Nick Saldiveri NFL Draft Overview
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6′-6″
Weight: 316 pounds
School: Old Dominion
2023 NFL Draft: Nick Saldiveri Scouting Report
Nick Saldiveri began his college career with the Monarchs of Old Dominion University (ODU) as a redshirt in 2018, appearing in three games. In 2019, Saldiveri started 11/12 games at right tackle. After a cancelled 2020, Saldiveri picked up where he left off in 2021, starting all 13 games for ODU at right tackle, and also saw action at the right guard position, while earning All Confernce USA Third Team honors. In his final season in Virginia Beach, Saldveri played in all 11 games for the Monarchs, starting 10 games at right tackle and one game at right guard while earning Second Team All-Sun Belt, honors.
Strengths
- Squares up in front of edge rushers;
- Gets to second-level defenders with ease and blocks them, effectively;
- Gets out in front, and is effective, especially on screen plays;
- Quick footwork to ward off bull-rushers;
- Assesses the situation of play as it progresses and adjusts, accordingly.
Weaknesses
- Difficulty keeping hands on and inside of defender’s numbers;
- Does not play to the whistle, often;
- Tends to be too narrow, thus not making as many gaps obstructed as possible;
- Difficulty driving opponent backward;
- Lacks quick hands; hinders overall hand-fighting ability.
NFL Comparison: Potential to be a better version of Bernhard Raimann
Teams With Need At Position: Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders
Projection: Rounds 4-5
Bottom Line on Nick Saldiveri
Nick Saldiveri exhibits many of the traits and qualities necessary for success as an NFL lineman. He squares up his opponent which hinders the defender’s ability to get through or around him, quickly and efficiently. Saldiveri is a prospect that teams who want to have a strong running game should be extremely interested in. He gets to the second level with ease and is an effective blocker. Saldiveri has a high football IQ and can assess the situation he finds himself in during play and modifies his approach/strategy as necessary (On the fly). Of all of his weaknesses, the one that will be most difficult to correct (but is correctable), is driving his opponent backwards. If Saldiveri is going to improve this aspect of his game, he will likely be spending a lot of time in the weight room to strengthen his lower body and core, muscles. He also needs to be more aggressive and persistent, playing until the whistle blows and pursuing a defender even after he has been beat, initially. Some teams may be leery that Saldiveri is coming from a smaller school that is not part of a power five conference, however his size alone and his ability to get out in front of the running back on run plays or screen passes, is enough incentive for a team to take a chance on him in rounds four to five.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
