[2019 Draft/2-55] Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois

Welcome to the Texans, kid!

Max Scharping, OT/G, Northern Illinois
Height: 6-5. Weight: 327. Arm: 33.75. Hand: 9.75.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25. Three Cone: 7.77.
Bench: 27. Vertical: 28. Broad: 9-0.
Projected Round (2019): 3-4.
4/24/19: Scharping had a solid senior year. An injury kept him from working out at the combine, but he could still end up being a second-day pick.

8/28/18: According to NFL teams' preseason data provided by team sources, Scharping checks in at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds. He is said to run the 40 in 5.25 seconds. His arms measure at 33.5 inches, his hands at 9.88 inches, and his wing span at 80 inches.

The Huskies right tackle has good size to him and has been a steady blocker for them. NFL sources say they are projecting Scharping to move inside to guard at the next level, but entering his senior year, he is being projected to go in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.



Houston Texans: Max Scharping, G/OT, Northern Illinois C Grade
This is Houston's best pick so far, and yet it earns only a "C" grade. Perhaps the franchise shouldn't have fired all of their smart personnel people because Bill O'Brien wanted "yes men." At any rate, Max Scharping was introduced as a tackle, but he's going to have to move to guard in the NFL. He'll get smoked if he plays tackle. Scharping could be a decent guard, but he's a slight reach in the second round.




Max Scharping 2019 NFL Draft Profile
To say that Max Scharping was a regular starter at both high school and collegiate level is probably an understatement. At Southwest High in Green Bay, WI, Scharping started on both the offensive and defensive line for three seasons. Despite that experience, he didn’t receive a single Power Five scholarship offer and ended up committing to Northern Illinois which was one of three MAC schools who offered him.

Scharping redshirted in 2014 but a year later, he embarked on one of the more impressive college careers you’re likely to see. He was the only MAC player to make the FWAA Freshman All-America Team for his work at both right tackle and right guard. During his sophomore year, he played his part on a Huskie offensive line that conceded just eight sacks, the lowest mark in the nation that year.

He followed up those impressive campaigns with two more as an upperclassman. As a junior, he moved to left tackle and was among the most adept in college football at keeping pass rushers away from his quarterback. For his efforts, he earned first-team all-MAC recognition with Pro Football Focus giving him a pass-blocking grade of 99. And among the feats he achieved during his senior year was not allowing a single sack or pressure against highly touted edge rushing prospect Brian Burns when the Huskies played Florida State.

In the end, Scharping started all 53 of the games he appeared in for NIU. Not only that, but he excelled in the classroom as he earned both an undergraduate and master’s degree and garnered numerous academic awards.

Strengths

• possesses pro-caliber physical traits;
• played both tackle positions as well as guard in college;
• highly intelligent and should be able to grasp complexities of an NFL playbook;
• plays in a nice, compact position with solid knee bend;
• mirror and anchor skills really stand out;
• does a good job guiding edge pressure away from the quarterback;
• will look for work in the second level when necessary;
• an impressive combination of upper-body strength and active hands;
• outstanding track record as a four-year starter;
• tremendous durability over the course of his four-year college career.

Weaknesses

• kick slide is lacking in athleticism;
• tracks too far to the perimeter at times which leaves him vulnerable to inside counters;
• lateral footwork is hasty rather than controlled;
• lacks consistency in run blocking;
• not much of a multi-tasker in terms of being able to execute a combo-down block;
• not a lot on tape suggesting he can pull to the inside;

NFL Comparison: Marcus Gilbert

Teams With Need at Position: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Projection: Second to third round

Bottom Line
Scharping is among the most experienced prospects in the year’s draft class. He received high marks during all four seasons of his college career and has plenty of traits that suggest he can make an impact at the next level. Among his strong points is consistently playing in a leveraged position and dominating at the point of attack. He’s also incredibly versatile, having played at right and left tackle as well as guard.

But Scharping’s best fit in the NFL might be on the right-hand side. His lateral athleticism is underwhelming which means he could struggle to set the edge against upper-echelon speed rushers. Defenders with a consistent plan and an array of complex moves are able to access his gaps and find a route to the quarterback. And if he wants to augment his every-down value, he has to become more well-rounded as a blocker in run support.

At the end of the day, Scharping has a huge opportunity to garner starting reps at the next level. He should be able to walk into a training camp this coming summer and push his teammates on the offensive line early on. Look for him to come off the board at some point on day two of the draft. And also expect to see him get playing time in some capacity next season.