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
CESAR RUIZ
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-3
307 pounds
20 years old
BIG PICTURE
Cesar Ruiz earned a starting job at Michigan late in the 2017 season as a right guard. But over the next two seasons he excelled as a starting center, particularly as a pass blocker. He only allowed one sack and four quarterback hits in his final two college seasons. Earned third-team All-Big Ten status. In a weak interior line class, Ruiz stands out as one of the best.
COMBINE NOTABLES
5.08 40-yard dash
28 bench reps (T-6th)
33-inch vertical (T-5th)
113-inch broad jump (T-6th)
7.91 3-cone drill
4.64 20-yard shuttle (4th)
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
2 out of 5. Ruiz was a center the last two years at Michigan. Unless the Vikings think he could move effectively to guard, selecting him doesn’t make a ton of sense one year after drafting center Garrett Bradbury.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Athletic and tenacious with the combination of skills and technique to fit into a variety of blocking schemes on the next level. Ruiz wins early with initial quickness and fast hands into first contact. He works to convert early advantages into wins. He’s consistent in securing down-blocks and has the athletic traits to become a second-level factor. He’ll give some ground to power rushers and needs help against wide-bodies, but the tape checks out. Ruiz has early starting potential and should develop into a good pro with guard/center flexibility.”
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: “Cesar Ruiz is a rock solid center prospect who should comfortably slot into any kind of offensive system at the NFL level. Ruiz brings desirable strength in one on one scenarios but also provides nimble quickness as a puller and in pass protection. His lack of length regulates him to manning the middle as a center only, but he’s a cerebral and polished player leaving Michigan and should provide stability and effective communication at the heart of whichever offensive line he calls home.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
86.5 pass-blocking grade (2nd)
64.9 run-blocking grade (52nd)
0 sacks allowed last season
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
