Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Sep 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies tackle Germain Ifedi (74) in action against the Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

No team can put a price on good protection, so they are always on the lookout for blockers who can provide it.  Is Germain Ifedi in that category?  Here is his 2016 NFL draft scouting report.

Position: OT

School: Texas A&M

Year: Junior

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 330 lbs

History:

Another in a long line of physically gifted tackles the Aggies have been able to corral under head coach Kevin Sumlin.  Just 21-years old, he’s a native of Houston where he showcased his athletic prowess in high school during football, track and basketball.

He’s missed only two games in his college career since becoming a starter and been a cog in the line that has helped A&M field top passing offenses every year.  He’s also a member of the prestigious Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

STRENGTHS:

• Has the ideal size and the long arms built for the tackle position.
• Plenty athletic. Has no trouble moving around despite his considerable girth.
• Brings experience playing on both the left and right sides.
• Great at getting his body turned to the quarterback and driving defenders away from the play, either in run or pass situations.

Look here how Ifedi showcases everything. He uses his natural athleticism and good footwork to jump inside and then his big body and long arms to steer the defensive end away from the play. The running back cuts back in that direction and finds a wide open lane for a huge first down run.

• Good lower leg drive, allows him to drive defenders off the ball and create running space.
• Does the proper job of not giving up on plays. Blocks all the way through the whistle.

WEAKNESSES:

• Gets wild with his technique at times. Hands get grabby and his footwork gets choppy and erratic. Needs to learn better control.
• Can get caught lowering his head and lunging at times, allowing defenders to sidestep him and make the play.

Note here how the defensive end goes wide. Rather than adjusting to that with his vision and technique, Ifedi tries to just lunge forward and get a piece of him. It doesn’t work and the defender sweeps around and gets in on the tackle, limiting the play to short yardage. If he’d stayed balanced, he could’ve blocked the end the entire sequence, giving the running back a chance to break just one tackle instead of two.

• Needs to do a better job getting to the second level and finishing. Seems unable to find somebody to block once past the line of scrimmage.
• Always seems to anticipate outside rush. Can be vulnerable to inside stunts.

Pro Comparison: Marcus Gilbert

The size, long arms, good strength and steady dependability in pass protection all check out. Marcus Gilbert isn’t a household name around the NFL but the right tackle has been a critical piece to an excellent Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Ifedi emulates that same style. Maybe not overwhelming but plenty good enough to hang with almost anybody he lines up across from.

Projection: 1st to 3rd rounds

Based on physical talent, Germain Ifedi is good enough to go in the top 32 picks. However, there are enough flaws in his game that could be enough to drop him somewhere in the 2nd to early 3rd round range. Everything depends on team needs and how he performs at the scouting combine and pro days to come.