Bucs stole the best pass-blocking guard in college football with 6th-round pick
Jan 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; A detail view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to have a wide-open competition for the starting left guard spot.
They signed multiple veterans in free agency to challenge for that role, adding Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson to the mix. With first-round pick Graham Barton likely to take over as the starting center, Robert Hainsey could also be involved in the left guard conversation.
But the player who could emerge as the best option is actually sixth-round rookie Elijah Klein.
Last year at UTEP, Klein earned the highest pass-blocking grade of any guard in college football, per Pro Football Focus:
— Cody Haynes (@codyh33) May 2, 2024
Not bad for a late-round pick, eh?
It’ll obviously be an uphill battle for a Day 3 prospect to beat out a couple of NFL veterans for a starting job as a rookie, but stranger things have happened before, and Klein clearly has a proven track record of success.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs stole the best pass-blocking guard in college football with 6th-round pick