Analyzing West Virginia Mountaineers interior offensive lineman Zach Frazier ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The 2024 NFL Draft is just over two weeks away, and for clubs eager to strengthen their offensive line, the impending draft class offers plenty of choices. Zach Frazier, a three-time All-Big 12 Conference offensive tackle for the West Virginia Mountaineers, is someone to keep an eye on in rounds two and three.
Frazier started 46 games for the Mountaineers, playing both guard and center, establishing himself as one of the top inside possibilities in the class of 2024. As he prepares to take the next step in his football career, NFL teams will assess his abilities to play guard and center, as well as pass protection.
Frazier’s 2023 film indicates a talent that may be regarded an ascending prospect, as well as a guy who still needs to improve. He is far from a polished product, and his first season will most likely be spent in a development role.
Let’s get into our Frazier scouting report.
Zach Frazier, West Virginia, (6 feet-3, 313 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile, via Lance Zierlein:
“He has a sawed-off build, short arms, and tremendous power once he is locked in. Frazier’s lack of optimum arm length may be a concern for some evaluators, potentially causing him trouble at the next level. Frazier possesses bulldozer drive strength in his lower half, but his hands are prone to excessive clutching and hugging. He possesses fast eyes and a strong punch in pass protection, but due to his lack of length and recovery skills, he’ll struggle if forced to defend on an island. Frazier has the potential to be a good backup or eventual starter; however, he must play with steady inside hands and stay close to his targets to compensate for his physical shortcomings.”
Strengths: – Played guard and center in college. This high level of adaptability should translate well to the NFL.
– Understands how to establish leverage against defensive lineman.
Strength appears on film, particularly at the point of attack.
– Football intelligence appears on movies.
– Utilizes upper-body strength to clear the way for rushing backs.
Excellent hand placement for delivering punches in pass protection.
Weaknesses: – Lack of arm length may limit him to playing guard at the next level.
– Needs to improve run blocking against bigger, stronger, and faster defensive lineman.
– He has to improve his anchoring technique in pass protection.
– An above-average athlete who succeeds thanks to his road grader style of play.
Could struggle against fast and powerful edge rushers.
Final Thoughts: Frazier has the potential to be a developmental player in his rookie season before becoming a starter in his second year. The lack of arm length and athleticism is concerning, but there is no disputing his instinctiveness as a player. The instincts alone could make him a viable starter at the next level, where he will have the opportunity to demonstrate that he can start at center if necessary.
