Matt Lee NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Cincinnati Bengals IOL

HEIGHT: 6'4"

Weight: 301

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 32⅛"

WINGSPAN: 78⅝"

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40-YARD DASH: 5.03

3-CONE: 7.97

SHUTTLE: 4.69

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: 9'3"

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POSITIVES

— Very good play strength with a heavy, stiff punch and sturdy anchor.

— Excels on double-teams by extending his hips with a flat back to root his feet in the post before overtaking, torquing and displacing the first-level defender to create rush lanes.

— Locates the hip with jolt to bump and feed defensive tackles over with authority on double-teams.

— Can churn, strain and displace his target on base and angle-drive blocks.

— Works in an off-hand strike to disrupt the rush plan of head-up and shaded pass-rushers.

— Efficiently and effectively sorts line games and stunts.

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NEGATIVES

— Feet get stuck when having to redirect and mirror moves across his face due to mediocre lateral quickness.

— Will struggle to intersect and connect on targets at the second level and beyond.

— Marginal arm length, mass and girth.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at center

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NOTES

— Born June 6, 2001

— 3-star recruit from the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Transferred to Miami for the 2023 season after starting for three years at center at UCF

— 47 career starts at center

— Participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl

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OVERALL

Matt Lee is a four-year starter at center who spent his first three years at UCF before transferring to Miami's balanced (50-50 run-pass split), multiple, downhill run scheme centered around inside zone and duo. Lee has an angular build with most of his mass carried in his upper half, marginal arm length, adequate athletic ability and very good play strength.

Lee executes all facets of the double-team at a high level, from playing thick and firm in the post, creating jolt and banging over his target on feeds and overtaking with torque to laterally displace the defender. He has stiff, heavy hands with good technique to extend and unlock his hips to strain and corral linebackers playing downhill, but he will struggle redirecting and intersecting quick-trigger, shifty 'backers off wide/outside zone combos.

In pass protection, Lee is a sturdy, firm presence with a stout anchor and excellent grip strength once latched to end the fight quickly. He lacks the lateral quicks and burst to mirror sub-package rushers without help, and his marginal arm length and mass will shrink his margin for error in hand placement and strike timing against NFL nose tackles.

Despite being light in the pants and an adequate mover, Lee is a center-only prospect who has starter-level play strength, physicality and run-blocking skills. He has the potential to become a contributor in a downhill scheme due to his ability to execute inside zone/duo concepts and anchor in pass protection.

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GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 120

POSITION RANK: IOL16

PRO COMPARISON: Juice Scruggs

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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