2018 NFL Draft: Is Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey a first round pick?

After putting together a great year in his fifth and final season with Notre Dame, has Mike McGlinchey done enough to warrant a first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft?

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Mike McGlinchey, famous for both his on the field play and relation to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, has been highly touted for his abilities as both an athlete and a leader. After taking part in Notre Dame’s disaster of a 2016 season, McGlinchey decided he wasn’t done leading the Irish offensive line, opting to give it one final go in a Notre Dame uniform instead.

McGlinchey is currently the eighth overall offensive line prospect according to NFL.com, and the third overall tackle. Following in McGlinchey’s footsteps is former teammate Quenton Nelson, the highest regarded offensive line prospect heading into this year’s draft. Both players going off the board early could offer quite the boost for a Notre Dame recruiting program that always seems to have success along the offensive line.

Strengths

Outside of his athleticism, one of McGlinchey’s most coveted attributes has to be his football IQ. McGlinchey always seems to be in the right spot at the right time, rarely making mental mistakes. His athleticism lets him get down the field quickly on run plays, allowing him to pick the matchups he wants when blocking for those behind him.

It will be odd tabbing McGlinchey a rookie next year given his experience at the position, something coaches can appreciate in the film room. Off the field, McGlinchey always seems to inspire those around him, likely the reason behind why he was named an Irish captain two years in a row.

Weaknesses

In McGlinchey’s case, a rise in athleticism demanded a sacrifice in weight. As many scouts will note, McGlinchey had a history at the tight end position before making the transition to lineman in college. While this does benefit him in some facets of the game, adding a few pounds would be beneficial in terms of McGlinchey’s overall development.

Also, many scouts cite consistency as an issue for McGlinchey. While the good substantially outweighs the bad, some of the “bad” would be obvious to the most novice of viewers. For example, it was McGlinchey who allowed Brandon Wimbush to be strip-sacked by Davin Bellamy on the Irish’s final drive in their loss to Georgia. Coaches would love to see less of that on the NFL level.

Next: Latest first round NFL Mock Draft

Draft Expectations

With the NFL as fickle as it is, there are many general managers willing to take a chance on a guy who will give you perfection nine out of ten times, given that the one time out of ten isn’t constantly detrimental to the team. I certainly think McGlinchey is worthy of a first round pick, but wouldn’t be surprised to see hesitancy from teams depending on how the first few picks play out.

Projection: Late first round to mid second round