NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Kansas IOL Enrique Cruz Jr.

Enrique Cruz Jr. is quick out of his stance with good length to initially cover up targets and plays with a red-hot motor that shows up in his effort to finish. However, his upright playing style and marginal redirect ability limit his upside. The concerns found within his game point toward a backup projection in the NFL, with his clearest path to sticking on a roster likely coming through developing positional flexibility at guard.

Cruz is a 6'5", 313-pound offensive line prospect, who entered the Syracuse program as a 4-star recruit in the 2021 class.

Cruz started 18 games at Syracuse (15 at left tackle, three at right tackle) over four seasons before transferring to Kansas in 2025 where he started 12 games at right tackle.

Brandon Thorn: Brandon is the author of the Trench Warfare newsletter, which focuses exclusively on offensive and defensive line evaluation. He also contributes as an analyst to Establish the Run, serves as the scouting coordinator for OL Masterminds and is a selection committee member for the Joe Moore Award. 

Where He Wins

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- Light-footed and quick out of his stance to reach his landmarks on time.

- Knows how to weaponize his length and width to cover up targets during his initial fit.

- Solid ability to re-leverage his hips against power to die slowly in his anchor.

- Excellent effort with a consistent sense of urgency who finishes to the ball.

Areas of Improvement

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- Upright play style with minimal power at the point of attack.

- Tardy redirect ability creates soft, easily accessible edges.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 5.4 (UDFA with Roster Potential)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Joshua Gray (5.7 in 2025), Walter Rouse (5.7 in 2024), Braeden Daniels (5.7 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 268

POSITION RANK: IOL32

PRO COMPARISON: Walter Rouse

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'5"
Weight: 313
Arm: 33¾"
Hand: 10¼"

40-yard dash: 4.94
10-yard split: 1.74
Vertical: 35"
Broad: 9'8"
Shuttle: NA
3-cone: NA
Bench: NA