Huge receiver Calvin Austin III receives a lot of the 2022 NFL Draft hype out of Memphis, however there’s an offensive lineman worthy of early-to-mid-round consideration. Guard/heart Dylan Parham’s scouting report is stuffed with potential, and if he’s drafted right into a system that fits his ability set, he might thrive early on in his NFL profession.
Dylan Parham NFL Draft Profile
- Place: Guard
- College: Memphis
- Present 12 months: Redshirt Senior
- Top: 6’2 5/8″
- Weight: 311 kilos
- Wingspan: 80 3/8″
- Arm: 33 1/8″
- Hand: 10 1/4″
Dylan Parham Scouting Report
Since 2018, Parham has been a mainstay on the Memphis offensive line that has paved the way in which for NFL operating backs Darrell Henderson Jr., Tony Pollard, and Kenneth Gainwell. However earlier than then, he shined on the defensive facet of the ball. That’s the place Parham started to hone his bodily and aggressive mindset.
Now, the Memphis guard is likely one of the most versatile, athletic, and “enjoyable to look at” linemen within the class. Parham put his athletic prowess on full show on the 2022 NFL Combine. At practically 6’3″ and 311 kilos, he recorded a 4.93 40-yard sprint, 26.5″ vertical, 9’0″ broad, 7.78 three-cone, and 4.7 quick shuttle. That efficiency earned a 9 out of a most 10 Relative Athletic Score (RAS).
However what made it extra spectacular was Parham stored his athleticism intact whereas including roughly 25 kilos over his listed weight on Memphis’ roster. And as we all know, colleges usually plump up their gamers’ top and weight. It was necessary for Parham to extend his mass with out hampering his sought-after mobility. He did simply that in Indianapolis, additional including to his attract as a draft prospect.
Parham’s ability set matches greatest in a wide-zone-heavy offense that likes to bounce runs exterior. I used to be already excessive on him at 285 kilos, however now over 310 with the Mix he had, Parham is definitely a top-100 participant within the class.
The place Parham wins
Parham is a bit on the smaller facet for a guard, however his 33″ arms and low pad stage assist him preserve leverage. His body is proportional and well-built, which ought to maintain as much as NFL defensive tackles. Parham’s go units are good and vast, and his toes are balanced and fast.
Moreover, his fingers are locked and loaded, able to strike his opponent’s chest. The Tiger star’s ankles, knees, and hips are extraordinarily versatile, permitting him to get stellar depth in his stance and beneath defenders. In area, Parham is easy-moving, and his core energy permits him to drive defenders on angle blocks. His toes hardly ever cease driving, and even when he’s overwhelmed, he can get well and redirect his opponent across the quarterback.
Parham can swiftly reset and substitute his base, flip and seal defenders, and maintain poise throughout off-script conditions. The Memphis lineman is a superb athlete laterally and fluidly slides his toes and adjustments course. Technically, he strikes with tucked-in elbows, drops his hips to pop and elevate, and owns a strong anchor in opposition to bull rushers — as showcased on the Senior Bowl.
Psychological processing and flexibility
As a four-year starter alongside the offensive line, Parham isn’t missing expertise. He’s began full seasons at left guard (2018-2019), proper deal with (2020), and proper guard (2021). However because of his shorter stature, groups might view Parham as a middle. In consequence, he practiced the place in the course of the pre-draft course of.
“I really feel I can play any a part of the inside offensive line, whether or not it’s left [guard], proper [guard], or heart,” Parham stated earlier than the Mix. “I’ve been practising totally different positions so if my identify’s referred to as, I’ll be prepared.”
Parham is a transparent processor that adjusts all through video games. He’s conscious of second-level defenders as each a run and go blocker and plans a path to them. He effortlessly identifies stunts and blitzes, is aware of when to go off, watches each gaps, and helps these subsequent to him when wanted. From a technical standpoint, Parham retains his hips and eyes towards potential hole threats, letting him pivot when required.
This key cog of the Memphis OL pulls and fires to the second stage, even flying out because the lead blocker on WR screens. He has the motion abilities to reflect on the inside and owns the aggressive toughness to play by the whistle. Memphis’ offense didn’t make the most of true go units all that usually, however Parham allowed simply 1 sack the final two years — even whereas beginning at proper deal with in 2020.
Areas for enchancment
Whereas I’m keen on Parham’s talents, no prospect is ever good. Though he gained vital weight, Parham remains to be a bit mild on mass. Moreover, we solely have a small pattern measurement of him taking part in NFL-sized defensive linemen. On the Senior Bowl, he struggled with bull rushes from Arkansas’ John Ridgeway, and Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt routinely crossed his face and used push-pull rips.
There are occasions when Parham climbs to the subsequent defender with out correctly securing his project first, permitting some tackles for loss and no achieve. Parham may have points early with absorbing contact on stunts and when he pulls, as he was knocked again from time to time in faculty.
Total, his higher physique energy lacks a bit, and he can torque his decrease physique to generate extra energy constantly. His hand approach can be spotty, with one in every of them hitting the surface of his opponent’s shoulders fairly than the within the place he can maintain leverage. Parham possesses the grip energy to latch on, however he ought to add extra selection to his hand counters and preliminary punch.
In fact, the extent of competitors shall be a notable issue as the one Energy 5 faculty he performed the final two years was Mississippi State (2021). Nonetheless, he did produce spectacular movie in opposition to Houston’s Logan Corridor and Cincinnati’s defensive entrance.
Lastly, when trying to squeeze gaps, you need to see Parham slide his toes extra fairly than lengthen his higher half.
Parham’s Participant Profile
Parham started his profession on the defensive facet of the ball at Carrollton Excessive College in Georgia. As junior LB/DE in 2015, he generated 48 complete tackles and 4 tackles for loss. However Parham moved to tight finish as a senior in 2016. Though he solely caught 9 passes for 96 yards and 1 TD. But, he was primarily utilized as a run/go blocker. Because of his efforts, Parham obtained Instances-Georgian first-team All-Space recognition.
Whereas at Carrollton Excessive College, Parham additionally participated in basketball and observe and area. He competed in jumps and sprints and performed the low put up on the courtroom. However, Parham entered the recruiting cycle as a three-star prospect, incomes simply two gives from Memphis and West Virginia. In the long run, the rising tight finish selected to additional his soccer profession with the Tigers.
Parham’s profession at Memphis
Parham entered Memphis as a true-freshman tight finish, however head coach Ryan Silverfield tried him out on the defensive finish. When that didn’t work, Parham joined the offensive line, and as they are saying, “the remainder was historical past.”
After taking his first yr to rework his physique and study his new place, Parham went on to begin 51 video games in his Memphis profession (28 at LG, 12 at RG, and 11 at RT). He spent his redshirt-freshman and sophomore seasons at left guard earlier than transitioning to proper deal with for 2020. He moved to proper guard in 2021 however thrived wherever he was on alongside the road. Parham’s 2021 marketing campaign ended with a first-team All-AAC nod, however he additionally succeeded off the sector.
Amongst his many tutorial accolades, Parham was a part of the Tiger 3.0 Membership in 4 of his 5 years at Memphis (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021), landed on the Dean’s record in 2018, and made the AAC All-Educational crew in 2017 and 2018.
What they’re saying about Parham
“The tight finish coach stated, ‘I’m undecided if he can play for us,’ they usually moved him to the D-line. The D-line coach wasn’t certain, after which we took him at O-line. Man, certain sufficient, with improvement and all that stuff, he’s a budding star that’s going to get drafted extremely. So that you simply by no means base judgment off the primary few weeks or first few months.” — Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield on Parham’s swap from left to proper guard
“Dylan Parham is an easy-moving former TE who has performed each OG and OT and may challenge greatest at OC. Head Coach Ryan Silverfield raved to us about [him]
this summer time at OL Masterminds [summit].” — Senior Bowl govt director Jim Nagy
Parham’s NFL Draft ascension
Memphis runs a variety, RPO-heavy scheme. That allowed Parham to showcase his expertise as an uber-athletic lineman, although the offense lacked a hefty quantity of true go units. The Tigers additionally integrated a number of run schemes with zone, hole, and duo. Nonetheless, Parham’s bodily capacity and psychological processing would shine in wide-zone schemes closely utilized by the Mike Shanahan tree.
As for a participant comp, Parham is commonly talked about with Shaq Mason. Nonetheless, I imagine he’s extra just like Deion “Shaq” Calhoun each in measurement/athleticism and play type. Listed below are their Mix numbers to emphasise the similarities.
- Calhoun (2019 Mix): 6’2 1/2″, 310 kilos, 33 1/8″ arms, 5.07 40-yard sprint, 28 1/2″ vertical, 8 3/4″ broad
- Parham (2022 Mix): 6’2 5/8″, 311 kilos, 33 1/8″ arms, 4.93 40-yard sprint, 26 1/2″ vertical, 9″ broad
Now, Calhoun went undrafted — though I imagine he might’ve been a Day 3 decide popping out of Mississippi State in 2019. Parham is every thing Calhoun might’ve been, with much more refined approach, higher physicals, and a road-grading mentality. Parham’s versatility, expertise, total ability set, and athleticism ought to see him drafted throughout the first 100 gamers.
From Memphis to … New England?
One crew constantly named as a touchdown spot for Parham is the New England Patriots. They only traded guard Shaq Mason for a late-round decide and now have a gap at proper guard. The Patriots covet athletic, high-IQ linemen, each of which apply with Parham.
Nonetheless, New England ran a gap-heavy run scheme underneath former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Issues shouldn’t be too totally different underneath new OC Mick Lombardi, who was the vast receivers coach since 2020. However, as talked about earlier than, Parham most closely fits into zone-blocking offenses. That doesn’t imply he can’t carry out in hole/duo methods, and the Patriots have a observe report of getting essentially the most out of their offensive line.
Including to the connection, Memphis HC Silverfield hung out with the Minnesota Vikings, the place he realized underneath Jeff Davidson. Davidson was a former apprentice to Patriots longtime offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. Thus, Silverfield has been instructing a lot of Scarnecchia’s ideas at Memphis.
Plus, when Silverfield was with the Vikings, he realized underneath offensive line coach Jeff Davidson for 3 years. Davidson was a former Patriots apprentice underneath Dante Scarnecchia, so Silverfield has been instructing a lot of Scarnecchia’s ideas. Wherever Parham finally ends up, he’ll immediately bolster the offensive line and ought to be a starter sooner fairly than later.
