2022 NFL Draft Profile: OG Kenyon Green

Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green will be one of the top interior offensive linemen available in the 2022 NFL Draft, with a strong chance of coming off the board in the first round. Green was a five-star recruit out of high school, and started at right guard for the Aggies as a freshman. He manned a different position in each of his three years at Texas A&M, earning consensus All-American honors for left guard as a sophomore and left tackle as a junior. Green was also recognized as a second-team All-SEC member as a sophomore and first-team All-SEC member as a junior.

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Strengths

Length and Power: With 34 1/8″ arms, Green possesses very good length for an interior player, and that frame helps give him the flexibility to play tackle in a pinch if need be. He has experience playing guard and tackle in college, so that versatility is more than a projection. Green uses that length, along with terrific bend, burst, and power to extend through his blocks and generate impressive movement in the run game. He plays with an aggressive demeanor, looking to put a defender on his backside at every opportunity. Green uses those physical attributes very well on double teams, creating push on the initial block and then reaching the second level quickly and with bad intentions.

In pass protection, he uses those long arms to keep defenders at bay while rarely losing ground thanks to his strong anchor. Green makes the most of his physical gifts by playing with great knee-bend and pad-level, so as to almost always have the leverage advantage over his opponent.

Mobility and Athleticism: Green’s 5.24-second 40-yard dash at the combine doesn’t jump off the page, but his tape portrays a fluid mover that gets to his landmarks quickly and effectively. His athleticism is an asset in any scheme. He can smoothly release from combo blocks and locate linebackers or safeties on power/gap run plays, or flow along the line of scrimmage on wide-zone plays. Green is an ideal candidate as a puller, as he comes off the ball with a purpose to lead block like a heat-guided freight train.

Weaknesses

Balance: Green’s aggression is usually a good thing, but sometimes it can work against him. He has the tendancy to get over his skiis when blocking down or trying to generate movement. This can lead to him losing his balance and toppling over. It’s not a chronic problem, but Green will find himself on the ground more often than you’d prefer. Even when he moves his man to create a hole, he’ll often fall off the block because of the forward lean he plays with. As a result, the defender can shed him and get back into the play.

Inconsistent Feet in Pass Protection: Green plays with a wide base and low center of gravity. He moves his feet well enough to mirror and stay square with most defensive tackle types, especially once already engaged. However, when dealing with speedy edge rushers or blitzing linebackers, his feet can get rooted. That can leave him reaching, which leads to penalties or simply pressures allowed. This isn’t the most alarming weakness for an interior lineman, but it’s a limitation that helps explain why he projects as a guard despite playing left tackle in his final college season.

Ideal Role: Starting Guard in Diverse Scheme

Green can be a plus starter in any offense. Due to his versatility, though, a team that deploys multiple run schemes would extract the most value from him. Any one-dimensional offense wouldn’t be taking full advantage of his skill set.

Potential Fits

If Green comes off the board at some point in the back half of the first round, look for guard-needy teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, or Cincinnati Bengals to snap him up. If he slips into the second round, the Houston Texans, New York Giants, or Carolina Panthers would love to have him.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.