2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matthew Bergeron (OT – Syracuse)

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 Matthew Bergeron.

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matthew Bergeron (OT – Syracuse)

Matthew Bergeron (OT – Syracuse)

6’5″ – 322 lbs.

Background:

Took over the starting right tackle job in week nine of his freshman season, totaling five games there, then became a full-time starter the following year, with the first three games at right tackle before flipping to the left side, where he stayed for the last two seasons. Finished with thirty-nine starts, thirty-one of which came at left tackle. Allowed thirteen career sacks, five of which came last year.

Positives:

Started the last thirty-nine games with experience on both sides of the line. A thickly-built offensive lineman who looks the part. Plays the game with the physicality and toughness teams look for in offensive linemen; capitalizes on opportunities to finish opponents. Fires out low and with some explosiveness and can overwhelm opposing defenders at the point of attack. Able to attack the outside shoulder and collapse run fits. Keeps his feet going after contact and works through the whistle. Grip strength to sustain is very good. Works hard to pull/climb and engage opponents; has the straight-line speed to engage at the second level. Shows a good understanding of positioning to wall off opponents. There’s enough power in his hands to jolt opponents with his punch and knock them off-balance with his shove. Has an excellent anchor to absorb power and can win even if everything doesn’t go perfectly with his form. Sheer mass helps mask some of his athletic deficiencies when defending against speed on the edge. Does a pretty good job of staying within his frame.

Negatives:

Could be viewed as a guard conversion candidate depending on his measurements, and has only four snaps of experience inside; height is on the borderline of what teams look for, and doesn’t appear to have the most length. Effectiveness as a pull-blocker is more effort-based than athleticism-based. Has a stilted kickslide with a hunched back, narrow base, and below-average lateral quickness; looks lumbering when trying to get depth and protect the edge against speed. Was penalty-prone prior to this past season, with twenty-two penalties in twenty-eight starts going into this year (but committed just three as a senior); hands find their way outside too often.

Summary:

A throwback-type blocker with the power, physicality, and nastiness teams look for, traits that allow him to maul defenders in a phone booth on rushing downs and stonewall power rushers on passing downs. However, may be looking at a move inside, as he doesn’t look the most natural in pass protection, and his physical/athletic profile more closely matches that of a guard. Has starting-caliber traits on the inside in an inline/power scheme and wants to establish a smashmouth identity on offense.

Projection: Round 2-3