I think that Jaxson Kirkland will end up being one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not for the reasons that we usually use the word. He’s not a crazy personality that you either love or hate. I think that some teams are really going to like him, and some teams are really not. Kirkland is a pass-blocking offensive tackle who has struggled tremendously as a run blocker most of his career. For pass-friendly teams, Kirkland is a fit and could be an early-to-mid-round pick. For run-heavy teams, he’s a liability. 

Age plays a major factor into Kirkland’s evaluation at this point. How long can he play professional football? He will be 25 at the start of the season, which will hamper his long term outlook in the NFL. Many people also have him playing guard, but to me he still has the lateral quickness to hold up at offensive tackle. He’s a finished product, for the most part, not really offering much potential or upside.

After overcoming injury a year ago, it's been awesome to see @Jaxson_Kirkland crush it at @UW_Football this year and then at the 2023 @ShrineBowl.

Really powerful, natural at OG. Here is his rep vs. one of the best DTs during practice.

Strong, can recover/reset, and FINISHES. pic.twitter.com/8WXMly3tyx

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) February 16, 2023

Injuries have been a bit of an issue over the last couple of seasons for Kirkland, as he’s missed a few games over the last couple of years. 

Jaxson Kirkland’s scouting report

Athletic Ability (40)

Athleticism: 20 –

• Speed (6.5/10) – Doesn’t have great speed, but it’s adequate. May struggle with speed rushes a bit. 
• Lateral Quickness (8/10) – Displays excellent lateral quickness after setting to stay committed to the assignment. 

Strength/Power: 20 –

• Upper Body Strength (5.5/7) – Exhibits some good upper body strength, delivers good punches. Holds defenders in place with his strength in the block. Excellent lock. 
• Lower Body Strength (4/7) – Not particularly built with his lower body, really struggles to drive defenders off the ball. 
• Brute Power (3/6) – Not so much a brute. Very much a technical type of player. 

Lineman Technique (45)

Anchor/Plant: 10 –

• Anchor Strength (4.5/5) – Has a good anchor, sets very well in pass protection. Very level, gets down low very well. Very strong anchor. 
• Plant Recovery (4/5) – I don’t see Kirkland in many situations where he has to recover but looks solid when he has to. Has excellent bend and settles well. 

Hand Usage: 15 –

• Hand Placement (5.5/7) – Good hand placement. Looks more refined as a pass protector. Excellent punch ability and placement with his hands to keep the defender off balance. 
• Hand Strength (4/5) – Very strong hands. Deals with a lot of power moves with relative ease. Locks into the block and limits how the defender can attack. 
• Technique (2/3) – Shows good technique, though he could improve this side of his game a bit. 

Pass Block: 10 –

• Strength (4/5) – Fairly strong in pass protection. Has a good anchor that allows him to set well. Handles different types of rushers well. 
• Consistency (4/5) – Consistent in keeping his assignment out of the backfield. Allowed just 3 sacks in the last three years. 

Run Block: 10 –

• Strength (2.5/5) – Not the greatest run blocker. Doesn’t have the drive that you want to see in his lower body. Has the ability to work into the second level consistently and create big opportunities. Struggles to get ahold of the block from the snap. 
• Consistency (3/5) – Will struggle at times to make the block when going downfield. Prefers to set rather than attack. 

Persona (15)

Football IQ: 10 –

• College Transition (3/5) – College offense had a lot of things that don’t translate well to the NFL level, so there may be a bit of a learning curve for Kirkland. 
• Understanding of Assignments (4/5) – Understands his assignment and is a smart player. Has no issues with a bunch of different schemes. 

Overall: (75.5) – 3rd/4th Round