2018 NFL Draft: Brian O’Neill’s athleticism could overcome Senior Bowl woes
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Brian O’Neill was an unknown months ago, but a strong NFL Combine performance has piqued his 2018 NFL Draft prospects.
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A high school tight end, O’Neil transition to the offensive line following his redshirt freshman season at Pitt. He saw action on both the left and the right side, but it wasn’t his blocking that garnered him the most accolades in college.
Strengths
O’Neil’s athleticism and football ability are off the charts. The Pitt coaches took advantage of this, setting up scoring opportunities for their offensive tackle. One of those scores earned him the 2016 Piesman trophy winner, given annually to the big man that makes a somewhat surprisingly athletic play.
Other than scoring touchdowns, which he did on two separate occasions in college, O’Neill profiles well as a blocker at the next level. His quickness makes him an intriguing tool on pitches and screens, setting up big plays by getting out in front of the ball carrier and paving a way to the next level.
O’Neill posted a blazing 4.82 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the fastest time of any offensive lineman by nearly a full second. He also finished with the best time in the 3-cone drill, 7.14 seconds. He does an excellent job keeping rushers centered and squaring up his blocks. O’Neill put in plenty of quality film against staunch ACC defenses.
Weaknesses
Despite the good moments on film, O’Neill failed to live up to expectations at the Senior Bowl which has provided serious headwinds toward his draft stock. O’Neill frequently looked lost and was caught off guard by some of the top talent at the practices that week and failed to make a positive impression during the game itself.
Outside of his bad week, scouts are concerned about his strength and how that will translate to the next level. 22 bench reps at the combine did not blow anyone away, especially when players like Shaquem Griffin out of UCF came close to matching it with just one hand.
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Draft expectations
O’Neill has a ways to go before realizing his full potential. It doesn’t mean he won’t be an early selection, but it doesn’t bolster his chances. Ultimately, size cannot be taught, but strength can be developed. Athleticism like O’Neill possesses is rare, and someone is going to take a chance on him.