Notre Dame Football: How can Irish draft prospects improve their stock?
By Andrew Hall
Robert Hainsey – Offensive Tackle – Senior
When Robert Hainsey stepped on campus, he immediately played at Right Tackle along with redshirt Freshman Tommy Kraemer. At times during his first three years, Hainsey played better than any of his counterparts along the Offensive Line.
Before an injury ended his 2019 campaign, he did not allow a sack. His pass blocking and running blocking statistics rival Left Tackle Liam Eichenberg’s. However, Hainsey will not hear his name called in the first round round.
It is not because he lacks talent or productivity. He simples lacks ideal size and length that is needed to play the tackle position at the next level. Ideally, Hainsey will slide inside in a similar fashion to former Notre Dame Left Tackle Zack Martin. At the Guard position, Hainsey can become a solid NFL starter.
Irish Breakdown’s Bryan Driskell evaluated as follows:
"Hainsey has the foot quickness you want in a tackle, which allows him to handle speed rushers and makes him highly effective in the run game. Hainsey would fit in extremely well in an offense that runs a zone oriented scheme or one that likes to get blockers moving in pin-and-pull concepts."
If Hainsey could become a great Guard, why could he not be taken in the first round? Guards are not typically valued as highly as other positions. For perspective, the first Guard taken in the 2020 draft did not come off the board until the second round. The next Guard selected was in the third round.
What can Hainsey do to improve: Hainsey is more than capable of playing at an All-American level in 2020. If he is dominant, particularly in the run game, more NFL teams will look at Hainsey as a valuable swing player who can possibly play Right Tackle and definitely Guard. This flexibility might allow a NFL front office to select him higher in the draft.
Projection: 3rd Round
High-Low Range: 2nd Round to 4th Round