NFL Draft Profile: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Offensive Lineman, Oregon Ducks
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Oregon Ducks
#71
Pos: iOL
Ht: 6055
Wt: 317
Hand: 1048
Arm: 3448
Wing: 8278
40: 5.23
DOB: 5/25/1999
Hometown: Hilo, HI
High School: Liberty
Eligibility: 2023
One Liner:
Aumavae-Laulu possesses an intriguing frame with decent arm length and mobility, but his hand usage in pass protection and agility aren’t up to par.
Evaluation:
Aumavae-Laulu stood 6052 and weighed 322 lbs. with 33 7/8-inch arms and an 83 1/2-inch wingspan at the Shrine Bowl. His frame offers ideal size and mass for an offensive tackle. Aumavae-Laulu has experience playing right tackle and right guard, but it’s unlikely he will kick inside at the next level because of his build. The redshirt senior offers adequate initial speed in his kick step and slide, but he needs to play a step faster at the next level. He’ll step to take the air out of the pass rush occasionally, but this also leads to oversetting and opening interior rush lanes. Aumavae-Laulu has decent bend in his knees, but there are instances of him surrendering leverage on extended plays. He is quick to diagnose and pass off defenders on stunts. Aumavae-Laulu maintains a consistent base, and his feet remain active throughout the play. He has the strength to seal or cave in the defensive end on run plays. Aumavae-Laulu’s speed allows him to handle duties as a pulling offensive lineman, but he looks unbalanced climbing to the second level. The All-Pac-12 honorable mention doesn’t mirror defenders in the open field, and his limited agility makes him a poor fit for gap schemes. Aumavae-Laulu is top-heavy and unbalanced on the move. He lunges into contact in the run game, which occasionally leads to him whiffing on blocks. The Hawaii native ended up on the ground a lot against Georgia (2022), which supports concerns regarding his balance and power. In pass protection, Aumavae-Laulu is late to engage his hands and allows defenders into his chest. He doesn’t maximize his arm length and has poor hand placement. The right tackle takes too long to clamp down on defenders and his punches lack the firmness to dent a pass rush. Aumavae-Laulu doesn’t have a high-end anchor. There are instances of power rushers overwhelming him. He lacks the reactionary agility to handle quick edge rushers on an island.
Grade:
7th Round
Background:
Originally from Hilo, Hawaii. He attended Liberty High School and was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports. Began his college career at Navarro College. He played two seasons at Navarro College, contributing to a very successful offensive line. Transferred to the University of Oregon prior to the 2019 season. Decided to redshirt his first year at Oregon. During the shortened 2020 season, he started six games, playing right tackle and right guard. As a redshirt junior, he played in all fourteen games, totaling 710 offensive snaps and contributing to an outstanding offensive line. During his redshirt senior season, he played twelve games and was part of a very strong offense.
