2019 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Elgton Jenkins





  • Elgton Jenkins, 6-4/314

  • Center

  • Mississippi State


  • Elgton Jenkins Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Good technique
  • Intelligent
  • Athletic
  • Blocks through the whistle
  • Tough
  • Sustains blocks
  • Can anchor against bull rushes
  • Recoverability
  • Good size
  • Versatile size
  • Could play center or guard
  • Good arm length for interior lineman – 34.25 inches
  • Big hands – 10 inches
  • Good awareness
  • Strong hands
  • Good knee bend
  • Good vision
  • Plug-and-play starting potential


  • Weaknesses:
  • Not a road-grader
  • Can get stood up when trying to fire off the ball
  • Will not blast defenders out of their gaps
  • Doesn’t block with a mean streak


  • Summary: Last fall and the year before, some NFL scouts were raving to me about the job that Dan Mullen did at Mississippi State. They said that the Bulldogs had a lot of pro talent on both sides of the ball, and they also had impressive young talent as backups who Mullen passed along to the next coaching staff. One of those prospects was Jenkins, who was one of the most steady and effective interior blockers in college football over the past few seasons.

    In the ground game, Jenkins is not a road-grader who blasts defenders off the ball and rolls them out of their gap. However, he does have very good technique to tie up defenders and sustain his blocks. Jenkins has good hands to maintain his blocks through the whistle. He often turns his defenders and ties them up to keep them from getting tackles. Against the run, Jenkins diplays impressive awareness and is very adept at hitting a block at the line and peeling to the second level to get a second block on another defender. Jenkins has good blocking technique and is well prepared for the NFL.

    Jenkins is a good interior pass protector. He does a nice job of keeping his head on swivel to be ready to pick up blitzes or games on the inside. He has a good anchor to hold up against bull rushes. With his quality feet, athleticism and length, Jenkins does a nice job of blocking speed rushers on the inside. As a pro, he should be an asset to double-team defensive tackles with a guard given his size, length, quickness, athleticism and technique. Throughout the past two seasons, Jenkins very rarely allowed a pressure on his quarterback and was a rock-solid pass protector. Jenkins also had a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

    Jenkins could play guard or center as a pro, but center would be his best position. With his experience in the SEC, Jenkins has plug-and-play starting potential for the NFL. Some team sources said they were projecting Jenkins to the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft with a grade of late in the second round to early in the third round. They thought that Jenkins stands a good chance of being a second- or third-round pick, and the team that likes him enough to draft him could snatch him up in Round 2.



    Player Comparison: Jeff Faine. Jenkins reminds me of a bigger version of Faine. Faine (6-3, 300) had a good NFL career as an athletic interior lineman who was technically sound. Faine was not a road-grader, but he was a smart interior blocker who contributed to run defense and was very good in pass protection. I could see Jenkins being a similar pro to Faine.

    NFL Matches: Arizona, Denver, Tennessee, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Philadelphia, Minnesota

    There could be a lot of teams in the market for Jenkins on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft. Arizona needs to improve its line, and Jenkins could interest the Cardinals as a potential plug-and-play blocker.

    The Broncos may not re-sign Matt Paradis, but even if they bring the veteran center back, they could use help at guard.

    The Titans badly need some upgrades at guard and center. Jenkins could be a plug-and-play upgrade for Tennessee.

    In the NFC South, the Buccaneers have a big hole at right guard. Jenkins could start out there and potentially move to center in a year or two. The Falcons have to improve their guard play, so Jenkins could be a fit for them. Meanwhile in Carolina, center Ryan Kalil finished his impressive career, plus the team could use help at left guard as well. Thus, Jenkins could be a fit for the Panthers on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft.

    Philadelphia had protection issues on the inside of the offensive line last year, so Jenkins could be of interest. He could help the Eagles at guard or center.

    Minnesota must get more offensive line talent to protect Kirk Cousins, so Jenkins could be of interest to firm up the Vikings’ blocking.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2019 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2019 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2019 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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