Royce Newman NFL Draft 2021: Scouting Report for Green Bay Packers OL

HEIGHT: 6'5 1/4"

WEIGHT: 310

POSITIVES

—Very good athletic ability and quickness with outstanding snap anticipation to fire out of his stance

—Routinely covers up and cuts off 3-techniques from the backside of zone runs

—Can track, fit and latch on to linebackers at the second level off combo blocks

—Very good initial hand placement to create leverage on angle-drive, down and reach blocks

—Significantly improved at RT as the season went on after a rough game in Week 1 against Florida (first start at the position), gradually settled down and became more comfortable with his footwork in pass protection

—Started to incorporate a 'flash' technique vs. Auburn that really helped his patience on an island while bringing much-needed diversity to his use of hands as a pass protector

—Positional versatility with the proven capability of playing both guard spots

NEGATIVES

—Overreliance on a two-hand strike in pass protection, leaving him little margin for error if his timing or placement isn't perfect

—Has a tendency to let his pads rise on contact, sapping his weight distribution, leverage and balance, leaving him susceptible to push-pulls

—Middling ability to anchor and absorb contact, is vulnerable to rushers with length and power

—Doesn't reset and releverage his hands quickly enough when his initial fit is disrupted, vulnerable to defenders using a forklift technique to unlock his wrists

2020 STATISTICS

—Started all 10 games as a redshirt senior right tackle

—Highest-graded run-blocker on the team, per the coaching staff

NOTES

—Started all 12 games at left guard in 2019. Allowed just one sack in 416 pass blocks. Played a total of 895 snaps, with 768 coming at left guard and 141 at right guard.

—Has added 70 pounds since arriving at Ole Miss in 2016

—Will be a 24-year-old rookie

—Invited to the 2021 Senior Bowl

OVERALL

Newman has just 10 starts at right tackle and is still new to the position after moving there in 2020 after playing left guard prior, so he is still learning the nuances of proper footwork, landmarks and aiming points, but he showed significant improvement as the season went on against very good competition. Newman has very good play speed with accurate hand placement to create good fits as a run-blocker and the movement skills to locate and latch on to smaller targets in space.

He is solid in pass protection with the range to hit his set points against wider alignments, expand and mirror them up the arc, but he needs to continue to gain patience, not strike with two hands as often and work to transition into his anchor to better handle length and power. There is an intriguing foundation of key critical factor traits in place along with positional versatility that give Newman starter potential within his first contract. 

GRADE: 7.4/10 (Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 111/300

POSITION RANK: IOL16

PRO COMPARISON: Ty Sambrailo

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn