Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…
Teven Jenkins (Offensive Tackle), Oklahoma State, Redshirt Senior
OVERVIEW:
Earlier in March, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his third edition of his 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Sitting at the 24 spot, he has the Steelers addressing the offensive line first and selecting Teven Jenkins. Jenkins is a very intriguing option for the Steelers in the first round, but with so much depth in this year’s 2021 offensive line draft class, it is difficult to pinpoint where exactly Jenkins will land. So, who is Teven Jenkins?
PROS:
Jenkins is a massive body. Standing 6’6” and weighing 320 pounds, he is a people-mover at the line and can square up to defenders on pass protection. Jenkins has strong, quick hands and feet and is very elusive along the line on pull and counter plays, which would play well in Matt Canada’s offense. Taking that a step further, he has great lateral movement and can effectively clear linebackers at the second level. During his time at Oklahoma State, Jenkins helped clear the way for running back Chuba Hubbard in a pro-style offense. For reference, Hubbard rushed for over 2,000 yards in the 2019 season, and Jenkins played a major role in that. Jenkins proved he can not only protect the quarterback, but also open up holes at the line for the ball carrier.
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CONS:
Although Jenkins is a big body, he does not possess a lengthy wingspan, which a lot of NFL scouts and coaches look for in an offensive tackle. To counter this, Jenkins tends to overreach on his blocks and lose his balance on pass protection plays. This automatically makes him have to figure out how to attack fast, strong edge rushers seemingly on the fly, and this is very difficult to sustain in the NFL. Another note to make is his ability to sink down at the line on pass protection plays. At 6’6”, it is critical he does not stand up too high at the line and block the view of the quarterback.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Late 1st Round
Currently, Jenkins sits at the fifth ranked offensive lineman in this year’s draft class. As I mentioned earlier, Kiper has him going at 24 to the Steelers, and there have been other mock drafts showing him going around the 30th pick. There is no chance Jenkins drops to the Steelers in the second round (at the 55th overall pick). Therefore if the Steelers like him and want him, they’ll need to jump on him at their 24th pick.
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VERDICT:
There is no doubt Jenkins is a day one starter in the NFL. He can fit into any offensive scheme and show automatic value on the field. Jenkins was college teammates with Mason Rudolph and James Washington and will be able to fit in seamlessly in the Steelers locker room. Of course he’ll need some polishing, but that is the whole reason of training camp. I think Jenkins would be a great asset for the Steelers and help fill the major need of a reliable, steady offensive tackle.
Where do you think Jenkins will land in April? Let us know in the comments below!
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