STRENGTHS
Roger is a Right tackle with the potential to be a Pro Bowl Left tackle for the team that selects him. He has the size, arm length, quick feet, and quick twitch off the snap, that makes it easy for him to mirror his opponent when pass blocking. Roger has the lateral agility to stay with the speed rushes and the quick hips and fluidity to turn and finish when pass blocking. Roger’s athletic talent to “pass block” and play the tackle position on either side is as good, if not better than the highest-rated offensive tackle in this draft. He has the mental stamina and leadership skills that are needed to be a professional player for the next level. It’s obvious, that he takes great pride in pass blocking. That being said, he has the unique athletic talent to be used on sweeps and screens as well as the high football IQ to handle stunts and go out to the second level to make a block. Roger has the potential to be a Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the team that selects him on either side of the line and that is rare.
CONCERNS
Roger, because of his athletic talent, has been inconsistent in using his hand techniques when pass-blocking. He also struggles with his pad level when run blocking, losing control of his assignment, and doesn’t finish. He has to get a lot stronger in his upper and lower body because, at the next level, his unique foot quickness will not be enough for him to pass block or run block the aggressive, faster, quicker, and smart, defensive lineman at the next level.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.97
Roger is a quick learner and his athletic talent is more than just impressive but his lack of upper and lower body strength is a bit shocking for a player who has had as many snaps as he has had at the college level. He has been pigeonholed as a Right Tackle but remember the right tackle is the blind side for a left-handed quarterback…think about it. The shock for me came at the Senior Bowl practices when they switched Roger over to the left side in the one-on-ones and he more than handled that move and looked like he played that position for the last 2 years. Teams do not pay tackles to run block. They pay them to pass block and although Roger doesn’t run block as well as he pass blocks, I don’t think that is a real concern. All Roger needs to do to become an excellent run blocker is to gain strength and lower his pads. Right now, Roger will struggle for a 17-game schedule with his strength and that will lead to injuries and missed blocks if you put him on the field too early as a starter. Nevertheless, there is no doubt in my mind that given the time to improve his strength the team that selects Roger will have a starting Pro Bowl left or right tackle and maybe a franchise left or right tackle. In my opinion, Roger has 1st round talent and after the combine, he should be flying up the boards.
