2017 NFL Draft: Arkansas Dan Skipper Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Arkansas’ Dan Skipper is an extremely tall offensive tackle prospect who works hard to play with proper technique.
Dan Skipper’s height is something that will cause problems for him throughout his career. It’ll be difficult for him to maintain leverage and keep defenders from getting under his frame. This is something that will show up more in pass protection as the edge rushers look to dip their shoulders and turn the corner.
However, Skipper is a disciplined player who is committed to keeping his pad level as low as possible. It helps that he’s a solid athlete who shows the ability to sit into his stance. Skipper also knows how to use his length to his advantage.
His long arms help him reach the defender and gain inside hand placement. He had enough upper body strength to Velcro and control the action. Skipper’s arm length also allows him to push those speed rushers past the pocket.
In the run game, Skipper again fights to quickly gain inside hand placement. He features a solid punch that includes a hip roll. Skipper plays with an edge and remains engaged until the whistle.
He does need to focus on adding some more bulk to his frame and improving his overall strength. However, Skipper needs to maintain his ability to bend and remain balanced while keeping his pads down.
It’s tough to truly pin down Skipper’s NFL potential. He has a lot of the traits needed to succeed, but his height will always cause him problems. No matter how much he focuses on staying low there will be points in the game where a defender will be able to bend around the corner.
This is why he may never develop into more than a backup capable of providing solid play in short spurts.
Current Draft Range: Late 5th Round