On paper, the Green Bay Packers are established at guard. Very last year’s returning starters, Professional Bowler Elgton Jenkins and Lucas Patrick, are underneath deal. Plus, the group utilized sixth-round alternatives on Jon Runyan and Simon Stepaniak previous yr. Even so, if Jenkins or Patrick wind up transferring to middle, there will be a gap in the lineup, though Runyan confirmed promise in confined motion as a rookie.
Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood is our No. 4-ranked guard.
Alex Leatherwood’s resume is stuffed with accolades.
In 2020, he received the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top rated lineman, was a unanimous initially-workforce All-American and gained the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s major offensive lineman. He received two countrywide championships at Alabama and was a higher faculty All-American.
The defining second on his route to the draft came as a correct freshman in 2017. Caught powering beginning still left tackle Jonah Williams, Leatherwood hardly performed other than some garbage-time reps. Then, in the 3rd quarter of the nationwide championship activity, Williams was hurt and Leatherwood experienced to come off the bench.
“I was like, ‘Oh, shoot, it is time. I’ve obtained to place up or shut up,’” he recalled to BamaOnline.
Alabama trailed 13- at halftime, 20-10 getting into the fourth quarter and 23-20 following the opening possession of additional time. On second-and-26, Tua Tagovailoa connected with DeVonta Smith for a 41-property, sport-winning touchdown. Leatherwood’s best security helped make it occur.
“Everybody was viewing,” Leatherwood reported. “Just 10 million eyes viewing me when the legitimate freshman was in and the All-American was harm. I feel like it shaped my career.”
Too very good to maintain off the field, Leatherwood moved to appropriate guard and started all 15 video games in 2018. With Williams off to the NFL, Leatherwood moved back to still left tackle for his last two seasons. He was 1st-group all-SEC in both of those strategies.
With dimension, duration and athleticism, Leatherwood has the products to stay at deal with in the NFL. Nevertheless, in a guard class small on the variety of athletes wanted for zone-plan groups, Leatherwood might be highly coveted.
Using the politically right route, Leatherwood claimed he had no desire on his posture.
“I will normally come to feel like I’m a still left tackle but, with my talent-established, my measurement, my strength and my size, I feel like I can play anything at all along the offensive line,” he explained in advance of his professional working day. “We operate a very professional-style method, so I’m used to all schemes. I can do it all mainly because I have played through it all. I’ve accomplished zone techniques, hole techniques, all of it. I’m crafted to do anything.”
Amid the offensive tackles Leatherwood likes to analyze is Green Bay’s All-Pro, David Bakhtiari.
“I just adore the recreation of football and I adore enjoying on the offensive line,” he stated ahead of his pro working day. “It’s just one of the most cerebral and technical positions on the field. That chase of perfection, and currently being wonderful at it, is fun for me. I’m a diehard competitor at heart. I like heading versus great dudes. I like giving it my all heading in opposition to the guy throughout from him.”
Leatherwood’s legacy goes beyond his pancaking of opponents. He wrote the script for the football team’s movie on racial injustice.
“In the game, we are a single staff, a single heartbeat, one mission, still we are diverse,” the team captain wrote. “We don’t usually concur, but we find out so much from each individual other and we are so much superior together. … Let us pay attention, let’s unite, simply because all lives cannot subject till Black life matter.”
Measureables: 6-foot-4 3/4, 312 lbs ., 33 7/8-inch arms. 4.99 40, 4.65 shuttle, DNP bench-push reps.
Stats and accolades: According to Pro Football Focus, Leatherwood authorized three sacks and 16 total pressures in 2020, a bump up from his zero sacks and 10 pressures in 2019. At guard in 2018, his very first time as a starter, he gave up two sacks and 21 pressures. Sporting activities Information Methods charged him with 5 sacks, 20 blown blocks (six runs, 14 passes) and three retains in 2020.
NFL Draft Bible states: Leatherwood utilizes his arm length to keep defenders at bay in go protection and has the needed power to drive opponents as a operate blocker. He owns a terrific blend of measurement, athleticism and electrical power. He’ll want to refine his approach, as he tends to get overextended and caught out of situation at times, affecting his equilibrium. Would like to see him be additional aggressive in the 2nd amount seeking out get in touch with. His operate at left deal with place for the Crimson Tide will be quite interesting, but his performance is however a prolonged way from becoming technically sound adequate to very last on the blind aspect. Leatherwood’s encounter inside of at guard is a significant in addition for his draft projection and some groups could choose him alongside the interior. Coaches praise his coachability and football IQ.