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Max Mitchell NFL Draft Profile
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Max Mitchell Scouting ReportMitchell’s pass sets are a thing of beauty, as he reaches depth quickly and maintains balance throughout reps. You will be hard-pressed to find a play where Mitchell’s back is on the ground. Even if he loses balance, he’s able to shoot his legs back under him and recover. He has impressive flexibility and body control, allowing him to gain leverage consistently. He routinely showcases excellent hand placement paired with quick-moving feet. His body is almost always in sync, leading to a patient and under-control play style. As we will get into, Mitchell’s play strength is lacking, and he won’t wow physically, but he regularly sets himself up to win. Moreover, he has the awareness to identify stunts and pass off his defender to pick up another. Mitchell shines in the ground game. He makes quick work moving to the second level, paving paths for his RBs to follow. Louisiana primarily ran zone-rushing schemes, which played directly to Mitchell’s strengths. He keeps his shoulders square, secures double-teams, and swiftly moves to the next man in his area, keeping an eye on linebackers.
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Areas for ImprovementNo prospect is perfect, and Mitchell recognizes this. In an interview during the season, he stated, “I understand what needs to be done now. I just need to be able to do it better.” While Mitchell is an impressive athlete, it isn’t enough to make up for his lighter frame at the next level. He’s already susceptible to power, and his opponents will only be getting bigger and stronger.
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Max Mitchell Career at SchoolMitchell gained valuable playing time right out of the gates for the Cajuns. He moved from right to left tackle and played in all 14 games as a true freshman. As they say, “the rest was history.” Mitchell started every game as a true sophomore, lining up at left tackle, right tackle, and even left guard. After showcasing his versatility, Mitchell kicked out to RT and stayed there for the next two seasons. In 2020, Mitchell earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors and was a part of a Joe Moore Award semifinalist unit — given to the nation’s best offensive line. Additionally, in 2021, the Louisiana OT was named to the first-team All-Sun Belt and third-team AP All-American. As far as durability goes, the Louisiana OT only missed two games in his four-year career. In 2020, he missed a Week 3 matchup with Georgia Southern due to being asymptomatic with COVID-19. Then, last season, he sat out the New Orleans Bowl contest against Marshall due to a hand injury that shouldn’t have lasting effects. |
Max Mitchell NFL Draft Player ProfileDespite his struggles with power at the Senior Bowl and uninspiring showing at the Combine, NFL teams should view Mitchell as a tackle first and an exceptional guard prospect second. The difference in positional value should mean he gets a chance to make a living at tackle before moving inside. With his balance, stellar pass sets, smoothness in space, and sought-after consistency, Mitchell could go in Round 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Zone-rushing teams will like Mitchell, and a fit I like in Round 2 is the San Francisco 49ers at 61st overall. Trent Williams will be 34 by the time the 2022 season begins, and Mike McGlinchey will be a free agent next offseason. Mitchell fits their mold, and he can spend Year 1 bulking up and even starting on the interior if needed. Mitchell prides himself on his resiliency and effort. That, combined with his obvious talent on the field, will have the Louisiana OT follow in the footsteps of Hunt and Dotson this spring.
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