As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Blake Freeland.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Blake Freeland (OT – Brigham Young University)
6’8″ – 305 lbs.
Background:
Three-star recruit who comes from a family of athletes; parents James and Debbie played linebacker and basketball for the Cougars, respectively; sister is on the track team. Started seven games at right tackle from week eight (Boise St.) onwards in 2019, then eight of eleven games in 2020. Flipped to left tackle in 2021 and has been starting ever since, totaling 26 games. Has allowed just two career sacks.
Positives:
Highly efficient four-year starter who’s improved every season and has over forty games of experience between both tackle spots. Has excellent size and length for a pro tackle. Pretty good athlete with impressive flexibility and enough short-area quickness to block on the move in zone concepts and climb to the second level. Can pull to the right side of the formation and secure blocks in the hole. Functional strength looks good. Shows good leg drive after engaging to generate push in the run game; has the aggressiveness to finish when given the opportunity. Able to attack the outside shoulder of a defender and collapse run fits. Grip strength looks like it’s above average; works hard to sustain through the whistle. A smart player whose understanding of positioning and pre-snap awareness in pass protection looks good. Pass sets have a relatively wide base with adequate knee-bend. Has pretty good lateral quickness to protect the edge against speed. Proactive with his punch in pass protection and gets consistent extension overall. Drops an early anchor and is difficult to walk back with power.
Negatives:
Doesn’t necessarily play with the polished technique you’d expect given his level of experience, and some of the issues that often crop up with extra-tall tackles are evident in his game. Has some tendency to lower his head into contact and let defenders cross his face. Balance is closer to average; can be a little bit of a waist-bender and will lapse into leaning and fall off of more blocks than you’d like. Some plays where his base is narrower than you’d like. Pass sets often look hunched.
Summary:
A very tall, long left tackle with the quickness to protect the edge against speed in the passing game and to execute a variety of blocks in the run game, a rare set of traits that should attract the interest of teams looking for a blindside protector and confident that they can iron out some of the kinks in his game. Reminiscent of other big, athletic tackles from years past, such as Nate Solder.
Projection: Round 2-3
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