Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson has been a name people have known for some time, including in the NFL Draft community. As a four year starter, Patterson brings a great pedigree and background of starting at two separate positions.
With the 2023 NFL Draft kicking off, there are some major questions about just where Patterson fits into this year’s class. Let’s take a look at the latest on Patterson, who brings an intriguing profile that a lot of NFL evaluators will be attracted to.
CAREER SNAPSHOT
Patterson started four years for Notre Dame after redshirting initially during his true freshman season in 2018. The first three seasons as a starter (2019-21) came at the center position, gaining a reputation as one of the top centers in all of college football.
During both the 2020 and 2021 season, Patterson was named a Phil Steele All-American member. In total, he started in 46 games in his career, including in 12 in 2022 at left guard. In his final year, Patterson was also named a team captain.
Due to his resume and reputation for what the Irish produce up front, Patterson received an invite to compete in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
WHAT I’M HEARING
If you flash back to the early stages of Patterson’s career, he was considered an impressive athlete on the interior with tools to develop into the next great Notre Dame offensive lineman. Unfortunately some durability issues and inconsistencies have stunted his growth, but have also caused him to go under the radar.
NFL scouts I have spoken to are still relatively high on Patterson. While his tools may have taken a hit due to some injuries, he still presents a nice baseline as a player who can play multiple spots inside in a pinch. That talent to project as a swing player up front is something that teams value heavily.
Patterson isn’t the top 100 lock that he once looked like. Anytime you have experience, production and alignment versatility, however, you have a chance to stick for a longtime.
FINAL PROJECTION
Most feedback I’m hearing is in the early to mid day three conversations. It sounds like the fourth to fifth rounds are the most realistic outcomes, again bringing a solid floor to the table.
Is it possible that a player with his resume goes late on day two in the third round? It’s possible but seems generally unlikely. There just isn’t a huge excitement over the ceiling any longer.
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