With the 6th Pick of the 2014 Draft the Falcons Select: Jake Matthews
- Updated: May 8, 2014
Why this works: The Falcons needed an offensive tackle, and Matthews is the as solid a tackle as there is in this draft. He also has the versatility to play on either the right or left side, which just adds to his value. Very solid pick for the Falcons, and I’m sure Matt Ryan is smiling.
Draft Day Grade: A
Player Profiles courtesy of Nick Sardina – Editor Football Memo
Jake Matthews, OT, 6-5½, 308, Texas A&M
Strengths: About as solid a prospect as there is in this draft. … Four-year starter who does everything well. … Is smart, durable, has good feet, and uses near-flawless technique. … Amazing job chipping down then still dropping to protect against the end or free blitzer. … Plays under a nice, wide base and is a very good pass protector. … Has versatility to play either side. … Is smooth and what I like most is his ability to seemingly always be in perfect position (squarely between rusher and quarterback). … Anchors well with great balance and technique. … Hard worker, who plays to the whistle and really cares about his craft and his team.
Weaknesses: Not a dominant run blocker. … Arms are average length, and he also has small hands for the position – those factors probably are part of the reason he can be bull rushed at times as defenders get into his body. … His athleticism is above average, but not elite.
Conclusion: I like him more on the left side due to being a better pass protector, but he could play right tackle and be equally effective if needed. … Matthews is a plug-in-and-play tackle. The main question with Matthews is: Is he a finished product? … If the answer is no, Matthews will be a perennial pro bowler. … At worst, he is a solid starter for 10 years.
NFL comparison: Jordan Gross/Eugene Monroe.
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