Let's add another offensive lineman to our NFL Draft Prospect Profile list today. Brandon Brooks from Miami (Ohio) is a massive (6-foot-5, 346-pound) guard projected as a third- or fourth-round pick. In a recent mock draft, Walter Football projected Brooks to the Giants in the third round, 95th overall.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has Brooks as the fourth-best guard in this year's draft class. He writes:
"Is a big, strong kid who has some lateral quickness for his size but needs some technique work. Nevertheless, has some upside and can win consistently in the run game and pass game and looks like an NFL starter in an angle scheme to me."
CBS Sports writes:
"Brooks was a four-year starter in college and went from a 290-pound freshman to 353-pounds as a senior, possessing the girth and overall framework that NFL teams seek in an offensive line prospect. He lacks the range and overall movement skills to be anything more than a short-area blocker and his on-field temperament leaves a lot to be desired. Brooks has the size and strength, but is still rough around the edges and is not yet a finished product ? a developmental guard prospect with definite pro upside who will need a strong positional coach in the NFL, but should fit somewhere in the top 125 picks."
Here is part of Sideline Scouting's report on Brooks:
"He has excellent size for the guard position in the NFL... Is an extremely powerful player with a massive upper body and strong, powerful legs ... Consistently shows the ability to drive the pile in short yardage situations ... Consistently wins the one-on-one battles as he literally swallows defenders in pass protection... Is a finisher ... Not very quick firing off the line of scrimmage ... Below average athletic ability due to his size ... May have difficulty getting down field on pulls and screen plays at the next level as he didn't have much experience doing it in college ... Does a good job finding blocks in traffic at the next level but sometimes struggles to get there in time ... With some improvement in his footwork and agility, Brooks has the potential to be an above average starter at guard in a few years."
Brandon Brooks Profile
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 346
School: Miami (Ohio)