At the top of the 2022 draft class, three tackles are getting top 10 hype. Those players are Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross. In the second tier of tackles are two small-school studs in Trevor Penning and Bernhard Raimann. The latter is the subject of this scouting report. The native of Steinbrunn, Austria, started his collegiate career at Central Michigan as a tight end for his first two years. He totaled 20 catches for 164 yards in those two seasons before moving to tackle for his final two seasons.
With only two years at tackle, it is intriguing to see his development at playing the position in such a short time result in quite a bit of buzz around draft circles. While he is only a touch over 300 pounds per his Senior Bowl measurements, his athleticism is through the charts, and Bruce Feldman has in his freak’s article that Raimann has a 33-inch vertical, a 117.5-inch broad jump, and a 1.56 10-yard split time. While there is plenty to say that Raimann can be a plus-player at the next level, he may take some time to develop, and that doesn’t bode well with the fact he’ll turn 25 in mid-September.
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Player Bio
Name: Bernhard Raimann
Jersey: No. 76
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Central Michigan
Class: Senior
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 305 lbs
Games Watched: Kent State (2021), Missouri (2021), Northern Illinois (2021), LSU (2021)
Major Injury History: None
Player Breakdown
Pass Blocking (11.5/15)
Being so new to the position, it isn’t that surprising to see Raimann struggle a bit in this regard. He gives up too much ground on the inside shoulder, which allows some pass-rushers to get by quickly. He does well at picking up blitzes and stunts, which is a positive for a player who only started playing the position two years ago. Unfortunately, he could afford to put on some extra weight. In the Missouri game, Raimann struggled with their power rushers practically walking him into the quarterback. Raimann’s pass blocking will need some work, but that is expected from a player who recently started the position.
Run Blocking (14/15)
Here is where Raimann shines. He does well in run blocking and can reach block on regularly. Raimann is super quick out of his stance. He is also at his best in space, which Central Michigan allowed him to do. He would often be found down the field blocking through the whistle and would jaw with the defenders after the fact. Raimann is constantly looking for someone to block, which will make offensive line coaches love him in draft meetings.
Length (12/15)
At only 305 pounds, Raimann meets the thresholds that teams have but isn’t overly elite in this regard. There may be some talk about moving him inside to play guard, which also makes sense thanks to his athleticism. While that is true, he is best fit as a tackle at the next level.
Footwork (9.5/10)
He is truly special in this regard. Raimann makes everything look easy with his footwork, and he is rarely, if ever, stagnant with his feet. He always has leverage on the pass-rusher on the edge and has a great arc that rarely gives the defender an edge on the outside of Raimann.
Mechanics (7.25/10)
Raimann’s hands are still a work in progress. He is very erratic in where he places his hands, and they are sometimes outside and could be called for holding at the next level. Another thing that could dock him here is that he doesn’t finish people off in the run game. Raimann could easily throw people to the ground and become a mauler, but for some reason, he doesn’t.
Athleticism (10/10)
As stated earlier, Raimann was found on Feldman’s freaks list, where he ranked 26th on the list. Along with the numbers mentioned earlier, the Central Michigan left tackle posted a 4.6 in the short shuttle. His athleticism shows up on tape almost everywhere. He’s uber-athletic, and he can move upfield with ease and pave lanes for running backs and receivers in the quick game. Even with his struggles at times, athleticism is one of the main reasons why Raimann is considered a late first-rounder to some.
Versatility (7.75/10)
While Raimann could play both tackle positions and potentially a guard spot, he is only stuck to one scheme. That is the Shanahan scheme, which will allow him to use his athleticism to his advantage. Teams at the latter half of the first round that could benefit from this are the Titans, Packers, and Bengals, who all have some concerns at the tackle position.
Anchor (6.5/10)
Raimann’s ability to anchor is by far his biggest weakness. Missouri took advantage of this multiple times during the game this year, and teams at the next level also will. It would be beneficial for Raimann to put on some extra weight so that he doesn’t get mauled by power rushers in the NFL.
Control (4.25/5)
Usually, when a player has played a specific position for a short time, they look lost on the field. That wasn’t the case for Raimann once he moved to tackle. He had a great understanding of blitz concepts, and he always seemed to have the defenders in his grasp at all times. Raimann could keep the pass-rushers at bay when he was tasked with blocking them.
Player Summary
Raimann is an intriguing player at the next level. He comes with the skills to develop even further than he already is. That is if teams are willing to do so past his first contract. Raimann will be 25 before the season is a quarter of the way done, making him 29 when he needs a new contract or fifth-year option. A similar case to this is Garett Bolles, who was 25 when he took his first snaps in the NFL. Bolles still went in the first round to the Denver Broncos and had a career year in 2020 before continuing that trend upward in 2021.
If a team is willing to draft an older player in the first round, they are getting an uber-athletic tackle who still has room to grow in his pass sets, anchor, and football IQ. Raimann is tremendous in the run game, and he takes fantastic angles in open space, never gives up on a play, and is consistently seen blocking through the whistle. Teams at the end of the first round may take a chance on the Central Michigan tackle, but he could also go as late as the third round due to the concerns about his age.
Rookie Projection: Starting Tackle
Third Year Projection: Pro Bowl Tackle
Final Grade (82.75/100): Mid Second Round
Player Comp: Garett Bolles
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