Jalen Travis 2025 NFL Draft: Iowa State OT Scouting Report
In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, Jalen Travis is a standout offensive tackle to know. He’s a versatile OT from Iowa State with a high football IQ. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Jalen Travis 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Travis began his collegiate career at Princeton, where he emerged as a standout in the Ivy League, earning Second Team All-Ivy honors in 2022 and 2023. A former three-star recruit out of DeLaSalle High School, Travis initially excelled as a multi-sport athlete, starring in both football and basketball.
After graduating from Princeton with a degree in anthropology, Travis transferred to Iowa State for his final season in 2024, stepping up to Big 12 competition. At Iowa State, he started 11 games at left tackle, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition while anchoring an offensive line that supported a balanced attack. Notably, Travis’s intellect and leadership shine off the field. Impressively, he founded The Just Action Coalition, a nonprofit focused on youth policy advocacy, showcasing a rare maturity among draft prospects.
HT: 6076
WT: 339
HAND: 1048
ARM: 3478
40: 5.14
Strengths:
- Size and Length: At his size, Travis has a prototypical NFL tackle frame. His long arms and wide wingspan allow him to engulf defenders and keep them at bay in pass protection.
- Quick Initial Step: For his size, Travis displays surprising explosiveness off the snap, particularly in his kick-slide, enabling him to reach his landmarks and cut off speed rushers effectively.
- Positional Versatility: With starting experience at both left tackle (Iowa State) and right tackle (Princeton), Travis offers flexibility as a potential swing tackle early in his pro career.
- Anchor Strength: His dense lower half and sturdy base make him difficult to displace against power rushers. He rarely gets pushed back into the pocket when he sets his feet properly.
- Football IQ: Travis’s academic background translates to the field—he reads stunts and twists well, adjusts to late blitzes, and communicates effectively pre-snap.
- High Character: A proven leader with a team-first mentality, Travis brings intangibles that elevate an offensive line room.
Areas for Improvement:
- Inconsistent Pad Level: Travis tends to play high at times, especially in the run game, which compromises his leverage and allows defenders to get under his pads.
- Hand Technique Needs Refinement: His punch timing and placement are inconsistent—he often catches defenders rather than striking proactively, letting rushers into his frame.
- Limited Lateral Agility: While quick off the snap, Travis struggles to redirect against counter moves or inside rushes, exposing a lack of recovery quickness.
- Run Blocking Aggressiveness: Despite his size, he doesn’t consistently finish blocks with authority or displace defenders at the point of attack, limiting his impact in the run game.
- Transition to NFL Speed: Having spent most of his career in the Ivy League, Travis faced a significant jump in competition at Iowa State. His lone Big 12 season showed promise but also highlighted areas where elite NFL edge rushers could exploit him.
Conclusion:
All in all, Travis profiles as a developmental offensive tackle with starter upside if he can polish his technical flaws. His size, length, and versatility make him an intriguing mid-round pick for teams needing depth at tackle with the potential for more. He’s likely to begin his career as a swing tackle, capable of backing up either side while he works on consistency and adapts to NFL speed.
A team like the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Philadelphia Eagles—franchises that value high-character linemen with raw tools—could be a fit. Travis’s strengths can be maximized in an inside zone or gap-heavy scheme with play-action elements, while his weaknesses are mitigated through coaching.
Furthermore, best case, Travis is similar to Rob Havenstein (Los Angeles Rams). He’s a similarly sized tackle who overcame modest athleticism with sound technique to become a reliable starter. Worst case, he’s like Chukwuma Okorafor (New York Jets)—a big, long tackle with positional flexibility who has settled into a rotational role due to inconsistent fundamentals.
Overall, Travis is a high-upside project with the physical tools and intangibles to carve out a multi-year NFL career. His development over the next 1-2 seasons will determine whether he’s a dependable starter or a quality depth piece. Look for him in round four of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 4th Round
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