Finding Broncos: Zach Tom | OL | Wake Forest
Measurements
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 304 pounds
- Arms: 33-1/4 inches
- Hands: 10-3/8 inches
Combine Results
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.94 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 33 inches
- Broad Jump: 118 inches
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.32 seconds
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.47 seconds
Pros
- Technique and footwork in pass protection are excellent when he doesn't occasionally overset.
- Has a lot of starting experience under his belt and has started at multiple positions.
- Brings versatility to play any of the five spots on the O-line, with most of his college starts at left tackle and center.
- Football IQ is excellent, and he can make the needed reads as plays develop.
- Ability to climb with timing and hit his landmarks are elite.
- Kick slide is smooth and clean.
- Highly fluid and smooth with his movements, especially laterally.
- Timing and placement with his punch are consistent and quick.
- Has excellent adjustments and reactive athleticism to handle counters.
- Hands are strong, and he keeps them working as a blocker.
- Works with outstanding balance and decent bend and will rarely lunge into contact.
- Technically, he's one of the more developed O-line prospects in the class.
- Has an excellent ability to re-anchor to give bull rush attempts a handful, though his anchor isn't the strongest.
- Does an excellent job of using his technique to make up for strength and power deficiencies.
Cons
- Can get jolted at the point of attack.
- A bit thin in the lower half, leading to some anchoring issues.
- Isn't the most violent blocker and, at times, lacks the finishing desire.
- His base is a little thin and narrow, leading to issues handling bigger nose tackles.
- Has a bad habit of oversetting and leaving himself open to counters.
- Overall strength is lacking and can get him in trouble.
- Best suited to playing inside despite his versatility.
- Length isn't ideal for tackles, with most teams having 34-inch arm thresholds, but 33-1/4 inches is just over the bare minimum for others.
- His punch could have more strength behind the hit to be more of a jolting force for defenders.
- Limited to being an outside-zone blocker only.
- While he has the potential to play guard, he has not taken a snap there.
Overview
Zach Tom is an athletic and versatile offensive lineman who can play all over the line. Teams will want to figure out the best spot to put him, and somewhere on the interior is likely best. With his traits, he won't be for every team because he doesn't have the ideal strength and power.
However, teams that run a primarily outside-zone scheme will love him because of the movement skills and technique he's bringing to the NFL. Tom can be a day-one starter at any of the five spots, even tackle for the right team. With his football IQ, teams could plug him at center and use his athleticism and intelligence to win.
The lack of power with Tom will be concerning, but he can consistently re-drop his anchor. Because of his ability to reset and recover, no rep is over early. His athleticism and versatility will significantly draw teams running outside zone-heavy schemes.
Fit with Broncos
If the Denver Broncos want to find a versatile offensive lineman that can start right away or raise the floor of the room, Tom would be an excellent option. He's an ideal fit within the Broncos' scheme and provides such a valuable piece of depth because of that versatility.
Tom could push to be a starter on the line with his football IQ, even at right tackle for the Broncos. In addition, his ability to step in and play right away would add another piece to compete for the starting job. While Tom's ceiling isn't the highest of the offensive lineman in the class, he can still be a good starter in the NFL and has a high floor.
Tom's value will be all over the place because of the scheme limitations while offering positional versatility. His value is probably there later, Day 2 or early Day 3 for a team like the Broncos.
Grade: Mid Round 3
Where he Goes: Late Round 3/Early Round 4
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