With the prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft coming into focus, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Washington State OT Abraham Lucas. A four-year starter in college, Lucas has the experience and the production to attract interest. Nevertheless, there’s a little bit more that goes into determining a prospect’s viability. Does Lucas pass the test?
Abraham Lucas NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: Washington State
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 6’6 3/8″
- Weight: 315 pounds
- Wingspan: 81 3/4″
- Arm length: 33 7/8″
- Hand: 10 1/2″
Abraham Lucas Scouting Report
In the summer of 2020, Lucas was viewed as a rising star in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Some early projections had him listed as a potential Day 2 pick, with the upside to rise even further up the board. A truncated 2020 campaign played a hand in influencing Lucas’ decision to return for a second season under Cougars coach Nick Rolovich. The circumstances were different, but the expectations were the same.
Now, with the 2021 college season in the books, it’s once again time to examine Lucas’ draft stock. What changed in 2021, and what remained the same? Is Lucas still an NFL Draft prospect worthy of early-round consideration? Let’s dive into the discussion, starting with his physical traits.
Lucas’ NFL Combine results and athletic profile
- 40-yard dash: 4.92 seconds
- Bench press: 24
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.4 seconds
- 3-cone drill: 7.25 seconds
- Broad jump: 8’11”
- Vertical Jump: 27″
Size and athleticism are two boxes that can be checked quickly when analyzing offensive linemen. The physical factors are especially visible, and Lucas shows plenty of promise there. The Washington State OT has a well-proportioned frame with good density and length. At 6’6″, 315 pounds, he has a fairly large reach, and his wide base enables him to cover ground efficiently around the edge.
In addition to his size, Lucas also possesses a strong athletic foundation. While he may not be elite in some areas, he’s far above average, and easily surpasses the starting threshold. Lucas has exceptional initial burst blocking on the move, and he also shows flashes of excellent lateral agility, transferring his weight effortlessly. He has a baseline level of mobility in open space, and he possesses good recovery athleticism.
The most appealing athletic trait for Lucas, nevertheless, might be his natural balance. The Washington OT plays with good knee bend, and he has good leg drive when latched onto opponents. He keeps his balance well against opposing anchors, and he also has the balance and reach to thrive against displacement. Most notably, Lucas can easily absorb power with his strong base, flexibility, and natural strength.
Execution beyond the physical traits
Lucas has a well-rounded athletic foundation, but he does well to supplement that foundation with comparable hand usage, footwork, and awareness. Lucas’ hands can be fast and sudden, as well as methodical and precise. He can stack hand motions to stymy opposing rushes, and he times his extensions with unyielding consistency in pass protection.
As a pass protector, Lucas’ hands and feet complement each other very well. The Washington State OT is a patient, composed player whose pass sets and footwork are generally smooth. There’s a synergy between his upper and lower body that not all tackle prospects have, and that natural congruence allows him to channel his traits effectively.
Among other things, Lucas also has a strong football IQ. He knows when to turn upfield and seal off backside rushes, and he’s able to flip his focus quickly on stunts. Additionally, Lucas takes advantage of off-balance defenders, and he drives them into the ground when he has superior leverage.
Areas for improvement
There aren’t many glaring flaws in Lucas’ game, but there are a few minor inconsistencies to take note of. Most notably, while Lucas has an exceptional athletic profile, he might not be elite. His range as a motion blocker isn’t the greatest, and he doesn’t always display the closing speed necessary to recover positioning after setbacks. He isn’t always fast or light on his feet, and his footwork can also be a bit uncoordinated at times.
While Lucas has solid length, his grip strength can be hit-or-miss. He sometimes lets opposing defenders disengage too easily, and he can have trouble sustaining blocks in the running game. His pads can be high at times, which contributes to this. Lucas has shown bright flashes as a run blocker, but he isn’t always able to outright neutralize his opponents. Having said this, he improved as a run blocker in 2021 and was able to latch and move defenders down the field with steady leg drive.
Going further, Lucas occasionally has some wasted motion at the start of his passing reps, and he sometimes gives up space by predetermining blocking angles. His hands, while strong overall, aren’t overly forceful or imposing, and he can carry more mass with his punches. He did show this a bit more often in 2021, providing encouragement for future development.
Lucas’ NFL Draft scouting report overview
On the surface, Lucas profiles how you’d expect a tackle who’s played under Rolovich and Mike Leach. As a pass protector, he is excellent — even holding his own against players like Kayvon Thibodeaux. He has enough athleticism to match most defenders around the edge, and with his strong base and timely extensions, he neutralizes a lot of rushes before they generate any pressure. In a modern NFL that’s increasingly geared toward the pass, Lucas’ supremely high floor warrants much respect.
It’s also worth noting how solid Lucas can be as a run blocker. The Washington State OT can strive for more consistency there, but he’s able to drop his pads into blocks, latch onto defenders, and pave open lanes with his athleticism, strength, and leverage. He showed this both during the season and at the Senior Bowl in early February.
Lucas isn’t a perfect prospect despite his prowess in pass protection. He can still become more consistent in the running phase. And even though he’s a well-put-together tackle, he can add more raw power to his game. Nevertheless, the Washington State OT is a strong athlete with good intangibles and operational ability, and he can be a solid starter at the NFL level, with natural ability on the right side.
Lucas’ Player Profile
It can be tough for offensive linemen — generally large humans — to stand out among other offensive linemen (also assumed to be generally large humans). But Lucas stood out early on the recruiting trail. Standing at 6’6″ as a high school senior, he already towered above his counterparts. And with a 5.03 40-yard dash and a 27-inch vertical jump on record, it was already clear that Lucas would be playing on Saturdays.
Nevertheless, Lucas, who hailed from Everett, Washington, was only a three-star recruit in the 2017 recruiting class. His 256-pound frame wasn’t quite ready for CFB competition — the Power Five offers were fairly scarce. The behemoth blocker received scholarship opportunities from Idaho and Wyoming, but a lone Power Five offer from Washington State ultimately compelled him the most.
Lucas’ career at Washington State and NFL Draft ascension
Lucas enrolled at Washington State in 2017. He managed to get his weight up to 281 pounds before the final weigh-in. However, it wasn’t enough to earn Lucas a spot in the lineup, so he redshirted his first season. When he returned in 2018 as a redshirt freshman, Lucas was listed at 320 pounds — a whopping 63-pound increase in weight since his recruiting cycle.
With a newly constructed frame and time under his belt to prepare, Lucas took hold of the starting right tackle job in 2018. And Lucas never looked back. He started all 13 games in 2018, all 13 games in 2019, and all four games in 2020. He was a freshman All-American in 2018 and a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree in both 2019 and 2020, as well as a first-team all-conference recipient in 2021.
Since earning the starting job in 2018, Lucas started over 40 straight contests. In 2021, the Washington State OT didn’t allow a single sack or pressure in his first 11 games, and set the standard for consistency on the right side. He seems primed to take that same consistency to the NFL as an eventual starter if he can further win over evaluators in the 2022 offseason.
Tony Pauline’s scouting report for Abraham Lucas
Positives: Massive, somewhat-athletic right tackle with starting potential for the next level. Sets with a wide base, blocks with good lean, and stays square. Fires his hands into defenders and gets good extension. Keeps opponents away and knocks them from their angles of attack. Explosive at the point, easily anchors in pass protection, and displays a variety of techniques to trip up speed rushers. Strong, blocks down on opponents, and smothers them from the action. Opens up running lanes, keeps his head on a swivel, and always looks for someone to hit.
Negatives: Not quick to the second level and lumbers around the field. Lacks footwork off the edge. Seems unsure of himself in pass protection.
Analysis: Lucas possesses the size, growth potential, and athleticism to be a starting right tackle in the NFL. He comes with an upside and could be playing with the first unit midway through his rookie season.