San Francisco 49ers: Who is offensive lineman Evan Goodman?
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise rolls along with our annual “Who Is?” series on 2017 San Francisco 49ers players. This installment looks at rookie offensive lineman Evan Goodman.
The 2017 NFL Draft didn’t provide any options along the offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers, but general manager didn’t hesitate to bring in some undrafted free agents as camp competition.
Such was the case with former Arizona State offensive lineman Evan Goodman.
The 6-foot-4, 306-pound Goodman played the last two collegiate seasons at left tackle, per Niners Wire’s Chris Biderman. But Biderman thinks Goodman would best be suited at guard at the NFL level.
San Francisco 49ers
A participant in the East-West Shrine game, Goodman managed to run a 5.27 40-time at his pro day.
San Francisco’s O-line is far from a perfect unit, so where does Goodman project as an option this season?
Why He’ll Improve
Goodman’s size means he’s not an ideal fit for an NFL-caliber offensive tackle, even though this is where he primarily played in college.
At guard, however, Goodman may be able to turn some heads. And it’s likely this is where the 49ers try to play him during this upcoming preseason.
In this DraftBreakdown.com video versus USC from 2015, one can see how Goodman can hold his own in one-on-one pass protection:
He also shows some capability extending blocks to the second level, crucial for run support. And his moves here are ideal for an outside-zone scheme.
Goodman won’t have to move as much in space at guard, which wasn’t exactly his forte at the collegiate level.
These will have to be the traits by which he has a chance to make a roster his rookie year.
Why He’ll Regress
One of the things standing out in his film is how tall he plays.
Goodman’s strength helps him overcome this bad habit against college defenders, but he won’t get away with that at the pro level. Pad leverage and proper foot technique matter so much more in the NFL, and one can see how this may be a problem right away.
He also might be a bit more susceptible to more complex pass-rushing moves at the next level. The side-to-side mobility just isn’t there, and a number of snaps from the above video show pass-rushers managing to get by him with simple spin moves.
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What to Expect in 2017
No surprises here, but Goodman won’t make the 53-man roster in 2017.
It does look as if Goodman would be a decent fit in a zone-blocking scheme, and there are enough traits for the 49ers to look at in order to warrant developmental consideration.
And that’s most likely what the Niners see out of Goodman.
Next: 49ers film room: Kyle Shanahan's pass defense
At best, he’ll marinate on the practice squad for a season or two and potentially work his way into a depth option for San Francisco later this year or next.