Brenden Jaimes 2021 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’-5”
Weight: 298 pounds
School: Nebraska
Brenden Jaimes 2021 NFL Draft Profile
After four years of blocking at Nebraska, offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes is hoping to take his game to the next level via the 2021 NFL Draft. The Senior is coming off of another fantastic campaign, seeing the field for 473 snaps without allowing a single sack or hit, and just four hurries.
Jaimes originally joined the college football ranks as a three-star recruit. Despite the relatively low ranking, Jaimes still received a full ride from Nebraska. Taking a risk on Jaimes clearly worked out, as the offensive tackle quickly made his way to the field. After starting his freshman season on the bench, Jaimes took over at right tackle for the final nine games of the season.
Jaimes earned a starting job in 2018, but moved to the left side of the line. He immediately proved he was ready for this uptick in responsibility, as he played 849 snaps while allowing just four sacks, four hits, and 11 hurries. He was even better in 2019, playing 842 snaps while allowing two sacks, no hits, and seven hurries.
Strengths
- Knows what he’s doing as a pass blocker;
- Strong hands and knows precisely when to engage with defenders;
- Quick feet that should allow him to stick at tackle in the NFL;
- Won Team MVP honors in 2019;
- Experienced at both right and left tackle;
- Stayed healthy throughout his collegiate tenure.
Weaknesses
- Has a long way to go as a run blocker;
- Below-average strength and can be beat by a good bull rush;
- Reportedly had a terrible week of practices at the Senior Bowl;
- Slightly undersized and might have to switch to guard;
- Short arms are going to be a problem at the NFL level;
- Can sometimes lose his form when blocking on the move.
NFL Comparison: Lesser Rodger Saffold
Teams With Need At Position: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team
Projection: 4th/5th Round
Bottom Line on Brenden Jaimes
Brenden Jaimes has the potential to be a good swing tackle and emergency backup, but probably nothing more than that. Passing is far more important than running in today’s NFL, so it’s a good thing that Jaimes is at his best in the passing game. The Nebraska product is a solid pass blocker with the quick feet required to mirror speedy edge rushers. He’s fundamentally sound in this part of his game, and he already knows how to play the position on both sides of the line.
However, there are a few clear flaws in his game preventing him from even being a Day 2 pick. Jaimes has a long way to go in the run game, as he simply lacks the strength to push defenders around and clear open lanes. Additionally, he loses some of his fundamentals when on the move, meaning that you don’t want to use him as a pull blocker. On top of that, his lack of size means that there is a real chance he’ll have to play guard at the next level, which isn’t nearly as valuable as tackle. Ultimately, he’s a good emergency option, but he should never be Plan A at the position.
Main photo:
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