If the Broncos’ 2020 season started today, the starting offensive line would feature Garett Bolles at left tackle, Dalton Risner at right guard, Ja’Wuan James at right tackle, and some combination of Patrick Morris, Elijah Wilkinson, and Graham Glasgow at center and right guard. It isn’t the worst offensive line in the league, but there’s definitely questions.
Jedrick Wills would provide a few answers.
Scouting Report:
- Good athleticism, has the feet, hands, and core you want from a tackle prospect.
- Very good competitive toughness, opponents will hate him.
- Very good play strength, does not want for power in any facet of his game.
- Good mental processing, he recognizes stunts, twists, and games before they come his way.
- Good hands, when he gets his mitts on you it’s probably over.
- Elite gap blocker, he’ll bury you coming downhill. If you need a tough yard, he’s your guy.
- Good zone blocker who can serve as a rock wall, could improve on backside.
- Elite pass blocker, Alabama routinely forgot about him on an island.
- Elite anchor, he should stonewall bull rushers from day 1.
- Adequate height, under the 50th percentile for a tackle.
- Rumors at Combine that teams had taken him off tackle board for fear over mental acuity.
Jedrick Wills is a OT prospect in the 2020 draft class out of Alabama.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 29, 2020
He posted a great #RAS with poor size, great speed, elite explosiveness, at the OT position.https://t.co/p9G06Do0HQ pic.twitter.com/C0Zp1BDhaO
What I’ve heard/read:
NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Jedrick Wills | NFL.com
Wills falls below the height/length norm for tackles, but his quick, well-timed punches and varied approach prevent defenders from finding rush rhythms and using length against him. Agility and body control allow him to handle move-blocking duties successfully, but his leverage and elite transference of power from hips to his hands provide a big advantage as a body mover at the point of attack. His desire to control each snap occasionally leads to over-sets and lunging in an effort to stay ahead of opponents. Wills is one of the most impressive tackles in the draft; he has basketball-caliber foot quickness and the quick hands of a boxer, and all of it is wrapped in a stout, powerful package of bad intentions. His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is good starter to All-Pro.
Jedrick Wills OT Alabama - Draft Player Profile | The Draft Network - Jordan Reid
There aren’t too many prospects that entered the pre-draft process with a hotter stock than Jedrick Wills. Playing only right tackle during his career with the Tide, his development went through the roof from his sophomore to junior seasons. That leap is what made evaluators highly intrigued with his skill set. A junkyard dog mentality carries over as both a run blocker and pass protector. His awareness and savvy flow throughout all types of situations in games, but it’s his mindset that sets him apart from the others in this class. A part of a loaded offensive tackle class, Wills name is right near the top. The jury is still out on whether or not he can transition to left tackle, but at worst, he’s a day one starter that can fulfill the requirements on the right side, but he also brings added nastiness immediately to an entire unit.
Jedrick Wills OT Alabama - Draft Player Profile | The Draft Network - Kyle Crabbs
Jedrick Willis is a plug and play Pro Bowl caliber OT in the NFL. Wills has surreal ability as a pass protector, he’s violent, he’s controlled, he’s smooth and he’s smart. Wills plays with a chip on his shoulder and brings the kind of attitude adjustment up front that can make wakes and change the demeanor of an offensive line. Supremely gifted, Wills is especially attractive to teams that push the ball vertically, as his movement skills allow him to shine on an island in pass protection. STUD.
Jedrick Wills OT Alabama - Draft Player Profile | The Draft Network - Drae Harris
In the NFL he is a starting RT, with true positional flexibility to kick Inside to Guard. He has the intellect, competitiveness and technique to play Left Tackle in a pinch, however I do not believe his skill set is ideally suited here. He plays in an offense with pro concepts already and will have no issues with adaptability in the NFL
Wills is one of the most explosive and agile offensive tackles you’ll ever see. That’s a winning combination at tackle in the NFL.
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Latest news & rumors around the NFL | PFN
Moving in the other direction is Jedrick Wills, as teams are concerned about his ability to mentally process a complex blocking scheme. Some teams now project Wills to guard.
Why he fits
In their first season under Mike Munchak, the Broncos’ offensive line moved towards more gap concepts than fans have seen in recent memory. With Pat Shurmur the new offensive coordinator that should only continue. Jedrick Wills will shine on down blocks and has the technique and savvy to hold his own on an island in pass protection, which can free up the scheme to help others. He enters the league ready to start and would provide an instant impact somewhere on the line.
Garett Bolles is entering the last year of his rookie contract and the Broncos have no decided on his fifth year option. Ja’Wuan James is entering year two and Elway could cut his losses on the big ticket free agent as early as 2021. Between them, there are questions that a top tier offensive lineman could help. With Wills’ potential to push one of the tackles or slide inside and serve as an answer at guard this season, he should be in high demand.
Final Thoughts
On my final Broncos’ big board, Jedrick Wills is a top five player. Personally I hope the rumors out of the Combine spook teams 1-14 into getting him to slip to Denver and Elway scoops up a steal.