The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Walter Rouse.
Rouse started 52 games at left tackle in his college career, but he is not likely to transition to the NFL at that position, given his traits profile. Rouse had snapshots of strong pass protection reps with an efficient kick slide, good knee bend and balance, and he keeps his hands inside.
But overall, he lacks the athleticism and fluidity in his lower half to be an effective 1-on-1 pass protector vs. quality rushers, with his only means of being successful to engage early in the down by using his strong hands and overall strength and minimizing his weakness of lateral range and reactive athleticism.
Rouse lacked the requisite foot quickness and lateral range to be consistently effective in 45 degree and vertical pass sets, and there were too many snaps where he stopped his feet in response to pass rush quickness and then bent at the waist to compensate.
Rouse had strong snaps as a run blocker where he could come off the ball with leverage and generate power and force on contact, and that was especially the case as a down blocker on the play side in the gap scheme run game. Overall, Rouse's 2023 tape showed a player who cannot make the transition to the NFL at the offensive tackle position, and my sense is the only position he could play at the next level would be center.
Rouse came out of Washington, D.C., as a four-star recruit and finished his Stanford career as a four-year starter at left tackle. He transferred to Oklahoma for his fifth-year graduate season in 2023. Rouse started 52 games at left tackle in his college career, including all 13 at Oklahoma in 2023.
In 2021, Rouse dominated Kayvon Thibodeaux in their 1-on-1 pass protection snaps. Thibodeaux could not beat Rouse with speed-to-power and could not get the edge on Rouse. Rouse clearly improved in pass protection as the season progressed. He looked more comfortable with his movement and the coordination between his lower and upper halves.
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