2019 NFL Draft prospect profile: Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State

The 2019 NFL Draft doesn’t have many elite prospects on the offensive line. There aren’t any “blue chip” players who are destined to be top-10 picks. There are, however, plenty of talented players on the outside and interior along the offensive line in this draft.

The New York Giants have to continue to build their offensive line, and could find themselves needing help at center, right guard, and right tackle before the start of the 2019 season. The Giants fielded a pair of starting centers last year in Jon Halapio and Spencer Pulley. Halapio had only just transitioned to the position and Pulley was not impressive coming over from the Los Angeles Chargers. If the Giants want to upgrade the middle of their offense, they could look to North Carolina State’s Garrett Bradbury, who stands as one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the upcoming draft.

Measurables

Pros

• Very athletic blocker. Effortless mover and very quick.
• Plays with great technique. Generally displays a solid base, hand usage, and footwork.
• Smart player. Consistently picks up stunts, twists, and late blitzers in pass protection.
• Plays well on double teams and working to the second level.
• Creates running lanes on zone blocking runs.
• Plays with a nasty streak and consistently looks to finish with the defender on the ground.

Cons

• Might be too small for some teams and some blocking schemes.
• Occasionally lets his base narrow.
• Can be vulnerable to high-end power in one-on-one situations.

Prospect Video

What They’re Saying

“Dude’s tape at NC State is clinic-worthy in terms of angles, lateral mobility, and hand placement as a run-blocker. Teams looking for a potentially elite zone center will likely invest in Bradbury, but have to ensure he can hold up in pass protection when he’s attacked early with power.”

- Benjamin Solak (The Draft Network - Senior Bowl interior offensive line preview )

Does He Fit The Giants?

Bradbury might be the best center in the draft, but it is up in the air whether or not he is a fit with the Giants’ offensive line.

The first question is whether or not the Giants are satisfied with Jon Halapio or Spencer Pulley. Neither one particularly distinguished themselves over the course of the season. Bradbury is likely an upgrade in terms of technique over either of the Giants’ starting centers from a year ago. However, he is a smaller center, and the Giants moved on from Brett Jones to Halapio because of the former’s size. Put simply, Dave Gettleman wants big linemen, and Bradbury might not rate highly on their board because of that.

Bradbury is a capable pass protector, who works very well in double-teams. He makes a habit of staying shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip with his linemate and moving defenders. By the same token, he is good at working off of his double-teams to either pick up late rushers or working to the second level to block linebackers or defensive backs.

In the running game, he is likely best cast in a zone blocking scheme, using his athleticism and technique to create openings with the defense moving horizontally. His size does show up on those occasions when his base narrows, and in those cases he can struggle with power.

Overall, Bradbury has all the tools the Giants could want, if they want a player with his tools.