Chiefs Draft: Missouri deal with Javon Foster performs with angle

The 2024 NFL Draft begins on Thursday of subsequent week — and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been busy assembly with draft prospects. One in all them was Missouri left deal with Javon Foster, with whom the staff met final week.

The large man performs an aggressive model of soccer — and in addition possesses a few of the greatest instincts of any participant within the draft.

Foster initiatives to be a Day 3 choose, however he might be simply what the Chiefs are hoping to seek out.

Background

A 3-star recruit from West Bloomfield, Michigan (a Detroit suburb), Foster had affords from a half a dozen colleges — together with Michigan State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati — earlier than selecting Mizzou. Redshirted as a freshman, he performed in 11 video games over his first two seasons earlier than racking up 38 straight begins at left deal with throughout his last three. He earned AP (and Coaches) first-team All-SEC (and AP third-team All-American) honors in 2023.

Foster has construct for an NFL offensive lineman, checking into the NFL Scouting Mix at 6 toes 5 and 313 kilos, with 34 5/8-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch fingers. He’ll be capable of play in a number of methods — and probably at a number of positions.

His athletic testing wasn’t off the charts, however he did ace two crucial areas for offensive linemen, recording a 32 1/2-inch on his vertical leap and a 1.77-second 10-yard break up on his 40-yard sprint. The nice vertical leap exhibits that he has the mandatory explosion and skill to create drive from his stance, whereas the fast 10-yard break up demonstrates his means to get off the road of scrimmage shortly.

Movie analysis

Foster isn’t an ideal go protector, however he will get the job accomplished. His preliminary actions generally is a little awkward — and typically, his transition right into a vertical set seems to be labored — however his fingers and physicality make up for it.

Right here we see Foster’s preliminary vertical set go somewhat broad — and his hips hinge exterior a bit — however he does job sustaining a midway place on the sting rusher and lands a pleasant first strike. Exhibiting nice persistence, he waits for the EDGE to get out of their further steps — after which fires a pleasant strike into their chest to decelerate their rush. The defender tries to show the play into an influence rush, however Foster counters by sinking his hips and anchoring all the way down to cease him.

Foster excels at discovering tempo in go safety and utilizing it to his benefit. A extremely cerebral participant, he is aware of when to be affected person — and when to assault.

Some view Foster as a guard on the subsequent degree — and that’s probably because of how efficient he’s at “jump-setting” go rushers.

Right here, Foster explodes out of his stance and delivers contact to the EDGE. Because the go rusher begins to lean — anticipating a run — Foster grabs his chest with each fingers and begins to sink again right into a match place. Because the quarterback pulls the ball and settles into his passing development, the EDGE realizes it — however as a result of Foster bought on him shortly, the defender is out of the play.

Whereas Foster handles go rushers effectively, his physicality is on full show within the operating recreation. He’s a nasty participant — and that’s evident in the way in which he blocks.

On this play, Mizzou runs a easy zone left look. Foster is accountable for blocking the play-side defensive finish. Foster makes use of good footwork, reaches the defensive finish shortly and begins to throw his fingers. As he meets the defender, he fires his inside hand — and the drive knocks the tip off his toes. Foster asserts his dominance by ending the play with a pancake.

Foster performs the sport with the most effective mentality an offensive lineman can have: taking part in to the echo of the whistle. He at all times seeks to intimidate defensive gamers.

Right here, the Tigers are operating a sweep to the surface — and after giving a giant shove to assist his guard overtake the defensive finish, Foster climbs to the second degree. Shifting on to the right angle, he meets the linebacker and initiates contact. The linebacker tries to pursue the play, however Foster is just too sturdy — and begins to drive the defender. Although the ball provider is compelled out of bounds after a stable acquire, however Foster continues to drive the linebacker proper into the Arkansas bench.

How he matches with the Chiefs

The Chiefs want offensive line depth — and it’s probably in addition they wish to enhance competitors the beginning left deal with place. Foster could not have the motion expertise to be an every-game starter at deal with, however he does have a ability set that could be very transferable to protect; he might be an excellent depth pickup within the later rounds.

Andy Reid and Andy Heck are each agency believers in beginning the most effective 5 gamers — no matter place — and Foster can one of many chameleons they wish to have; he may play at each guard and deal with.

Whereas he’s removed from good, Foster performs the sport with a fierce mentality that may match proper in with the gamers on Kansas Metropolis’s offensive line — and has the intelligence and instincts to play a number of positions.