PFF scouting report: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

Name: Forrest Lamp

School: Western Kentucky

Position fit: Likely starts out as a guard, but capable of playing tackle and possibly center. Versatility will be one of his selling points.

Stats to know: Had three years of strong grades, ranking among the top five offensive tackles in the nation for three straight years. Allowed only five pressures in 2016.

What he does best:

• Does a good job being patient with punch and not giving up hands to get knocked down. Allowed only 31 pressures on 1,620 attempts over the last three years.
• Good compact body and frame nice strike and works low to high.
• Demonstrates good balance in lower body in pass- and run-blocks.
• Can locate second-level defenders in the run game.
• Shows good ability on backside cut blocks. Good fit for a zone-blocking scheme.
• Consistently wins. Rarely loses blocks.
• Versatility can probably play tackle or guard, perhaps even center.
• Showed well in big games. Allowed only five total pressures combined against LSU in 2015 and Alabama in 2016.

Biggest concern:

• Right or wrong, short arms will likely limit his opportunity to play tackle in the NFL.
• Has the footwork to play tackle, but physical limitations could keep him from elite level, making the NFL more comfortable with a move inside.
• Didn’t see great talent week in and week out.
• WKU’s offensive scheme put defenders on their toes not real aggressive, Wasn’t asked to over perform in run-blocking.
• Not overly fleet of foot in space.
• Possibly size if he has to play tackle although not overly concerning.

Bottom line: Lamp has three years of strong grading at left tackle, but he’ll likely move to the interior at the next level. An NFL team will likely look to emulate the recent success of tackle-to-guard transitions like Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys and Brandon Scherff of the Washington Redskins, though given the weak offensive tackle play around the league, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to give Lamp an opportunity there first before kicking him inside. Lamp wins more than he loses, and demonstrates the power and athleticism to be a good NFL lineman.