Alex Harkey Draft Grade | Round 6, Pick 25 | FanVerdicts

C-

Below averagePick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Reach

Position

OG · Value Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #218 · Day 3 Sleeper

Alex Harkey emerged as Oregon's starting center midway through his redshirt sophomore season and developed into a reliable anchor for the Ducks' high-octane offense. The former three-star recruit from Sacramento possesses exceptional football intelligence and communication skills that belie his late-round projection. Harkey's cerebral approach to the game, combined with solid technique in pass protection, makes him an intriguing developmental prospect despite below-average athleticism. His draft stock has remained steady throughout the pre-draft process, with teams valuing his versatility to play all three interior positions and his track record of durability in the Pac-12.

Strengths

+Outstanding pre-snap recognition allows him to identify and communicate protection adjustments, particularly against complex A-gap and Bear front pressures that target the center position directly.

+Exceptional hand placement consistency in pass protection, keeping thumbs up and landing punches at the optimal strike zone on defenders' chests to maximize leverage advantage.

+Demonstrates excellent anchor strength against bull rushes, rarely getting driven backward into the pocket despite modest frame and below-average lower body power testing numbers.

+Shows impressive football IQ when working combination blocks in gap and power schemes, consistently identifying when to come off double teams to reach linebacker level.

+Natural leader who quarterbacked Oregon's offensive line calls and adjustments, earning praise from coaches for his ability to get five players on the same page pre-snap.

+Reliable snapper with consistent ball delivery to quarterbacks in shotgun formation, rarely forcing signal-callers to handle poor exchanges that disrupt timing.

+Versatile positional flexibility demonstrated through starts at center and both guard spots, providing valuable depth chart utility for NFL roster construction.

+Solid base and knee bend in pass sets prevents rushers from getting underneath his pads and creating upward leverage to collapse the pocket interior.

+Shows good awareness of delayed blitzes and A-gap stunts, often picking up late rushers that other interior linemen might miss in protection schemes.

+Consistent effort level as a finisher in the run game, staying engaged through the whistle and looking for work when his initial assignment is completed.

+Strong grip strength allows him to latch onto defenders and sustain blocks longer than his frame would suggest, particularly effective on down blocks and back blocks.

Weaknesses

-Limited lateral mobility shows up consistently against quick interior pass rushers who can win with pure speed rather than power, particularly struggling with 3-technique defensive tackles.

-Lacks the raw strength to consistently move bigger nose tackles in short-yardage situations, often needing help from guards to create push in goal-line packages.

-Struggles to reach second-level linebackers on outside zone concepts due to below-average foot speed and acceleration, limiting his effectiveness in wide zone schemes.

-Inconsistent punch timing against quicker pass rushers allows defenders to get into his chest before he can establish proper hand placement and leverage control.

-Limited recovery speed when beaten off the snap means that early mistakes often compound into pressure or sacks rather than being corrected mid-rep.

-Marginal athlete for the position lacks the dynamic movement skills to excel in pulling concepts or complex combination blocks that require range and agility.

-Can be overwhelmed by high-level speed-to-power conversions from elite interior rushers who set him up with quick first steps then transition to bull rush techniques.

-Occasional lapses in focus lead to blown assignments in protection, particularly when tasked with identifying and picking up delayed blitzers or twist stunts.

NFL Comparison: Ryan Kelly

Fan voting will be available once grades are published.

Fan Discussion

Live Chat

1 watching

Loading chat...