2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Geron Christian





  • Geron Christian, 6-5/298

  • Offensive Tackle

  • Louisville


  • Geron Christian Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Very good athlete
  • Fast at the point of attack
  • Bends at the knee
  • Quick feet
  • Agile pass protector
  • Ability to mirror speed rushers
  • Can function in space
  • Athletic ability for his size
  • Great fit in a zone-blocking system
  • Can hit blocks at the second level
  • Long arms – 35 inches
  • Versatile
  • Could play guard or center




  • Weaknesses:
  • Terrible technique
  • Extremely raw
  • Slow to redirect back to the inside
  • Oversets
  • Needs to get stronger


  • Summary: Christian made his way onto the field as a freshman starter and had an impressive debut for Louisville. In 2016, he had some good games protecting Lamar Jackson while having some issues in other contests. The consistency issues played out again for Christian during his junior year. He should have returned to Louisville to improve before going pro, but Christian declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.

    In the ground game, Christian is fast to the second level. He can fire out of his stance and get to defenders before they expect. He is able to beat tacklers to the spot and hit blocks in space. He is not a road-grader in the ground game who can knock defenders off the ball or rag doll them around the field. Christian needs to get stronger to pack more of a punch in the NFL.

    In pass protection, Christian illustrates that he is a very good athlete. He is fast blocker who has quick feet to get depth in his drop. He is so quick that he makes mirroring speed rushers and cutting off the edge look easy at times. Christian bends at the knee and uses his length to tie up rushers. With Christian being so fast, athletic and agile, he has a ton of talent to take on the speed rushers of the NFL.



    Christian is extremely raw and needs a lot of development for the NFL. He has terrible technique and gives up some bad pressures. He is slow to redirect back to the inside, and counter moves give him a lot of problems because he oversets far too often. While Christian needs a ton of work on his technique, his athletic ability is his redeeming trait. His athleticism is tough to find, and that makes him a worthy project with huge upside. If Christian works hard to develop his technique and improve, he has the potential to be a very good starting left tackle as a pro.

    Christian may need a year to develop for the NFL, but he could become a good starting left tackle. He also has the versatility to move inside to be a guard or center. In speaking to team sources, some have Christian graded on the second day and think he could be a third-round pick. Others think he’s a late-rounder. Given his skill set with plenty of upside and the fact that he plays a premium position, there could be enough teams that like Christian to take him in the third round. This is a weak draft at offensive tackle, too, and there are plenty of teams that need help at the position. Thus, that demand could help Christian to go higher than expected.





    Player Comparison: Duane Brown. Some sources have compared Christian to Duane Brown coming out of Virginia Tech in 2008. Brown (6-4, 305) was a converted tight end who was still learning left tackle and had rough start to his pro career before developing into a Pro Bowler and franchise left tackle. Brown and Christian are nearly identical in size with athleticism. Christian’s career could follow a similar path if he works hard and gets good coaching. Brown was a very astute first-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2008 NFL Draft. Christian will go much lower but has similar upside entering the NFL.

    NFL Matches: Jacksonville, New England, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Arizona, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Houston

    There are a lot of teams that could be a fit for Christian in the 2018 NFL Draft. He could find a home with one of the playoff teams. The Jaguars’ offensive line could still get better and more talented. Christian could compete for the Jacksonville line at right tackle to replace Jeremy Parnell. New England lost Nate Solder in free agency and could interest the team as a replacement.

    Philadelphia needs another tackle of the future to pair with Lane Johnson. Johnson could go to left tackle to replace aging veteran Jason Peters with Christian being the starting right tackle.

    Joe Thomas retired, leaving the Browns in need ofa new starter at left tackle. It could be possible that Cleveland would think of Christian with one of its second-day picks.

    Denver could use more offensive line help. The Broncos could bookend Garett Bolles with Christian on the right side.

    The Dolphins need help on the line and might not keep Ja’Wuan James for the long term. Miami could draft Christian on the second day and start him out at guard. If James isn’t in the long-term plans, then Christian could move to right tackle to form a tandem with Laremy Tunsil.

    The Cardinals’ offensive line was a mess in 2017. If Arizona takes a quarterback in the first round, Christian could make sense for the team as an offensive line upgrade on Day 2.

    Baltimore could use more competition on the inside of the line and right tackle, Christian could be a competitor for the Ravens.

    Even after trading for Cordy Glenn, Cincinnati could look to do more to improve its offensive line, so Christian could be in play as competitor for the Bengals at right tackle or guard.

    The Texans have three third-round picks and need offensive line help badly. Christian could interest new Houston general manager Brian Gaine to be a potential starting left tackle.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2018 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2018 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2018 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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