Over the month of April WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today we explore another first-round offensive line option.
Teven Jenkins
OT Oklahoma State
6-6, 317
Resume: Jenkins was a three-sport athlete – football, basketball and baseball – at Topeka (Kansas) High School. … Has played primarily right tackle all the way back to high school, earning All-State honors at the position. … Chose Oklahoma State over Kansas State, Louisville, Missouri and Nebraska. … Red-shirted in 2016 before starting games at both guard and right tackle for the Cowboys in 2017. … Became a full-time starter the following season, starting all 32 games he played over his final three seasons at Oklahoma State. … Career starts included right tackle (26), left tackle (7) and right guard (2). … Lost his mother to cancer when he was just six years old and honors her memory with a tattoo on his right arm. … Opted out of the 2020 season after seven games played, reportedly in part due to a hip injury he was playing through. … Originally accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, but later pulled out.
Pre-Draft Buzz: Jenkins has a big frame and build, but also plays relatively light on his feet. … Beyond running a 4.99 40, also did 36 reps in the bench press at his pro day. … Displays that strength on the field with powerful play. … The Athletic cites coaches as saying Jenkins is “highly intelligent.” … Many reports note Jenkins’ competitive playing style and finishing of plays, with The Ringer declaring that he "looks to bury" opponents and looks to play "to and through the whistle." … NFL.com’s player profile for Jenkins compares him to former Patriots offensive line mainstay and newly-minted $80 million Patrick Mahomes-protector Joe Thuney. … NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slotted Jenkins as the No. 24 overall pick in his mock draft, while counterpart Charles Davis tabbed the versatile lineman as the No. 21 selection.
Why Jenkins fits the Patriots’ needs: There just aren’t too many people on the planet who are 6-6, 317 pounds and can run a sub-5.0 40. That’s exactly what Jenkins brings to the table as a first-round tackle prospect. Though he played primarily right tackle in college, he did show versatility with action at every line spot other than center and may be considered a guard option by some teams. The right tackle spot has also grown in value in the NFL. Given the less-than-certain futures in Foxborough for Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown, as well as the team’s value on versatile lineman, Jenkins would seem to be a potential fit for New England either in the middle of the first round or if Belichick were to pull-off one of his classic value-based trades to move down a bit on the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft.