2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jack Conklin

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Isaiah Battle, OT, Clemson Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State Su'a Cravens, S, USC Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson Spencer Drango, G, Baylor Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Jared Goff, QB, California Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Willliam Jackson III, CB, Houston Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State Keanu Neal, S, Florida Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State Cody Whitehair, OT, Kansas State Duke Williams, WR, Auburn Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

Jack Conklin, 6-5/308 Offensive Tackle Michigan State

Jack Conklin Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Well-balanced blocker

Good technique

Balance

Hand placement

Fires to the second level

Knee bend

Functional size

Adjusts well to stunts, inside rushes

Dependable pass protector

Mobility for zone scheme

Kick slide to cut off the edge

Can anchor against bull rushes

Arm length (35 inches)

Durable

Ready to play quickly

Weaknesses:

Not overly fast or powerful

Lacks elite quickness

Lacks elite strength

Just decent feet

Summary: Over the past three seasons, Conklin was one of the most steady and effective offensive linemen in the Big Ten. He broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2013, making three starts at right tackle and 10 on the left side. As a sophomore and junior, Conklin stayed at left tackle and improved his play as he gained experience as an all-conference selections for both seasons.

Conklin was a reliable pass protector for Connor Cook on a weekly basis and also contributed to the Spartans’ balanced offense with contributions in the ground game. Conklin can struggle with unique defenders who present mismatch speed or athleticism. He had an ugly performance to close out the 2014 season as Baylor’s Shawn Oakman had his way with him. Over the past couple of seasons, Maryland’s Yannick Ngakoue had success against Conklin as well.

As a pass protector, Conklin is good at sustaining blocks once he gets his hands on defenders. Taking on defensive ends with decent but not great speed, Conklin has enough quickness and footwork to cut off the corner. He can hold up well in the bull rush unless he is going against a powerful defender; they can give him some trouble.

In the ground game, Conklin is at his best when he fires out to hit blocks on the second level. He’s very good at that and gets in position well. When it comes to just blasting defenders out of their gap, Conklin is not powerful. He got movement against the weak college opponents, but against quality opponents, he didn’t achieve much of a push.

For the NFL, team sources have said that a team could get away with Conklin at left tackle for a time, but ultimately they would want someone quicker and more athletic to block speed rushers. Multiple team sources say they think Conklin would be best as a right tackle or guard. At one of those spots, he could be part of a quality offensive line. Conklin could fit any offensive line scheme, but he would mesh best in a zone-blocking scheme to use his movement skills rather than relying on getting movement through strength.

In the 2016 NFL Draft, Conklin looks like a mid- to late first-round pick.



Player Comparison: Riley Reiff. Reiff (6-6, 319) is bigger than Conklin, but they are similar players. Both are solid blockers who are not overly strong or athletic. Like Reiff, Conklin could struggle with speed rushers. Reiff was a late first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and Conklin could go in the same range.

NFL Matches: Miami, Oakland, Detroit, Atlanta, Indianapolis, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Kansas City and Carolina

In the middle of the first round, there are a lot of options for Conklin. The Dolphins could use guard help, and Conklin could be a good fit. He also would give them some protection if Brandon Albert gets injured again.

The Raiders re-signed aging veteran Donald Penn to a 2-year contract, but they could use a long-term left tackle to protect Derek Carr.

Detroit could use a left tackle upgrade and then move Riley Reiff to the right side, but Conklin would be a duplicate of Reiff, so he may not be a real upgrade for the Lions.

Atlanta could use an improved offensive line to protect Matt Ryan, and Conklin would give the team a bookend to pair with Jake Matthews. Obviously, the Colts have to get better at protecting Andrew Luck. Conklin could be in play for them to provide a bookend with Anthony Castanzo.

The Jets scouted offensive tackles hard before the last draft. Conklin could be in play as a competitor at guard or right tackle in the short-term and eventually replace the aging D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

The Steelers lost left tackle Kelvin Beachum in free agency, so Conklin could get consideration for Pittsburgh.

Seattle lost Russell Okung to free agency, and the right side of the team’s offensive line needs help. Conklin could fill a spot for the Seahawks. Kansas City signed Mitchell Schwartz, but lost guard Jeff Allen in free agency. The Chiefs could play Conklin at guard, and if Eric Fisher continues to disappoint, Conklin would give them an option for competition at left tackle.

The Panthers’ offensive line lost them the Super Bowl. Michael Oher wasn’t signed long term, and the franchise needs a better right tackle to protect Cam Newton.

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Isaiah Battle, OT, Clemson Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State Su'a Cravens, S, USC Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson Spencer Drango, G, Baylor Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Jared Goff, QB, California Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Willliam Jackson III, CB, Houston Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State Keanu Neal, S, Florida Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State Cody Whitehair, OT, Kansas State Duke Williams, WR, Auburn Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

RELATED LINKS:


2016 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


2016 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








NFL Picks - Nov. 20


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20


NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4