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The Super Bowl has come and gone. Draft season is upon us. Free agency is still weeks away, which changes the landscape of mock drafts far and wide. Before we get into mock drafts, “needs” and other pre-draft favorites, I’m attempting to simply examine a prospect a day leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, with some purple shades on and my eye on fits for the Baltimore Ravens.
It’s easy to cherry pick highlights and make every player look like a superstar, however I will do my best to present clips that are recurring themes throughout a player’s tape.
First up . . .
Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
Mayfield was a high-end, four-star recruit coming out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was the 16th-rated offensive tackle in the nation by 247 Sports and fourth highest rated recruit in Michigan. He played in three games as a freshman, then started 13 games as a sophomore and two games as a junior after initially opting out of the 2020 season.
Mayfield will be 21 in May and only has 15 starts to his name, but his growth has been healthy and wealthy as he looked dominant in his two starts this past season.
Games watched: Bama ‘19, Wisconsin ‘19, Minnesota ‘20, Michigan St. ‘20
Run game:
Mayfield is a certified road grader who removes defenders from the frame in every game. Ample core strength and powerful drive from his legs is evident. When he worked downhill in Michigan’s pro-style run game, it was a sight to behold. Mayfield continuously torques and turns 5-techniques lined up outside shade with precise inside hand placement and core strength.
Against over fronts Mayfield clears the B-gap creating roomy rushing lanes. Against under fronts he crashes and drives 3-techniques inside all the same. While Mayfield primarily aligned at right tackle, he played two games on the left side, showing the same bull dozing drive off the ball. Effort is never an issue for the former Wolverine. Can pull front and lead blocks with enough agility in space to hunt down and neutralize defensive backs.
Mayfield consistently washes linebackers out of the equation. Overall dominant run blocker.
Love the ‘off the screen’ blocks from OL
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 28, 2021
Buh-bye ✌ pic.twitter.com/sB5Tgi8ROf
Jalen Mayfield (RT 73) again showing his awesome core strength. Defender gets into his chest and he judo tosses him. Incredible play strength... pic.twitter.com/JHgOkMbOZo
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 8, 2021
Jalen Mayfield (73) cleared nearly the entire Minnesota DL. Chuck Filiaga (66) helps seal. pic.twitter.com/7g456qJ2ur
— Christian Page (@_ChristianPage) October 25, 2020
Watch Jalen Mayfield knock his man 10 yards downfield and you will feel sooooooo much better. pic.twitter.com/LaQfl4jcEt
— Blueblitz (@MedicareAdvice1) September 11, 2018
Nothing better in football than an offensive lineman finding work when he has no one to block. #Michigan RT Jalen Mayfield makes sure this Michigan State pass rusher gets no where near his QB. pic.twitter.com/nFpywNN47S
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) February 10, 2021
#Michigan continues to churn out NFL offensive linemen and OT Jalen Mayfield is next in line.
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) October 23, 2020
He can struggle at times with speed off the edge, but Mayfield has the length and strength to neutralize power and control the point of attack, as well as the run blocking prowess. pic.twitter.com/6YETQIqVUa
Pass game:
While his feet and shoulders usually are in the right place, Mayfield’s hands are still a work in progress. He’s a player who needs to work on hand placement, timing and resets, the athletic tackle has room to grow in pass pro. It’s not that he’s consistently beaten, rather that he could stall rushes out much quicker with use of snatches if he loses his chest to opposing rushers. His feet can be a bit too busy at times, which gets him beat during the middle game of pass rushes. Patient but passive, while you’d like to see him use the physicality he brings in the run game more often early in reps. If he can master in shooting his hands more aggressively and clamping down, watch out.
It appears Mayfield hasn’t mastered using his length to strike first and clamp down. There are examples of nice resets, particularly when speed rushes initially win. His smooth movement skill shows up in blitz recognition, where he processes well and keeps his head on a swivel. He passes off stunts and delayed blitzes well despite not having a ton of game experience. Constantly looks for work to help out wherever he can if he’s free and always finishes through the whistle. Looks like a fullback in space on screens at time and is a reliable screen blocker.
Jalen Mayfield (73) gets swiped but shoots his outside hand a second time and stuns his man. Feet and shoulders always in the right place. pic.twitter.com/AKVqn2GQNf
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Mayfield initially thwarts Anfernee Jennings inside rush, but can’t find hand placement and can’t anchor. Jennings eventually comes free pic.twitter.com/wSUYeCuqgv
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Great blitz recognition and quicks. Picks up the crossing LB with ease. Natural mover!!! pic.twitter.com/l1bg4mVLWg
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Mayfield finds WORK! pic.twitter.com/8OXbvj3YVZ
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Baun gets Mayfield with a long arm and drives him a bit. Would’ve been a nice time for a snatch.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Still needs to work on hands, flashing hands early and breaking contact when he initially loses leverage. pic.twitter.com/Ru9mcPYqYS
Can be a bit too passive at times. Flash hands or shoot hands! Baun gets him with the spin cycle. pic.twitter.com/Fb3Q8B3474
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) February 12, 2021
Summary: Mayfield is an exciting prospect because he’s already shown special qualities, but there’s clear room for him to grow. Despite a small sample size, he was considerably more confident and polished in 2020 than 2019. He held up well against the likes of Alabama and Wisconsin, who featured several future NFL players in their fronts. With more work on strike timing and activating his length, as well as more practice anchoring and recovering, Mayfield should be an early starter who grows leaps and bounds over his first two seasons — ultimately turning into a quality long-term starter with high upside.
One sentence: “Ferocious and physical run blocker with endless upside in pass pro.”
Grade: Round 1
Scheme fit: Universal — can play both gap and zone.