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 Joe Tippmann.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joe Tippmann (OC – Wisconsin)
Joe Tippmann (OC – Wisconsin)
6’6″ – 317 lbs.
Background
High-school offensive tackle and three-star recruit who redshirted in 2019, served in a reserve capacity the following year, then took over the team’s starting center job the following year, with ten total starts in eleven appearances. Reprised that role this past season, starting all twelve of the team’s regular-season games before declaring for the draft.
Positives
Two-year starter from one of college football’s most prestigious programs when it comes to producing offensive linemen, with a primarily gap-based rushing attack that also mixes in a generous amount of zone concepts. Has excellent size for an interior lineman. Plays the game with the grit and toughness teams look for at the position. Shows impressive short-area quickness to climb to the second level and successfully engage defenders. Able to execute chip-and-climb concepts effectively. Has impressive leg drive after contact to generate push and grind down opposing defensive linemen. Attacks the outside shoulder and seals opponents away from the play direction. Impressive grip and upper-body strength allow him to generate torque and torn opponents out of the hole. Works hard to sustain through the whistle. Drops an early anchor against power in pass protection. Works hard to get out in space and secure blocks in the screen game.
Negatives
Overall pad level can be slightly high given his size; lapses into leaning on occasion, with closer to average lower-body flexibility and a relatively aggressive temperament. Hands find their way outside a little more often than you’d like, having been flagged nine times over the past two seasons, including six in 2022. Could presumably be played at guard as well, but doesn’t have any in-game experience at other positions on the offensive line, so there might be more of a learning curve at guard.
Summary
One of the biggest, strongest, toughest, and most consistent offensive line prospects in this year’s class, he can execute various different assignments in the run game and offers both the power to maul opponents in a phone booth and the quickness to work in space or at the second level. These traits should make him an early starter on the interior of a pro offensive line. Would fit best on a team that primarily used gap concepts in the running game and looks likely to come off the board some time on the second day of the draft as a potential plug-and-play option.
Projection: Round 2-3
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