Wisconsin win the Big Ten West Division and earned him an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten team.
Wisconsin needed a left tackle in 2017, and Deiter rose to the occasion. Playing one position for the first time in his career, Deiter started all 14 games at left tackle. While he was technically out of position, he was still one of the best offensive linemen in the country, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors for his standout work.
Strengths
- projects as a guard but has the versatility to line up anywhere in a pinch;
- a durable player who rarely missed snaps;
- good ability to recognize stunts and blitzes;
- has some of the largest hands in his class;
- solid yet unspectacular fundamentals.
Weaknesses
- struggled to block top-level competition;
- below-average build for the position;
- needs to add strength at the next level;
- struggles to recover if the defender gets the upper hand;
- lacks quickness to mirror speed moves.
NFL Comparison: Spencer Long
Teams With A Need: Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals
Projection: Round three
Bottom Line
Deiter is one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft. Capable of lining up all over the line, Deiter recorded double-digit starts at guard, tackle, and center. Teams will love this versatility, which will help raise his draft stock. The old saying goes that the best ability is availability, and Deiter rarely misses a snap. He’s a smart player capable of recognizing and diagnosing defensive stunts and certainly should bring value to an NFL roster.
However, he’s far from a perfect prospect. Deiter didn’t match up well against the elite players in college football, which obviously doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. These struggles are primarily due to his subpar strength and build, which is something that will need to change in the NFL. He’ll never be able to overcome his below-average wingspan and arm length, but he could add strength on an NFL training program.
The best-case scenario for Deiter is to start his rookie season on the bench. He has the versatility to fill in anywhere if needed, but he’ll need a year to gain an NFL-caliber build. Once he does that, he should be able to compete for a starting guard position in 2020. He could be a decent center, but he should only play tackle in a worst-case scenario.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
