STRENGTHS
Zion is what I call a unicorn offensive lineman. He can play any position on the offensive line, you need him to play at a high level. Zion shows the foot speed and quickness along with solid lateral agility to block in any style of offensive blocking system. He shows on film the ability to get out to the second level, change direction and make the block on a linebacker. He is very smart and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Zion has the intellect needed to take what he leans on the field from practice, into the game and improve. He can get to the outside and be the lead blocker on sweeps and screens. As I stated before Zion is a unicorn and sometimes people find it very hard to believe they exist, even when they see them right in front of their own eyes.
CONCERNS
Zion, of course, will have to get stronger but the biggest issue is that teams will have to decide what position to play him at. Will it be center, because of his ability to adjust quickly and learn? Will it be guard, because he is as good a run blocker as he is a pass blocker? Will it be Offensive Tackle, because that is a position of need and he can play it at a high level because of his quick feet? It’s hard to pin down a unicorn.
BOTTOM LINE 1.72
At the Senior Bowl, they didn’t even wait for Zion to get off the airplane before they switch him from playing Left Tackle for his college team to playing the Center position. He did work out at times at guard but he was mainly used at the center position all week and on game day. It was amazing how fast he took to playing center at a high level all during the week. My guess is that he will be selected as an interior lineman and the team that feels he will be an upgrade at center will play him there. If a team has a good center then it looks to me like he will play guard until he is needed to play center. If you know me by now you know that I consider the skill positions on offense to be QB, LT, OC. I don’t care where you select those players in a draft but you will not have a playoff team if those three positions do not have pro bowl players or at least top cap dollar players. Zion will be that type of player. He will stretch the cap at whatever position he plays. It will be interesting to see at what position, and team, the unicorn lands with. The truth is, it was kind of magical how quickly he took to playing the center position.
