Cody Whitehair NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Bears Rookie

POSITIVES

A four-time All-Big 12 player, Cody Whitehair started 51 games at Kansas State (of a possible 52) and ended his career with a streak 41 contests in which he served as a starter.

A left tackle at Kansas State, Whitehair is being projected all over the offensive line by NFL teams. Some viewed him best at guard, where he’d make a move similar to Zack Martin or Joel Bitonio, but others (and myself) see him as a Mitch Morse-type player who would be best at center. Whitehair handled snaps at the Senior Bowl and was a natural.

A relentless worker, Whitehair has body control and poise in his pass sets and excellent leverage throughout his blocking resume. He’s an ideal mix of strength, balance and work ethic. Whitehair has heavy hands and is able to slide to shadow defenders in space at tackle or move inside at an interior position. He understands timing and is excellent in working with angles to reach linebackers in space. His wide trunk allows him to fire off with power and move defenders at impact.

A projection to an inside position is a must for Whitehair given his lack of length and bulk, and teams may be split on whether he should be a guard or a center. Either way, he has the look of a rookie starter with Pro Bowl upside thanks to his technique and toughness.

NEGATIVES

Tall with short arms and a lean frame, Whitehair doesn’t have the body type to play at tackle and may need to add strength and size to play inside. Even as a guard, Whitehair’s 32” arms may be viewed as a red flag.

Whitehair sometimes has a propensity to lunge when attacking defenders at the second level. Contests against athletic linebackers saw him playing with more of a waist bend in the run game than seen against marginal competition.

A safe, smart player, Whitehair was a jack-of-all-trades at Kansas State and has the tools to excel once he’s able to truly settle into one position and work within an actual pro scheme.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 301 lbs.

40 Time: 5.08s

Arm Length: 32 ⅜"

3-Cone: 7.32s

Short Shuttle: 4.58s

PRO COMPARISON: Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
FINAL GRADE: 6.90/9.00 (Round 2—Rookie Starter)