2022 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Penn State OT Rasheed Walker

From now until the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I’ll be profiling Penn State OT Rasheed Walker.

#53 Rasheed Walker/OT Penn State – 6060, 325 lbs.

The Good

— Great size and length, looks the part of a NFL tackle with a thick upper body
— Aggressive mentality in run and pass game, desire to put hands on defender early and win battle right away
— Strong anchor and excellent grip strength, able to lock on once he engages with proper hand placement
— Shows violent initial punch to take control of pass rushers
— Varies his pass sets and will quick/jumpset defenders, keeps them on their toes
— Angry demeanor and desire to finish through contact, pancakes litter his film and plays with chip on his shoulder, doesn’t quit once player gets to the ground
— Displays good burst out of stance with ability to seal the edge with size, length, and explosiveness, rarely beaten around the edge against speed/outside rushes
— Looks comfortable in stance and displays good bend, doesn’t sit high
— Shows hip and knee bend in pass protection, able to sit and doesn’t play tall despite his height
— Size and strides helps him at second level
— Highly effective down blocker able to wash out opponent and create lane, engulfs smaller linebackers and runs them down the line
— Good IQ and identifies stunts and twists well and consistently while maintaining his base
— Has traits and tools to be a highly effective NFL tackle
— Held own against elite competition (Aidan Hutchinson)
— Room to grow, still young and game isn’t maxed out

— Struggles most with inside rushers and counters, sits on outside moves and vulnerable when defenders cross his face
— Turns shoulders too early before the top of the rush and gives pass rusher lane to turn back inside, isn’t quite quick enough laterally to recover
— Ability to defend the edge may be skewed by his desire to sit and anticipate those moves
— Tends to fall off blocks too easily in the run game, especially at the second level
— Was not asked to work much in space in run game on combo blocks, zone schemes, pulling, or screens, shows burst but not a fluid or easy-mover in space
— Didn’t display versatility and played just one position (left tackle) in school
— Showed some regression his final season compared to 2020
— Did not have accolades in school, never an All-Conference selection (first or second team)

— Three-year starter at left tackle, roughly 32 career starts, all at LT
— Redshirt junior who declared a year early, turned 22 earlier in February
— Missed final three games of 2021 due to undisclosed lower body injuries, missed bowl game due to it (was spotted on crutches)
— Media All Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2020 and 2021 but never a 1st/2nd team selection
— Four-star recruit out of high school, had 28 offers, chose Penn State over Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Pitt, among many others
— Three-time captain in high school, played o-line and d-line, had 11 sacks on defense

Walker is an interesting prospect in a sea of highly touted offensive tackle prospects.