Marcus Mbow 2025 NFL Draft: Purdue OT Scouting Report
In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, a talented OT to know is Marcus Mbow. He’s a versatile and athletic offensive tackle from Purdue with a bright NFL future ahead of him. 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.
Marcus Mbow 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mbow, a Wisconsin native from Wauwatosa East High School, arrived at Purdue as a three-star recruit with a multi-sport pedigree, including basketball, which shaped his agility and footwork. Initially committed to Arizona State, he flipped to Purdue after a late recruiting twist, redshirting in 2021 with limited action (four games).
Furthermore, Mbow broke out in 2022 as a redshirt freshman, starting all 14 games at right guard and earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors. Transitioning to right tackle in 2023, he started six games before a season-ending leg injury. In 2024, he returned to start all 12 games at right tackle, anchoring a Purdue offensive line that led the Big Ten in rushing during conference play (184.6 yards per game). A three-time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2022-2024), Mbow declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.
Mbow possesses a lean, athletic frame with room to add mass if needed. His build lacks the prototypical girth of elite NFL tackles, but his lateral quickness and explosiveness stand out. His basketball background shines through in his fluid movement and light feet, rare for a lineman of his size.
HT: 6041
WT: 303
HAND: 1000
ARM: 3458
40: 5.14
Strengths:
- Athleticism: Mbow’s lateral agility and burst off the snap are exceptional, allowing him to mirror speed rushers and reach the second level easily in zone schemes. His quick first step and smooth kick-slide make him a natural fit for outside zone concepts.
- Versatility: With 14 starts at right guard and 18 at right tackle, Mbow offers positional flexibility. His experience in both gap and zone schemes enhances his adaptability across offensive systems.
- Hand Technique: He displays advanced hand usage with a powerful initial punch and active hands to reset leverage. His ability to snatch and trap defenders disrupts their momentum, particularly in pass protection.
- Finishing Mentality: Mbow plays with a mean streak, consistently driving defenders into the ground and maintaining blocks through the whistle. His wrestling-like tenacity shines in run blocking, where he seeks to dominate.
- Football IQ: He shows strong awareness in picking up stunts and twists, adjusting mid-play to counter defensive alignments. His multi-position experience reflects a high processing speed.
Areas for Improvement:
- Play Strength: Mbow’s anchor against power rushers is inconsistent due to middling lower-body strength and a narrower base. When isolated, he can get pushed back by bull rushes or stout interior linemen.
- Injury History: A broken leg in 2023 sidelined him for half the season, raising durability questions. His recovery in 2024 was impressive, but medical evaluations will be critical.
- Pass Pro Consistency: While skilled, Mbow’s aggressive hand usage can lead to overextension, leaving soft edges against patient rushers who use hesitation moves. His footwork occasionally lags against elite speed.
- Rawness at Tackle: Only two seasons at tackle (18 starts) compared to guard suggest he’s still refining his technique on the edge, particularly in framing blocks in space.
Conclusion:
Mbow brings a rare blend of agility, toughness, and scheme versatility, tempered by questions about his power and positional fit. A team that harnesses his strengths could land a decade-long contributor.
Mbow’s immediate impact may come as a swing lineman with starter upside. A team with a veteran line coach could polish his pass-pro technique and add functional strength (10-15 lbs) to unlock his ceiling. His injury history warrants scrutiny, but his 2024 rebound suggests resilience. He’s best suited for teams like the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, or Kansas City Chiefs, who value athleticism and multi-positional depth.
Overall, Mbow’s athletic profile and versatility make him an intriguing Day 2 prospect (Rounds 2-3) in the 2025 NFL Draft. His optimal position remains debated—his tackle tape shows promise, but his stockier build, average length, and guard experience suggest a potential slide to the interior. He could develop into a high-end starter at guard in a zone-blocking scheme, where his movement skills and finishing attitude would shine. At tackle, he’ll need to bulk up and refine his anchor to handle NFL power rushers consistently.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
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