2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Henry Bainivalu (OG – Washington)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Henry Bainivalu.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Henry Bainivalu (OG – Washington)

Henry Bainivalu (OG – Washington)

6’7″ – 307 lbs.

Background:

Redshirted, then started two games and played over sixty snaps in two others in 2019, all four of those performances coming at right guard. Started four games at right guard in 2020 and reprised that starting role in each of the past two seasons, finishing with thirty-one career starts, over the course of which he allowed four sacks.

Positives:

Very tall, long offensive guard who carries his weight well and shows impressive coordination for his size. Overall flexibility looks good, allowing him to compete in the leverage battle against smaller interior defenders. Has above-average power in his hands to generate torque and twist opponents out of the hole. Above-average short-area quickness and strong motor allowed him to execute Washington’s zone concepts well; capable of pulling or getting out in space in the screen game. Does a good job of executing chip-and-climb type assignments. Form in his pass sets looks good, with a sufficiently-wide base, good knee bend, and a straight back. Drops an early anchor to hold the point of attack and gets solid extension to keep defenders out of his pads. Overall placement with his punch looks good. Keeps his head on a swivel and works hard to find opponents to block. Does a nice job of avoiding penalties, with just eight career flags.

Negatives:

Taller than your typical interior lineman. Doesn’t fire out that low in the run game. Some teams may consider him a zone-only guard, as he’s not necessarily a phone-booth mauler; overall temperament is more workmanlike than nasty and isn’t going to dominate many interior linemen with his strength. Minor tendency to lunge when working in space or when he climbs up to the second level. Active and accurate with his hands in pass pro but doesn’t really jolt defenders with his punch. Could conceivably play on the left side or even at tackle, but aside from a handful of snaps as a sixth lineman, has just 78 career snaps away from the right guard position, divided evenly between tackle and left guard, and all but one came way back in 2018.

Summary:

A smooth and coordinated athlete, especially for his size, with the quickness and technique to execute zone concepts in the run game or mirror in pass protection. May not be the most physically dominant player in a phone booth, but rarely gets overwhelmed by an opponent’s power. Has the look of a potential starter on the interior and potentially even of a swing reserve, although there isn’t enough on tape to evaluate his capacity for kicking outside. Stands out in a class full of bulky gap blocker types on the interior.

Projection: Round 3