Willie Beavers, OT
School: Western Michigan | Conference: Mid-American
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 324 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th or 5th Round
NFL Comparison: Jamon Brown
College Statistics
N/A
Player Overview
Willie Beavers is a Michigan native and he wouldn't mind being drafted by the Detroit Lions. He was a 3-star recruit coming out of high school but didn't get much interest from BIG-10 schools despite Michigan being a talent hub for those schools. Beavers initially committed to Illinois but the Illini overrecruited that incoming class and Beavers was one of the prospects that had to find another school to play for. He finally found a home at Western Michigan and has been a key part of their offensive line over the past 3 years. Beavers has started 40 straight games in his career.
What's most impressive about him is his athleticism for such a big man. It isn't elite by any means but few 324 lb OTs can move like Beavers. He has naturally quick feet, strength, and his long arms have helped him stonewall pass rushers and create lanes for his running back. Beavers is pretty raw as a prospect, struggles with speed rushers off the edge, and that is slightly concerning given his streak as a starter. However I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as Western Michigan isn't known for playing high-level competition, high-level coaching, or high-level offensive line coaching. Give Beavers a year or two with an NFL offensive line coach and he could be molded into starting OT material.
Strengths
- Plays with a solid base, knee bend, and footwork help him maintain leverage.
- Aggressive run blocker, best at down blocking opening lanes for the runner.
- Athletic for his size can get in space and cause damage.
- Has a good kick-slide and makes solid contact when he can mirror.
- Good functional strength with decent adjustments to stunts and blitzes.
Weaknesses
- Needs to be coached up quite a bit, can be beaten by speed rushers, susceptible to inside swim moves, waist bender, lunges and gets off balance, doesn't have recovery speed need to reset and shuffle. When beaten he will grab and that's holding.
- Has the worst bail move to try and create space for himself on the edge I have ever seen. You have got to check out the :37 mark of the Ohio State game.
- Lacks forceful punch and nastiness you want to see out of your LT.
- Can be pushed back too easily compromising the pocket.
Let's see his work:
Big ol club by Willie Beavers.. Long and strong.. pic.twitter.com/QIfx6Xj55m
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) February 12, 2016
How the F am I supposed to take Mayock seriously when he has Willie Beavers as his #5 OT? Come on.
— Jared Stanger (@JaredStanger) February 10, 2016
austin johnson vs willie beavers pic.twitter.com/8Xkey2RaY3
— charles (@SundayFiasco) January 28, 2016
Michigan State's Lawrence Thomas just hit the spin move on Western Michigan's Willie Beavers. Way too easy.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) January 28, 2016
One scout watching Willie Beavers run block yesterday. "What the f@$% was that!?"
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 28, 2016
At least one Bucs personnel member thinks Willie Beavers was much better at OT today than yesterday at OG. I agree
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 27, 2016
Willie Beavers (@beaves70_) gets hands inside, shows good feet and anchor ability https://t.co/PNpag98H59
— IDthe22 (@idthe22) January 27, 2016
WMU OL Willie Beavers struggled mightily yesterday at OG, but playing a lot better today at LT.. A LOT #SeniorBowl
— Mike Margittai NFL (@DraftMaverick) January 27, 2016
Willie Beavers and some dude... https://t.co/7E06KXlYHm
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 26, 2016
The super athletic Western Michigan LT Willie Beavers working against Mich St. DE Shilique Calhoun pic.twitter.com/cie4E60A8V
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 26, 2016
Combine Results
Willie Beavers #NFLDraft #Bears @BearsBarroom pic.twitter.com/4thWwyp4yO
— Panch Cotto (@Panch_55) February 26, 2016
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
Beavers is certainly a polarizing player. He just recently he fell out of Mayock's top 5 offensive tackle rankings. Some think he's a good prospect with tremendous upside and others think he's pure trash. My opinion falls somewhere in the middle. As it relates to the Redskins, you can't be sure we won't be looking at mid-round tackle prospects to compete with or replace Ty Nseke and Tom Compton. Beavers seems like a good developmental prospect for a zone blocking scheme because of his athleticism, but he certainly has the size and strength to play in a power scheme as well. If he is on our draft board he would have a shot at taking the swing tackle role over from free agent Tom Compton. In my view the 4th round would be too rich for a guy like him but I do believe he can get a lot of his deficiencies coached up. Ultimately I think we look elsewhere for a backup tackle, but it feels good knowing if we spend a draft pick on an OT he wouldn't be forced into heavy action because the Redskins have their bookends already.