College Pro Day Tracker

[CJD]

(03-15-2021, 09:49 AM)Whatever Wrote: How often do you see a QB sustain an injury like Burrow's because of a hit coming off RT?  In Burrow's case, as well as similar injuries sustained by Palmer and Brady, it's guys coming up the middle and diving low at the QB's plant leg.  

But that's the beauty of a prospect like Slater. He can play all 5 positions. Now, obviously, talking about who you're going to draft is kind of irrelevant until you get through the major portion of free agency, but let's say we don't sign a good left guard (which was the position that caused Joe's injury). You can draft Slater and put him at LG and then, in a year or two, you can move him out to RT when you sign a proper guard in free agency.

Or you can keep him at guard. I know guards are generally undervalued in the draft but, while I think Slater is a great prospect at tackle, I think he's an elite prospect at guard, since his size is no longer a disadvantage at all. He has all the athleticism and technique to be a pro bowl guard very early in his career, and then he has the potential to be a great tackle if he "overcomes his size issues."

If we sign a guard in free agency, but not a tackle, then obviously Slater can slot in there as well. Or if your free agent guard gets injured, he can move over from RT and you can put Fred Johnson in at RT. Wherever you have a weakness, Slater can fill that weakness. His versatility is just another asset he brings to the team.

Slater is an especially attractive option given the guard market is quickly drying up with Zeitler and Norwell no longer available.