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
LUCAS NIANG
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-6
315 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
Lucas Niang was a three-star recruit before beginning his career at TCU. The big right tackle went the last three years without allowing a sack and playing nearly penalty-free. He’s optimal size, pretty young and extremely gifted. The only hiccup: He’s coming off hip surgery that kept him from participating at the combine. Otherwise, Niang has tremendous potential.
COMBINE NOTABLES
DNP
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3.5 out of 10. If the Vikings don’t choose a tackle in the first round but still intend to snag one, Niang on Day 2 would be a perfect fit.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Dancing bear with good agility and a great football IQ. He doesn’t carry his weight proportionally and looked heavier/slower in 2019, but he clearly has NFL starting talent. Niang is a scheme-diverse run blocker with athleticism for move blocks and technique/leverage to open running lanes with power. He plays with top-notch awareness and instincts in pass pro, but he’s an early opener in his pass sets and I’m not completely sold he can meet edge burners at the top of the rush on a consistent basis. The medicals need to check out on the hip, but he’s a help-now right tackle prospect who should be a long-time starter.”
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: “Lucas Niang is a high-upside starter in the NFL. Niang’s mobility would make him a great fit in a zone style system and his length and range as a pass blocker make him an attractive option for teams with deeper passing concepts. There is some refinement needed in Niang’s footwork but he shows all the requisite physical skills to be a plus starter in the pros. Should find the field early and improve through first few seasons. Should be healthy for the 2020 season.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
14 or fewer pressures allowed each season
Just 3 penalties in nearly 2,000 career snaps
0 sacks allowed last three seasons
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
