From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson.
NO. 79 JACK NELSON, OT, WISCONSIN (R-SENIOR) – 6070, 314 POUNDS
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Jack Nelson | 6070/314 | 10 | 33 1/2 | N/A |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| N/A | N/A | 23 |
THE GOOD
— Has great height and length for the position
— Brings a wealth of experience to the table
— Is a natural lateral mover mirroring defenders
— Does a good job climbing to the second level and making combo blocks
— Can make reach blocks thanks to length and effort
— Fairly good athlete out in open space
— Fights hard on his run fits and drives his legs on contact
— Strikes opponents in the chest with accurate punches
— Plays with good knee bend for his size
— Does a good job hitting and replacing with his hands in pass protection
— Can recover quickly from giving up the edge to get back in front of his man
THE BAD
— Can stand to add more functional mass and strength to his frame
— Doesn’t show a consistent vertical kick step in pass protection
— Will overset in pass protection, leaving himself prone to counters
— Has a bad habit of dropping his head and lunging into blocks
— Will struggle against power rushers that get into his frame quickly
— Can do a better job syncing up his hands and feet in pass protection
BIO
— Redshirt senior from Stoughton, WI
— Real Estate and Urban Land Economics major
— Father played OL at Wisconsin and was drafted in the 12th round by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1989
— Brother Barrett joined the Badgers as an OL in 2022
— Is a licensed scuba diver that also enjoys working on engines
— Three-time letter winner in basketball
— Four-star recruit according to Rivals
— Played in one game as a reserve in 2020 and redshirted
— Started 13 games at right guard in 2021
— Started 12 games at left tackle in 2022
— Started 13 games at left tackle in 2023
— Started 13 games at left tackle in 2024
— Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2021-22), 2024 Team Captain
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Jack Nelson was born and bred to be an offensive lineman at the University of Wisconsin. His father starred with the Badgers and went on to play in the league for a short time, paving the way for Jack and his younger brother, Barrett, to follow in his footsteps. Jack Nelson would go on to become the top offensive line recruit out of the state of Wisconsin and ended up starting 51 games for the Badgers.
When you pop in the tape on Nelson, you see an accomplished run blocker with great height and length. He does a great job striking the opponent’s chest and working up to the second level of the defense, as you can see below against Oregon. He combo blocks up to the linebacker and seals him off to create running room at the second level of the defense.
Nelson strains hard to get in position on his blocks and fights to and through the whistle. Watch this rep against Alabama, where he reach-blocks the defensive lineman and plants him into the turf, giving the runner some room to get upfield and push the pile for additional yardage at the end of the play.
Nelson plays with a good knee bend in pass protection and mirroring pass rushers laterally up and down the line of scrimmage. He also times up his punches well, as you can see in the clips below, being controlled as he keeps defenders out of the pocket.
He times his punches well and does a good job striking inside the defender’s chest to control the block, as you can see in the clips below against Ohio State. On both plays, he lands one hand inside the defensive lineman’s chest and then lands the other to neutralize the defender.
The biggest issue with Nelson’s game is his tendency to lunge forward into blocks, dropping his head, which leads to plenty of whiffs. He needs to play with more consistent bend and more core strength in pass protection to eliminate plays like the one below against Alabama, where DL LT Overton smokes him around the corner for the big sack as Nelson gets caught leaning and loses balance at the top of the pocket.
Another big issue with Nelson in pass protection is his lack of a consistent vertical kick step to set the depth of the pocket effectively. Watch the play below against the Crimson Tide. Nelson quickly gets out of his stance rather than setting the depth of the pocket, nearly allowing Overton into the pocket again as he pressures the quarterback as he releases the football.
CONCLUSION
Jack Nelson is an experienced long offensive lineman best suited to play tackle at the next level, but he has some experience at guard and may be suited there if he can add some weight based on his issues as a pass protector. He is a sound run blocker, but his tendencies to set a short pocket and his forward lean make him more of a developmental player than someone you want to trust to start immediately. Still, Nelson should fit a zone/gap scheme and can develop into a quality depth option that can possibly be fit for swing tackle duties if he irons out his technical issues.
When coming up with a pro comp for Nelson, Charlie Heck came to mind as another tackle with very similar measurables and athleticism, as well as a potential role Nelson may have in the league as more of a reserve that can see action but may not develop into a high-end quality starter.
Projection: Day 3
Depot Draft Grade: 6.9 -5th Round (Backup/Special Teamer)
Games Watched: vs Alabama (2024), vs Ohio State (2024) at Purdue (2024)
