Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni has been selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, taken with the No. 86 overall pick.
Puni had a winding college career, ultimately ending up at Kansas for his final season. He also had a one-year stint at Tennessee Tech following a more extended stay at the University of Central Missouri.
The talented lineman started all 12 games for Kansas in 2023 as a redshirt senior.
During that senior campaign with Kansas, Puni didn’t allow a sack in 745 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He helped pave the way for a rushing offense that averaged 206 yards per game.
While at Central Missouri, Puni earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2019. He’s got plenty of starting experience, collecting starts at all three of his college stops.
Prior to enrolling at Central Missouri, Dominick Puni was an unranked prospect out of high school. He later earned a four-star status with a 96 grade when he entered the transfer portal prior to the 2023 season.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Dominick Puni
At 6 foot 5, 313 pounds, Puni has good size to be a quality interior player at the next level. The main question will be how his experience translates.
He hasn’t played a ton of snaps against high-level competition.
Wrote NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein in evaluating Dominick Puni ahead of the draft:
“Guard prospect with good size and nimble feet whose pass protection is ahead of his run blocking at this stage. Puni has a proportional, well-built frame but is much better on the move and playing with angles and positioning than he is at pushing defenders around.
“Puni plays with excellent feel for arm extension and maintains his feel for pass rushers. His mirror and hand placement stymie simple rush approaches, but inconsistent body control could be an issue for him against athletic sub-package rushers. Puni appears to have middle-round value but future starting talent for a move-oriented scheme.”
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