Halapoulivaati Vaitai NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Eagles Rookie

POSITIVES

A versatile left or right tackle prospect from the uptempo TCU offense, Halapoulivaati Vaitai started his junior and senior seasons and is now ready to take on the NFL. That versatility will be a selling point when his name comes up in draft rooms.

A high-motor player with long arms and big hands, Vaitai is at his best kick-sliding off the snap and mirroring pass-rushers long enough for a quick pass to come out. He’s poised in conflict and will look for ways to beat his man without panicking or giving up too much ground. In a fast-paced, pass-heavy offense, we charted just one sack allowed from Vaitai in 2015.

On the hoof, Vaitai looks the part with the length and build you want in a tackle prospect.

NEGATIVES

Good luck getting Vaitai involved in the run game. At TCU, he was more spectator than blocker on first and second down. Because of the TCU offensive scheme and an overwhelming lack of agility, he’s not prepared for life at tackle in the NFL.

Even though he played some left tackle in college, Vaitai is not a left tackle prospect for the NFL. He lacks the flexibility, body control and overall athleticism to handle NFL rushers on the blindside. Without great power in his hands to kick-start the run game, he also doesn’t project well to the right side—especially now that teams are deploying athletes from both the left and right sides of the defense as pass-rushers.

Vaitai had a memorable college career, but a lack of athletic tools make his projection limited. Football IQ and work ethic unfortunately only go so far.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 320 lbs.

40 Time: 5.26s

Arm Length: 34 ¼"

3-Cone: 8.26s

Short Shuttle: 5.00s

PRO COMPARISON: Cameron Fleming, New England Patriots
FINAL GRADE: 5.40/9.00 (Round 7—Backup Caliber)