Jalen Mayfield NFL Draft Profile Overview
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 319 pounds
School: University of Michigan
Jalen Mayfield 2021 NFL Draft Profile
If you’re looking for personification of the word consistent, University of Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield fits the bill. After filling in as a backup for the Wolverines his freshman year, Mayfield continued to develop into a solid cornerstone for the Michigan offensive line. After showing an impressive improvement in his play between his freshman and sophomore years, Mayfield and the Michigan offensive line would get some of their greatest tests early on in the season. At that point, Chase Young, now a member of the Washington Football Team, was still wrecking offensive lines left and right at Ohio State. When the two squads faced off, Mayfield often matched up against Young. For the most part, Mayfield dominated the explosive pass rusher at the point of contact. After his impressive breakout performance, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh stressed to the media that Mayfield had the chance to become even better in 2020.
Unfortunately for Mayfield, he never really had that opportunity. Hampered by injuries and a short season, Mayfield was unable to show scouts his improvement from his sophomore season. Despite the setback, Mayfield seems destined to be an early-round pick in this year’s draft. With his impressive skill set and flashy athleticism, Jalen Mayfield seems like a potential day one starter in the NFL. Teams looking for offensive linemen late in the first round or early in the second should not overlook a player like Jalen Mayfield.
Strengths
- Exhibits excellent footwork
- Has the ability to play both offensive tackle positions
- Excels in pass blocking
- Impressive strength, allowing him to match opposing defensive lineman’s moves
- Has impressive lateral quickness for an offensive tackle
- Has strong hands and is very physical at the point of attack
Weaknesses
- Has potential to give up ground against a bull-rush
- Doesn’t possess incredible speed
- Could struggle against NFL pass rushers
- Struggles with some aspects of run blocking
- Has a tendency to lunge at defenders, allowing him to get overpowered by more powerful defensive players
NFL Comparison: Trent Williams
Teams With Need At The Position: Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Projection: Late First-Round
Bottom Line on Jalen Mayfield
For any teams looking for a quality starting offensive tackle in this year’s draft, Jalen Mayfield should be looked at as a viable option. His strong hands and impressive physicality make him one of best offensive line prospects in this year’s draft. Any team looking for offensive line help late in the first round should do heavy research on the Michigan product. Although he struggled to get on the field this season, Mayfield’s impressive skill set should transition over into the NFL. If placed into the right system, Mayfield should develop quite nicely. If Mayfield can improve on his run blocking and his tendency to lunge at defenders, there’s no reason why he can’t become a cornerstone for an offensive line in the NFL.
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