PFF scouting profile: Christian Westerman, G, Arizona State

Below is the PFF draft profile for Arizona State G Christian Westerman, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit: Starting guard, more likely going to be viewed as a better fit as a zone blocker, but could play in any scheme

Stats to know: Finished eighth in the draft class with a +8.4 grade in pass protection but tied for 38th as a run blocker at +3.3

What he does best:

–Quick off the ball. Gets into good position, looks like a strong fit in zone blocking scheme

–Athletic in space, very smooth when locating defenders on the move

–Shows surprising power on down blocks, can finish and create movemen

–If used as puller in a power scheme, adept at finding a second-level defender

–Third-best overall grade among offensive linemen at Senior Bowl practice

–One of the best pass protectors in the draft class, has two years of strong grading

–Has the quickness to handle speed rushers

–One of the few guards in the class who could be trusted to kick out to tackle in a pinch

Biggest concern:

–Has some ugly whiffs in the run game, loses right off the snap

–Loses to power at the point of attack

–Not a great drive blocker in man blocking scheme

–Two years of average run block grades

–Struggles with length at times

–Whiffed on a few backside cutoffs on zone plays

Bottom line: 

While Westerman’s size and movement skills project to a zone blocking scheme, some of his best work comes on down blocks and pulls, so a man/gap scheme is not out of the question. He’s one of the best pass-protecting guards in the class, and that’s where he’ll separate himself from some of the big, man-blocking guards that are competing with him at the top of the draft.