ESPN’s McShay grades Scherff high

IOWA CITY - ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay grades Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff as the No. 2 tackle entering next spring's draft. But McShay believes Scherff could have an even greater upside at another position.

'He's a powerful, explosive, tough, as tough as any offensive lineman in college football,” said McShay, who served as ESPN2's sideline reporter for Saturday's Iowa-Iowa State game. 'He's a finisher. I think he's good in pass protection.

'Ideally he's either a right tackle or a guard in the NFL. I think he can be a really good, solid offensive tackle in the NFL or he can be a great guard. Either way I've got a first-round grade on him and No. 2 offensive tackle (behind Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi).”

Scherff, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 320 pounds, was a likely first-round selection had he left after his junior year. He's in his third season as a starter at left tackle. It's still likely he gets a shot at that position in the NFL.

Many NFL scouts and general managers dwell on arm length for left tackles, who often face long-armed defensive ends who can attack with swim moves before the offensive lineman can adjust.

'Part of pass protection is arm length. He's in the 33-inch range,” McShay said. 'The average is 34 1/2 for tackles who go to the combine the last five years. Most of the elite offensive tackles that play left tackle in the league are high 34s, 35. Tyron Smith is 36 and change for the Dallas Cowboys. So it gives them an advantage.

'Everyone says it's ridiculous and I get it, but the numbers say that it's not ridiculous. But then there's Joe Thomas, who has 32 1/2-inch arms. He's one of the best pass-protecting left tackles in the NFL for how many years now. There are exceptions to the rule. Riley Reiff, Bryan Bulaga, all these Iowa guys, Marshal Yanda, he's had a great career at guard. Either way, wherever he winds up, he should have a really good long career.”

McShay grades Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis (6-5, 315) in the second- or third-round range.

'I think he's got a quick first step,” McShay said. 'The more I watch, the more I appreciate his technique, how strong he is in his upper body to engage with offensive linemen but also to find the ball and get off of blocks and go make plays. He's disruptive. He's a really good player. I don't know if he's in the elite category, but I do think he's probably going to be somewhere in that day two range.”

Davis is built more like a 4-3 defensive tackle, McShay says, but he also could play defensive end in a 3-4 front.

'I think what he does give you is versatility,” McShay said. 'Either way, so many teams are multiple up front, and I think he's capable of playing multiple roles in a multiple defensive front scheme.”

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