Donnell Greene NFL Draft Prospect Report

 

“To play in the trenches you have to be physical, and I feel like I’m a physical player,”

Donnell Greene

 

Introduction

Donnell Greene is an offensive lineman from the University of Minnesota. Greene measured in at 6’5”, 335 pounds. He had 35 and 1/4 inch arms and 9 and 1/2 inch arms. Greene transferred from Coffeyville Community College to the University of Minnesota after his freshman year. He started the final eight games his redshirt sophomore year and started from there on. Greene did not participate in drills as he was recovering from a knee injury.

Positives

I spoke to Greene and he told me he is comfortable at either tackle or guard on either the left or right side. Greene played tackle at Minnesota, and he has the size for it. However, his lack of elite athleticism might make him a better fit at guard. Greene is a decent athlete, but I could see the good speed rushers giving him trouble. Watching film, he seems to be a better run blocker than pass blocker. This would also mean guard could be a better fit for him. He told me he is also comfortable playing in any type of blocking scheme. I asked Greene about his own nastiness and how he defined it.

 

“To play in the trenches you have to be physical, and I feel like I’m a physical player, so I feel like I can bring that to a team if they decide to draft me,” said Greene.

Negatives

As mentioned, Greene needs to work on his athleticism and agility if he is going to stay at tackle. His feet aren’t quick enough to deal with good outside speed rushers in the NFL. He can also get pushed back a bit by straight ahead rushers. To combat this he needs to work on his technique, specifically his leverage, getting lower than the defensive lineman.

Prediction

Greene is a big boy and that certainly works in his favor playing on the offensive line. If Greene does play tackle he fits better at right tackle than left. I would move him inside to guard immediately and have him as a 3rd depth guy at right tackle. He won’t be able to become fast/quick enough to be a great tackle, but he has some potential at guard with his size. There are a couple of technical issues he needs to clean up, but he’s got the raw size so he should be able to be coached up. Greene is projected to be a later 3rd day pick, possibly an undrafted free agent, I would be comfortable taking him as early as the fifth round and moving him inside to guard.

 

Draft Dive Grade: 5th-7th Round

 

Likely Landing Spots: Staying put to the Minnesota Vikings, LA Chargers, LA Raiders, Denver Broncos.

Back to the start with Ethan Greenidge.