Jacob Bayer NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Arkansas State IOL

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 306

HAND: 10¼"

ARM: 32½"

WINGSPAN: 78⅛"

40-YARD DASH: 5.20

3-CONE: 8.01

SHUTTLE: 4.83

VERTICAL: 28"

BROAD: 8'6"

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POSITIVES

— Thick, sturdy and well-rounded build with good play strength.

— Has a stiff punch with tight, inside hand placement using a double-under technique.

— Excels on base blocks and in the post on double-teams covering up, lifting and uprooting defensive tackles

— Grinds the bull-rush down with a strong, firm anchor.

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NEGATIVES

— Struggles to sustain and finish blocks late in the rep due to not always bringing his feet and failing to step on the toes of defenders.

— Gradually lets his pads rise, gets overextended and is vulnerable to getting shed by the push=pull technique.

— Adequate lateral quickness and recovery skills.

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NOTES

— Born Dec. 12, 2002

— 2-star recruit from the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Originally committed to Lamar University in Texas where he started 22 games at center before transferring to Arkansas State before the 2023 season

— 46 career starts at center

— Suffered a torn ACL during spring practice before the 2024 season and returned five months later in Week 2

— Accepted his invite to the 2025 Senior Bowl

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OVERALL

Jacob Bayer is a four-year starter at center, including 24 career starts at Arkansas State, including 12 in 2024 inside the team's 53-47 run-pass split, inside zone-based, downhill run scheme. Bayer has a thick, sturdy, and well-rounded build with adequate athletic ability and good play strength.

Bayer wins as a run blocker with a wide-bodied base, good upper-body strength, and an effective double-under technique to cover up, lift, and displace defensive tackles in the post on double-teams and angle-drive blocks. He has enough quicks to overtake and reach shades in the outside zone run game but does his best work on inside zone and gap concepts where he can work downhill. Bayer shows some lower half stiffness that saps his ability to sustain, redirect, and recover late in the rep. He also needs to work on churning his feet and stepping on the toes of defenders to close space and not get overextended against the push-pull technique.

In pass protection, Bayer is a stout presence against power, and he quickly absorbs and grinds the bull-rush down in his anchor while creating a lift using the double-under. He has a stiff, jolting punch and physical mindset when uncovered to clear the pocket. Bayer's feet tend to get stuck against rushers that can string together moves, creating easy access to his edges and gradual penetration when isolated.

Overall, Bayer has below-average movement skills but brings the size, play strength, and demeanor to compete for a backup role at center with the upside to get onto the field during his rookie contract if he can clean up his footwork.

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GRADE: 5.8 (Backup/Draftable - Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL RANK: 252

POSITION RANK: IOL28

PRO COMPARISON: Russell Bodine

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn