STRENGTHS
Austin uses very mature techniques along with excellent athletic talent to be one of the most efficient offensive linemen I’ve seen coming out in a draft in a long time. He shows on film good overall foot quickness and has the size and long arms that teams look for in potential franchise offensive tackles. He is smart and understands that he doesn’t have to over block to make a block so that he can stay on his feet and continue to block. He has the athleticism to be used to pull and on sweeps and screens and does an excellent and patient job going to the next level to make blocks. Austin’s potential to be a franchise Left Tackle for the team that selects him is obvious and you know by now how much I like the obvious.
CONCERNS
Austin has to get bigger and stronger without it affecting his athleticism and I have no doubts that he will. He also has some technique work to do to improve his lateral agility. He is slow to react sometimes and also “short steps” his moves laterally and that makes him off balance when his opponent is quicker. This “short stepping” causes him to lunge and lose balance and those pass rushers that are flexible who can get under him, and are able to turn the corner, will have a field day against him if he can’t correct this. It’s simple, he just has to widen his base a bit more on those third and long obvious passing downs. Then again, what seems to be simple is sometimes hard for taller players to do consistently.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.47
When you go to the film to evaluate Austin he is so efficient that you start looking at other players who might catch your eye. This may be why some will rate other offensive tackles ahead of Austin in this draft but, you have me to set you on the correct path. Austin is big, athletic, and smart, with quick feet, long arms, and uses mature techniques. Those are the facts and they cannot be disputed. You can look at other players and get excited because they may be flashy but they will not be better, just flashier. I can say this; there is a lack of athletic offensive lineman on many NFL teams and that means any offensive lineman with athleticism will be selected early no matter if they are flashy or not so look for Austin to go early in this draft. I would not pass on him even if I was happy with my line in general and thought I needed to select other positions. Let’s be honest, you don’t find Left Tackles in free agency for a reason, they are too valuable, so selecting Austin would just be smart drafting.
