Draft Season At Vikings Territory: G Joshua Garnett Scouting Report
[This Joshua Garnett Scouting Report, with a Vikings slant, has been provided to Vikings Territory by Draft Season. Be sure to check back for more and also be sure to visit Draft Season to quench your NFL Draft thirst. All previously published scouting reports can be found by clicking here.]
Joshua Garnett | Guard, Stanford
Measurements
Height – 6’5″
Weight – 325 lbs.
Age – 21
At First Glance
Outland Trophy Winner as the nation’s best interior lineman
Projected Round
2nd – 3rd Round
Pros
Garnett is built like a Mack Truck at 6’5”, 325 lbs.
Not only does he possess dominant strength, he is also one of the smarter guys on the field at all times
Run blocking ability alone will make him worthy of a late first / early second round pick. Grades the road for runners
Been a starter since his Freshman year with plenty of experience against top talent
Faster than expected for his size
When he gets his hands on opposing defenders, they generally don’t make it much further
Could have a chance to start day one and make an immediate impact
Cons
Needs to improve on his pass protection
Struggles against quick interior defensive lineman
Technique and hands need some fine tuning or NFL lineman will have a field day
Relies on his big reach at times instead of moving his body
Needs to get quicker making his way downfield
NFL Player Comparison
Mike Iupati, Arizona Cardinals
The Vikings Slant
Vikings fit? Yes.
While it isn’t sexy, offensive lineman will be one of the Vikings biggest needs this offseason – specifically at guard. In the past few years, the Vikings have taken some fliers on some mid-to-late round guards (Jeff Baca, Travis Bond, Demarcus Love, Chris DeGeare, etc.) and none have panned out. It might officially be time the Vikings look at the guard position before the fourth round. The Vikings best guard these past few years, Brandon Fusco, is even a question mark heading into next season. The former Slippery Rock guard had an up and down year in 2015 and even he could be looked at as a potential candidate for replacement. Bringing in a top guard like Garnett could give the Vikings options. With a camp that included Fusco, Clemmings, Garnett, and a free agent or two, it would be tough not to have an upgraded set of guards heading into 2016. With Adrian Peterson likely back in 2016, it is looking like another run heavy season in Minnesota. Why not spend the first, second or third round pick on a pop machine like Garnett who could be a big part of this offensive line for the next six to eight years?
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