Evan Boehm NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Cardinals Rookie

POSITIVES

A captain in his senior season at Missouri, Evan Boehm started 52 straight games for the Tigers, including 12 in his final year. A three-year starter at center, Boehm hit the ground running and started 12 games at left guard in his true freshman (2012) season.

The son of a high school football coach, Boehm is the ideal center prospect on the hoof. He’s tall enough with big hands (10 ¼”) and has a thick, powerful trunk. He’s a natural anchor in the middle of the line and showed his football IQ by handling line checks for the Tigers in each of the last two seasons.

Boehm is an easy mover in space and has the traits to handle both zone- or power-scheme assignments. Boehm plays with fantastic power at the point of attack and pancaked SEC defensive tackles routinely. He’s poised, confident and is the ultimate help-blocker in the middle of the line. Coming from Mizzou, which has become an offensive line factory, Boehm developed as a player with the Tigers coaching staff's help, and he can mentally handle the NFL as a rookie.

In space and in tight quarters, Boehm excels. He uses leverage well to control power-rushers and has the quickness to move laterally and protect the gaps off his shoulders. He can get in space and reach linebackers with his explosive hands and looks natural pulling or trapping.

NEGATIVES

Boehm played through a high ankle sprain throughout the 2015 campaign, which may help explain why he took a step back on the field this season. Some scouts have expressed concerns that the line around him in 2014—with Connor McGovern and Mitch Morse—hid his flaws.

Boehm is built like a brick house with short legs and short arms. Teams that like length at center will frown at his sub-32” arms. He’s a short-strider who takes time to build up to the second level when chasing linebackers. This was notable against BYU when defenders who ran at a pro level challenged him.

If teams don’t like Boehm’s frame, he’ll be a wash for them because it’s completely maxed out. He’s as big as he’s going to get at 309 pounds. That, coupled with poor length and a down year in 2015, could be enough to see him fall to Day 3 of the draft.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 309 lbs.

40 Time: 5.33s

Arm Length: 31 ⅝"

3-Cone: 7.52s

Short Shuttle: 4.69s

PRO COMPARISON: Weston Richburg, New York Giants
FINAL GRADE: 5.99/9.00 (Round 3-4—Future Starter)