The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Layden Robinson.
Layden Robinson's 2024 NFL Combine Results
- Height: 6-foot-3 1/2
- Weight: 302
- 40-yard dash: DNP
- Vertical jump: 26.5"
- Broad jump: 9'3"
Layden Robinson 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Strengths
- Good size and compact build for an interior lineman, allowing him to engage and turn defenders in the run game.
- Ample strength to anchor and hold his ground in pass protection once he engages defenders (strong core).
- Aggressive, attacking blocker with good physicality and good contact strength (creates movement).
- Strong hands and good punch at point of contact, allowing him to control defenders once engaged.
- Good run blocker with the athleticism to make blocks in space and the strength to maintain and control blocks.
- Plays with good vision, shown in recognizing and seeing defensive line stunts to trade off defenders in pass protection.
- Light feet shown by his ability to change direction to position himself and make his blocks in blitz/stunts.
- Good athleticism shown when playing in space. Good movement on the edge and up to the second level (puller/screens) to change direction and make his blocks against more athletic defenders (LBs/DBs).
Weaknesses
- Over aggressive run blocker at times, causing him to play off balance due to leaning too much into blocks.
- Technique can be refined some as a run and pass blocker in regards to his footwork and positioning
- Takes poor angles in the run games at times, allowing defenders to beat him with movement (better paths).
- Needs to improve his pass blocking footwork in his kick sets to cover ground to keep relative spacing with centers and tackles.
- Tendency to stop his feet once engaged as a pass blocker, impacting his ability to stick with good counter pass rushers (club, rip, and swim) because he is unable to recover.
NFL Transition
Robinson was a three-year starter at left guard for Texas A&M. He plays with good physicality to go along with a good mix of strength and athleticism. He displayed strong hands and a good punch at the point of attack to allow him to engage and control defenders.
He is a good run blocker with the athleticism to make blocks in space — good in zone run schemes — and on the edge or up to the second level. He struggles in pass protection due to questionable technique and footwork. He's best in slide protection schemes because he doesn’t gain ground when needed to kick set. He has good lateral quickness and movement ability to redirect and stay with defenders. His solid core strength allows him to maintain his blocks.
Overall, Robinson's strength and athleticism combination makes him a good prospect at the guard position in the NFL. His technique and mechanics can be refined some, but his skill set will provide immediate depth on an NFL roster. He'll have the chance to compete for playing time early in his career. Robinson should be a mid-round selection and provide an NFL team with good interior OL depth and the potential to develop into a quality NFL starter.
Other Notes
Robinson came out of Manvel, Texas, as a three-star recruit and was ranked sixth in the nation at center. He played all five seasons at Texas A&M and earned Second-Team All-SEC in 2021 and 2023. While Robinson exclusively played from guard in college, he has the versatility to play all three interior OL positions, including center.
From 2021 through 2023 (his last three seasons), Robinson had the ninth-most offensive snaps at right guard, with all 1,988 snaps coming from that position. Of these plays, he had 1,105 pass plays, allowing 27 pressures (2.4 percent pressure rate). Robinson had 880 running plays, with 20 snaps of blown assignments (2.3 percent bad run block rate).
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