Why Bernhard Raimann Isn't Worthy of a First Round Pick

Left tackle continues to a screaming need for the Jets.

If team general manager Joe Douglas refuses to address this position along the offensive line early in the upcoming draft, quarterback Zach Wilson will probably not make it through the upcoming season.

Refusing to address the mess at left tackle could in fact prove to be the very thing that costs Douglas his job.

There is just no way Douglas can bank on left tackle Mekhi Becton who has given indication he could very well be a bust.

Could Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann be the answer to protect the franchise’s backside?

No.

Despite Pro Football Focus and the USA Today’s Touchdown Wire recently mocking Raimann as their No. 19 selection overall, there is no way teams can justify taking him that high.

Not after watching Raimann in the one-on-one’s in during Senior Bowl week.

Pass rushing prospects in the Top 100 were giving him a real run for his money.

Raimann almost had me sold watching him against LSU, Missouri and Miami (Ohio) during the 2021 season.

He put on a clinic against LSU, but LSU is not what they used to be. They had a down year for their program and finished 6-7 and last place in the SEC West.

There is always a question in scouting about the level of competition.

Raimann looked the part until those mixed results during the Senior Bowl one-on-ones.

This converted tight-end showed he struggles with speed at the backdoor of the pocket. If that is a struggle against college level competition, it is going to be even more of a struggle at the next level.

Teams have to walk away from the first-round with sure-fire talent, especially at the position Raimann plays.

Outside of quarterback and cornerback, left tackle is the next most important position in today’s game.

There is a lot to like about Raimann, but his lateral foot speed is too much of a concern.

Should the New York Jets Pick Central Michigan Offensive Lineman Bernhard Raimann in 2022 NFL Draft?

This former New York Jets scout thinks Central Michigan offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann is a solid prospect, but not worth of a first-round pick

Grading Bernhard Raimann

6-foot-7, 305 pounds

2021 game film reviewed: LSU, Missouri, Miami (Ohio) and Senior Bowl practice

Grade: Second-Round (Projection to Right Tackle)

Scouting Report

Solid athletic tackle with long arms and questionable lateral foot speed. Slides out and maintains a nice wide base in pass pro. Excellent inside hand placement. He was able to do a solid job at this level of competition a majority of the time. Average anchor vs. bull rushes. Very smart player (18x maintained stunts and blitzes). Showed time and time again he can be heavily challenged (too challenged) at the back door of the pocket. Can be beat by the ‘grab and go,’ pass rush move. Chases and gives effort consistently, but this can be a real issue protecting the back door of the pocket. While run blocking he did a nice job holding the point often. Solid finesse positional/leverage blocker. Good in-line down blocking. Shoved, pushed and did what he could. It was not always pretty, but often effective. Struggled in space at the 2nd level. Struggled hitting targets and sustaining. Solid prospect, but has limitations.

Bottom Line

The more I watched Raimann, I just see him as a better projection to right tackle.

It would be a lot to ask him to step into that left side of the line, and go against the best pass rushers in the NFL week in and week out as a rookie.

Too much hangs in the balance for the Jets. 

MORE:

• Projecting the Jets Day Two Draft Strategy
• Darian Kinnard Is One Of the Best Kept Secrets in the 2022 NFL Draft
• 2022 NFL Draft: Ex-Jets Scout Releases New Shocking First Round Mock Draft

Follow Daniel Kelly on Twitter (@danielkellybook). Be sure to bookmark Jets Country and check back daily for news, analysis and more.