Finding Broncos: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU | How he Fits, Where he Goes

Finding Broncos scouts the 2020 NFL Draft class to find the best Mile High fits. What's the scoop on Lucas Niang and how would he fit in Denver?

Author:
Erick Trickel
Publish date:
Mar 29, 2020 1:15 PM EDT

Measurements

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 315

Arms: 34-1/4 inches

Hands: 10-1/2 inches

Combine Results

*Did not participate

Pros

Keeps upper & lower body working in unison
Widens into contact to protect balance
Strikes with an upward motion to put defenders on their heels
Good lateral agility
Gains ground quickly when in space
Enters contact with a strong pop from the hands
Versatility to handle all blocking schemes
Uses his length extremely well
Has a really good mirror
Played well vs. OSU in 2018 against Chase Young & Nick Bosa
Has elite recovery athleticism
Has a strong anchor that he can drop suddenly to halt all movement
Keeps his eyes hunting to be aware of blitzes & twists
Keeps his inside arm up & ready for stunting 3-techs

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Cons

Injury history includes torn hip labrum surgery in November 2019
Doesn’t always finish blocks
Will lose his hand control
Sometimes will give up balance as rep goes on
Feet need to be more consistent when moving
Kick-slides need to be more consistent
Will go through the rep top-heavy
Body build isn’t attractive for some teams
Punch needs to be more accurate and consistent with power

Overview

Lucas Niang would be a first-round option for many teams if he didn’t suffer the injury late in the 2019 season. He has all the tools and traits that you want for an NFL left tackle. There is also the option to play him at right tackle, and some may see some potential to play him inside at guard if need be.

NFL coaches will need to work on his kick-slide and will need to come up with a plan to clean up his build. The biggest concern will need to be cleaning up his punch technique and making it more consistent.