Alex Forsyth NFL Draft Overview
Position: Center
Height: 6′-4″
Weight: 303 pounds
School: Oregon
2023 NFL Draft: Alex Forsyth Scouting Report
In his first season in Eugene in 2017, Alex Forsyth did not see any game action and chose to redshirt. In his second season with the Ducks in 2018, Forsyth played in five games at both guard positions as well as at right tackle. Forsyth repeated those same statics during the following 2019. In the Covid-19 shortened season of 2020, in which the Ducks played a total of seven games, Forsyth started every game at center. Forsyth played in 10 of the Ducks 14 games in 2021, starting nine of those 10 at center. In his final season in the Beaver State, in 2022, Forsyth started 13 of 14 games at center for the green and yellow.
Strengths
- Utilizes opponents’ momentum against them;
- Effective pass blocker with a stunning, consistent, punch;
- Hits his block during the run with power and pop;
- High football IQ;
- Continues moving his feet, and driving his opponent back/away from the ball carrier during running plays.
Weaknesses
- First step off of snap to A gap is slow; often leads to him getting beat by opponent;
- Needs to strengthen core muscles in order to be competitive at the NFL level;
- Has difficulty getting out to blocks on the edge;
- Needs to work on his initial punch and reset to gain leverage, on running plays;
- May play too amped up; was penalized for frequent false starts, before the snap.
NFL Comparison: Coleman Shelton, 2.0
Teams With Need At Position: Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: Round 7-UDFA
Bottom Line on Alex Forsyth
Alex Forsyth is on the border of being a final-round pick or one of the players a team will immediately sign upon the completion of the NFL Draft. Teams will think twice about using a pick on him, due in large part to the questions about his core strength readiness for the NFL. Teams may also be turned off by his penchant for committing pre-snap penalties. He will also need to refine his footwork as it pertains to getting to the edge to block and duration from the snap to his first step, to the A gap.
Forsyth must also work on his punch and reset, primarily on running plays. One of the things that may come into question in determining if he is drafted or signs as an undrafted free agent is Forsyth’s age. While 24 is not old, he is also not the youngest prospect that would be available, even when factoring in the extra year for the 2020 Covid-19 season. Though it should not be an issue, as linemen have had longer careers (Like Jackie Slater, who played 20) in the NFL, some teams can be petty and will use this as a reason to not use a pick on Forsyth, and instead wait to try to sign him once the draft is over.
With all of that said, teams may use a seventh-round pick on him because of his football IQ, including his ability to use his opponents’ momentum against them. Teams will also be captivated by his physical pass-blocking ability, and his ability to drive his opponent back or away from the ball carrier during the run.
Main Photo: Chris Pietsch – USA Today Sports
