CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
BEN BARTCH
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-6
310 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
Ben Bartch is trying to complete the remarkable leap from Division-III to the NFL after a strong career at St. John’s (MN). The local product dominated his competition in the MIAC, earned an invite to the Senior Bowl in January and performed as well as any offensive lineman against top-tier competition. That might be enough to make him a Day 2 pick in the draft. At 6-foot-6, Bartch is a converted tight end with good mobility, even though he’s added 80 pounds from his first arrival at St. John’s.
COMBINE NOTABLES
DNP
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3.5 out of 10. In a year when there is less team-to-player content than ever before, the Vikings could have an edge in scouting the local product Ben Bartch. He wouldn’t be the first tight-end-turned-tackle that they’ve drafted (Brian O’Neill).
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Converted tight end who has added 75 pounds of good weight since stepping on campus but retained his plus movement. Despite a lack of experience and small-school background, his traits and rapid growth in body and play caught the eye of Senior Bowl evaluators. From a skill standpoint, he’s still an undergrad, but on pace for his degree in tackle studies. He’s an enticing left tackle prospect who continues to evolve, but a step up in competition and a need for continued physical development will require patience and could determine whether his final calling is swing tackle or starter.”
Joe Marino, Draft Network: “St. John’s Ben Bartch is an appealing developmental offensive tackle prospect with exceptional movement skills and untapped potential given his newness to the position. For a guy with just two seasons of offensive line experience, Bartch is further along with his technique than expected despite a major need for improvement with his hands. Bartch helped ease concerns about playing at the DIII level with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, but he’s like a year or two away from reaching his ceiling in the NFL where he projects as an eventual starter.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
1.3% pressure rate allowed in 2019
58% win-rate at Senior Bowl
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
