Staley is a very athletic football player with a very long frame and a massive wingspan. He’s built more like a TE than an OT. He uses that supreme athleticism to seal off the edge, even against the quickest edge rushers. He’s a very smart player and looks to have a ton of upside. Staley appears to be a real workout warrior, so his stopwatch work should really wow scouts.
NEGATIVES
He has a slight build for a tackle, so he doesn't have much in the way of power. When you are as tall as Staley is, you have to play with great leverage, especially if you can't overpower a defender, and he's not shown that he can do that on a consistent basis. He doesn't play angry, which for me is a must for any LT. His lack of bulk and strength limits him in run blocking, where he tends to get overpowered.
FINAL WORD
Staley is the hot name among offensive tackles this year. It's reported he's going to run a 4.7 forty time – that's truly impressive for a 300-pound man. Problem is, at 6’ 5”, he'd be a better player at 315 or 320 lbs. Hopefully, once he reports to an NFL training camp, he's going to have time to get bigger and stronger without sacrificing too much of that athleticism that sets him apart from other players. Where you really see this athleticism on the field is when he's downfield, engaging linebackers and safeties. He's agile and quick, so once he's locked on, he's got 'em. His meaureables will get him an early day one selection, but he's got work to do before he's going to be ready to contribute.
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