Eye on the draft: Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Photo Credit: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

With the 2014 NFL Draft just around three months away and the scouting combine drawing nearer every day. NFL coaches and scouts everywhere are compiling notes of players to watch out for not only in the scouting combine, but they're also looking at individual players for workouts leading up to the draft.

This year's class is filled with depth at a lot of key positions such as Quarterback, Wide Receiver and Cornerback, but today we're going to focus on a key position to the Patriots offense and that's the TE position.

There has been a number of mock drafts scouting Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro to the Patriots with their 29th pick in the first round, but I personally like Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ASJ). Amaro played extremely well at Texas Tech and had absolute burner speed and great reliable hands as well as his 6'5 260 frame punished linebackers because they were too slow and safeties because they were too short. However, the reason I think ASJ will translate better on the Patriots is simply because he's a bigger, more powerful version of Amaro with perhaps being a couple ticks slower or faster than Amaro (No official 40 yard dash time, but they are projected to run near each other).

Seferian-Jenkins is 6'6, 276 pounds according to ESPN, with an added 17 pounds, ASJ is an outstanding blocker and receiver as he was a key part of that offensive line as well. In his freshmen year, Seferian-Jenkins was touted the best TE in college, but thanks in large part to Keith Price for favoring receivers in the Washington offense instead of TE's, Seferian-Jenkins stats took a hit, but nevertheless he remained consistent all throughout the season.

Strengths:

ASJ's biggest strength is his size. At 6'6, 276 pounds he outweighs basically all linebackers in the NFL by a good 15-20 pounds and quiet possibly even weighing more than some DE's in the league and he can basically be a 6th offensive linemen for New England if need be and he uses that frame extremely well. He also has a very high upside as he hasn't yet been a featured part of an offense so he really hasn't broken out yet. Another key part to his game is his obviously is his offensive ability, he is an outstanding receiver and can run the seam routes perfectly. He also has a great release off of the line making him even harder to guard.

Weaknesses:

ASJ's biggest weakness might as well be some small off the field issues as he had a DUI arrest in the Spring of 2013. If ASJ can stay out of trouble unlike other TE's in the past........he should translate well. Another knock is Seferian-Jenkins wasn't as strong in the running game as most would like. Though he still showed great skill off the line to block, ASJ was a much more effective pass blocker than a run blocker.

My grades for Seferian-Jenkins go like this and will be updated and renewed after certain events.

Size: A+
Speed: B
Hands: B+
Pass blocking: B-
Run Blocking: C+
Strength: B

For a complete list of the Eye on the Draft series, click here

Let us know in the comment section what you think of Austin Seferian-Jenkins joining the Pats!