Ryan Hayes has been one of the most improved players over the last two years in football. When I took a look at him in the 2021 offseason, I saw a potentially good player who had a lot of footwork and technique to clean up. Now, he looks like he could potentially be a day-one player and perhaps even start in his first season in the NFL. He’s a strong left tackle prospect and should be a top-fifty pick.
Ryan Hayes
OT – Michigan Wolverines
HT: 6002
WT: 307
Year: Super Junior
High School: Traverse City West (Traverse City, MI)
Rating: 4-star (0.8958)
Projected Draft Grade: Second-Year Starter
Projection: 1st/2nd Round
Ryan Hayes scouting notes
Pros:
- Very decent lateral quickness.
- His lower body is the strongest part of his body, and it’s good.
- Recovers nicely, gets into his lower body drive to catch himself. Has solid strength at that point.
- Relies on his finesse technique to stabilize against pass rushers.
- Very strong, heavy hands.
- Started at left tackle, so is expected to hold up in pass protection. Anchor isn’t great but he recovers nicely. Good consistency held up well at left tackle in 2022.
- Very stout run blocker. Gets a strong downhill push. Generates a lot of power consistently.
- Fairly consistent run blocker. Works up well into the second level.
- Ran a professional style scheme at Michigan that ran both zone and man-blocking schemes.
- Very smart blocker and understands how to win his assignment.
Cons:
- Footwork is a little flimsy in his drop. It doesn’t set as well as you’d like to see.
- Can get dangerous with his initial placement and might draw some holding calls.
