Riley Mahlman OT Wisconsin | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Riley Mahlman OT Wisconsin
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/04/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.11 DOB: 12/30/2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 12/04/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | |
| Age: 21.11 DOB: 12/30/2002 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 80.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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76% |
| Run Blocking: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#270
Position rank:
#54
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 2051 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Hayes - Michigan |
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89% |
| Blake Fisher - Notre Dame |
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85% |
| Tyler Steen - Alabama |
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82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Riley Mahlman, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota, has steadily risen to prominence as an offensive tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers. Standing at an imposing 6'8" and weighing 320 pounds, Mahlman was a highly sought-after four-star recruit coming out of Lakeville South High School. His prep career was decorated with accolades, including first-team All-Metro honors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune as a senior and first-team all-state recognition as a junior. Mahlman's excellence extended beyond the gridiron, as he earned Academic All-State honors in both his junior and senior years.Mahlman's collegiate journey began with a redshirt season in 2021, where he saw limited action, making his Badger debut in a victory against Rutgers. His sophomore campaign in 2022 was hampered by an early-season injury, restricting him to seven appearances with six starts at right tackle. Despite the setback, Mahlman showed promise in pass protection, yielding minimal pressure when on the field.
The 2023 season marked Mahlman's emergence as a cornerstone of the Badgers' offensive line. He started all 13 games at right tackle, playing a pivotal role in Wisconsin's offensive success. Mahlman's contributions were instrumental in the Badgers' ground game, highlighted by a 314-yard rushing performance in the season opener against Buffalo.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Massive frame with ideal length for the tackle position, creating a wide arc for pass rushers to navigate around
- Powerful base allows him to anchor effectively against bull rushes, rarely giving ground in pass protection
- Displays good initial quickness off the snap, often beating edge rushers to the spot in pass sets
- Strong hands enable him to latch onto defenders and control the point of attack in the run game
- Shows the ability to drive defenders off the ball with leg drive and core strength on down blocks
- Demonstrates improved footwork and balance in pass protection, particularly against speed rushers
- Exhibits a nasty finishing attitude, looking to pancake defenders and play through the whistle
- High football IQ, consistently picks up stunts and blitzes, rarely caught off guard by defensive schemes
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tends to play with high pad level, allowing defenders to get under his pads and compromise his leverage
- Occasionally struggles with hand placement, leaving his chest exposed to power rushers
- Lateral agility is average, can be beaten by quick inside moves from elite edge rushers
- Sometimes oversets against speed, creating vulnerabilities to counter moves back to the inside
- Needs to improve consistency in sustaining blocks through the entire play, especially in space
Scouting Report: Summary
Mahlman's trajectory suggests he has the potential to develop into a solid NFL starter, particularly at right tackle. His impressive frame and strength provide a strong foundation, while his improved pass-protection skills indicate room for growth. However, he'll need to refine his technique, especially in terms of pad level and hand placement, to consistently succeed against NFL-caliber edge rushers.Schematically, Mahlman projects best in a power-based offense that emphasizes downhill running and play-action passing. His ability to create movement in the run game will be an immediate asset, while his developing pass protection skills should improve with NFL coaching. Gap and power run schemes will likely value his skill set more than zone-heavy offenses, which may find his lateral agility limiting.
Looking ahead, Mahlman's ceiling will depend on his ability to maintain leverage against more athletic defenders and improve his footwork in pass protection. If he can make these adjustments, he has the potential to become a reliable starter in the NFL.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Riley Mahlman (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
293.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
59.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.