Jalen Rivers NFL Draft Overview
Position: Offensive tackle/guard
Height: 6′-6″
Weight: 319 pounds
School: Miami
Jalen Rivers, Miami, 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
After spending his collegiate years with Miami, offensive lineman Jalen Rivers has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. While injuries limited the redshirt Junior to eight games, Rivers still performed well when on the field. Splitting time between left tackle and left guard, the offensive lineman played in 583 offensive snaps and allowed just one sack, one quarterback hit, and one hurry. He earned Honorable Mentions for the All-ACC team and probably would have had a spot on the squad if it weren’t for his midseason injury.
Strengths
- Versatile – played well at tackle and guard and could fill in at either position at a moment’s notice;
- Fundamentally sound player who doesn’t draw penalties and makes the most of his physical gifts;
- Ideal hand work in pass protection – not much left to teach him;
- Long arms, wingspan give him a chance to stick at tackle in the NFL;
- Can hold his own against bull rushes with a strong anchor;
- Aggressive in the run game, pushes defenders back with strong base.
Weaknesses
- Not very athletic – might not pan out at tackle;
- Stiff out of his set with slow feet – will struggle to contain speed rushers;
- Few “dominant” wins on tape – if he can’t overpower college talent, can he beat NFL talent?;
- Can be beat by twists in pass protection;
- Misses time with injuries in three collegiate seasons;
NFL Comparison: Cameron Fleming
Teams With Need At Position: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins
Projection: Rounds 4-5
Bottom Line on Jalen Rivers
Jalen Rivers enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a low-risk, low-reward player who won’t singlehandedly win any games, but is the type of guy you love to have on your roster. Rivers clearly takes to coaching well, as his strong fundamentals suggest he won’t need much time to adjust to life in the NFL. Additionally, his versatility is a major plus, as he already proved he can play tackle and guard at adequate levels. While he lacks an elite ceiling, these skills should be enough for him to be a fixture around the league, either as a high-end backup or a low-end starter.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to envision Rivers ever becoming anything more than just a ‘fine’ player. While he does the little things right, he lacks the physical gifts to become a special player. He deserves the opportunity to prove himself at tackle, but nobody should be surprised if that doesn’t work out. He’s strong enough to counter bull rushes, but he’s too stiff and slow-footed to match speedier edge defenders. This will be a serious issue at the next level and will probably force him to transition to guard, where foot speed isn’t quite as important. He can become a starting-caliber guard with some work, but he’ll never be one of the best players at his position.
Even if he never becomes anything more than a backup, his ability to play guard and tackle make him a worthwhile add early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
