Saints Draft Prospect: Dennis Allen Met OL McClendon Curtis
New Orleans hope to add depth along its offensive line after a plague of injuries last season to veterans Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Erik McCoy, and first-round pick Trevor Pennington. The Saints used the Reese's Senior Bowl to meet with draft prospect and offensive lineman McClendon Curtis of UT-Chattanooga.
Draft Prospest: OL McClendon Curtis
Draft Network's Justin M. tweeted, "OL McClendon Curtis had exceptional meetings with the Saints, Cardinals, and Jaguars, to name a few." He continued, "Saints head coach Dennis Allen chatted Curtis up for an extended time."
Rick Sirettela of the NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated profiled McClendon Curtis saying, "Curtis is a long-term project with very attractive physical traits that he's learning to maximize."
He gives him a 6th-Round grade for the UT-Chattanooga big man.
Measurables:
- Ht: 6-5
- Wt: 345 lbs
- Hand: 10 inches
- Arm: 35 inches
- Wing: 83 2/8 inches
- 40: 5.35 sec
- DOB: 9/16/1999
- Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
- High School: Central
"Curtis primarily started at right guard for the Mocs, but he also has some experience at left guard and started several games at left tackle in 2022. The sixth-year redshirt senior has elite physical tools with arms expected to reach roughly 35 inches. With his massive, powerful frame, Curtis has the build of an imposing tackle.
However, he'll likely play guard at the next level. Besides his rare arm length and wingspan, Curtis has impressive core and upper body strength to torque and seal defenders. His anchor is sturdy enough to deaden power rushes.
As a run blocker, the former two-star recruit offers terrific power and accuracy as a pulling guard. Curtis usually lands blocks as a puller because of his natural feel for angles. He has enough mobility for pulling duties. Curtis' leg drive displaces defensive linemen downfield, and there are plenty of examples of him finishing defenders to the ground."
McClendon Curtis, 23, projects as an interior guard for an NFL team. He's played in 28 college games with 1,826 snaps.
NFL Draft Buzz grades him 98% in pass blocking and 91% as a run-blocker.
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