STRENGTHS
Garrett is a technically sound, athletic offensive center. He does an excellent job going out to the next level making blocks and can be used on sweeps, screens and as a pulling center because of his foot speed and athleticism. He is a fighter and has the lateral agility to help out guards when it is needed. Garrett is smart and has good timing to make combo blocks and believe me, that is a skill that a lot of offensive linemen lack. Garrett is the type of center who can play the day after you select him. Nowadays teams need to add athletic offensive lineman who can block and be able to change directions quickly and stay with their blocks when those QB’s leave the pocket.
CONCERNS
He is a bit undersized and will struggle with a big nose tackle right on top of him but remember, he can and will get help from guards when that occurs so thinking that’s a reason not to select him or even downgrade him is weak.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.61
Are there bigger centers in this draft than Garrett…yes. Are there better centers in this draft than Garrett…no. For me personally, I believe Garrett is married to the center position because of his size and although I might rate another player who I project to play guard and center and is as athletic as Garrett higher, do not mistake that rating for my thinking that Garrett, might not be the best pure center in this draft class because I think he might be just that…the best PURE center in this draft class. I have told you before my skilled positions on offense are very different than what others consider, skilled positions to be. I rate QB’s, LT’s and OC’s as the positions you must fill with excellent talent before you can have a dominate offense. That be said, I rate offensive centers higher than most people in a draft and I would select them higher than most people would in a draft. I have no qualms about telling you that Garrett has first talent and if I needed a center I would select him in the first round. Nevertheless, I have learned through the years that even though I value that position high, there are others who do not. That means that I can wait to select a player with Garrett’s talents. I can wait and look at Rob’s board to see what is the likely round a player like Garrett will be selected in and plan my draft strategy with the understanding that I might not have to select Garrett as high as I have him rated, and that’s the luxury of having and using the two-board system. You have the ability to select players in every round with high talent grades using the two-board system. Of course, that’s if your talent grades are correct!
