2016 NFL Draft: Stanford’s Joshua Garnett 2016 Scouting Report

Oct 25, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Joshua Garnett (51) at the line during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium. Stanford won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Joshua Garnett (51) at the line during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium. Stanford won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stanford’s Joshua Garnett 2016 Scouting Report.

Joshua Garnett is a power player who excels at opening holes for the running game. He uses his strength, sound technique and leg drive to consistently move defenders off the line of scrimmage. This isn’t a flashy player, but someone who gets the job done.

Garnett is the type of offensive lineman an offense can feel comfortable running behind in any situation. He is especially dominant in short-yardage scenarios where he is consistently the lowest man and delivers a jolt.

This clip shows Garnett keeping his pads down, remaining balanced and opening a nice hole in a short-yardage situation:

Garnett is also a smart player in that he knows how to use angles and get into an advantageous position. This combined with his snap awareness and upper-body strength allows him to turn defenders from the play.

The one knock on Garnett is that he isn’t an elite athlete and will struggle working on the edge. His running back tends to get out in front of him when he’s asked to pull. His limited athleticism also comes into play in pass protection.

Garnett doesn’t have great change of direction which hurts his ability to mirror the pass rush. To compensate for this he tends to lunge towards the defender thus becoming unbalanced. Quicker defensive tackles may give him trouble early in his career.

The thing with Garnett is that you know what type of player to expect to see on the field. He’s a power who fits best with an offense who likes to run the football.

Current Draft Position: 2nd Round