2014 NFL Draft: Weston Richburg Scouting Report

By Luke Inman on Sunday, March 16th 2014
2014 NFL Draft: Weston Richburg Scouting Report

College: Colorado State

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 298

 

Strengths

Durability/Consistency: A four-year starter, Richburg started and played all 49 games he was asked, making him one of the most durable offensive lineman in the draft.  You don't start 49 games in a row by playing just average, Richburg helped anchor his offense that averaged 461 yards per game his final season, helping him gain first-team All-Mountain West honors.  

Intelligence:  Richburg is a better athlete than most give him credit for showing good initial burst, along with upper body strength, and balance.  However, what really sets Richburg apart from his peers is his football IQ.  Richburg is a coach on the field possessing the wits to make audibles at the line of scrimmage.  He also has a keen since of where everyone is on the field, helping his teammates double team opponents when he finds himself uncovered.    

 

Weaknesses

Competition: One of the first arguments made against Richburg is his level of lower competition.  Although he at times dominated his opponents, playing in the MAC conference Richburg played mild talent compared to what he will face in the NFL.  Its always a concern for scouts, who don't like to assume that a player will be able to smoothly transition to the next level. However, Richburg's performance at the Senior Bowl should quiet most of the critics.      

Aggressiveness:  One of the most highly regarded attributes of an offensive lineman is a mean streak.  When the game is decided by the men in the trenches, its nice to know your guy wont worry about his manners.  It's not like Richburg is selling Girl Scout cookies, but he certainly won't be mistaken for the Terminator.  With the right coaching and motivation however, it's not so hard to think Richburg could improve in this area.     

 

NFL Comparisons: Based on both of their strengths and weaknesses coming out of college, Richburg and Cleveland's Alex Mack are quite similar prospects.  They both have similar body strength and the athleticism that impresses, while being a model of consistency.  Also, much like when Mack came out, Richburg struggles with taking himself out of plays by going for the home run block, and missing the play all together.  Although Mack was a bit more polished when he came out, Richburg is without a doubt one of the top-100 prospects of a very deep draft class.    

 

Draft Outlook

Being one of the best 100 players in the draft qualifies Richburg as a lock to be selected sometime on day two.  At the end of the season it was clear Travis Swanson was top dog when it came to the position, however since Richburg's strong performance at the Senior Bowl where he shut down some of the top pass rushers like Ra'Shede Hageman and Daniel McCullers, he has made it clear he is giving Swanson a big run for his money.  With such a current high demand in the NFL for top tier centers, and offensive lineman in general, Richburg could hear his name called as early as the late second round.  Boosting his value even further is the fact that he is talented  and polished enough to swing over to the guard position and start right away.  

 

Best Fits

 

Given the odds were right, if I was in Vegas I would put my money on Richburg landing in the AFC North.  Call it a hunch, but with the Ravens and Bengels both in search of a talented center this pick makes sense in the later half of the second round.  Even the Steelers are in play for Richburg as they are always stockpiling smart and versatile interior lineman.   

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