NFL Draft: 3 under the radar offensive line prospects Ravens should target
The Baltimore Ravens need to fix the interior of their offensive line. Baltimore has always been good at finding diamonds in the rough on the offensive line. Here are three under the radar offensive line prospects:
1. B.J. Autry, Guard (Jacksonville State)
The NFL Draft has some very good under the radar offensive linemen this year and under the radar and Jacksonville State go hand in hand. B.J. Autry is one of the biggest men in this entire draft class. He’s 6’5″ and he weighs 340 pounds. Autry is kind of a brawler of an offensive guard. He plays with a mean streak and he hits hard. Autry is a phenomenal run blocker. Autry isn’t exactly nimble, but he can get to his blocks in the second level and if you’re running a screen, throw it behind him.
Autry played for the South team at the Senior Bowl. Autry isn’t the smoothest athlete but he is an impressive pulling guard. Many of his opponents end up on the ground. Autry at his best is a pancake machine.
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Autry can swallow defensive players up, he’s hard to get past. A bull rush has no chance against Autry, though speed can give him trouble. He plays a bit high, and and he could probably benefit from losing 10 or 15 pounds, but he’s a lengthy and massive offensive lineman that can start in the NFL.
There are two big problems for Autry. He played mostly against weaker competition at Jacksonville State. Secondly he isn’t a fit for every team. A team that uses a zone blocking scheme first and foremost, may not want such a bulky guard. The guard position is one the Ravens have to hit on twice. They need to get better production from their left guard and they need a post Marshal Yanda plan. The thought of Autry and Brown Jr. playing next to each other is a punishing thought for opposing defenses. That would be a massive right side of the line.