NFL Draft
2/4/25
6 min read
Jalen Travis 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Iowa State Cyclones OT
Height: 6075 (verified)
Weight: 341lbs (verified)
Year: Redshirt Senior
Pro Comparison: TBD
Scouting Overview
Iowa State Cyclones offensive tackle Jalen Travis projects as a developmental tackle to the NFL level. Travis played one year at Iowa State after securing his undergraduate degree while playing at Princeton and showcased NFL-caliber strength and length on the edge.
His technical development, particularly with his hand usage, will be key in unlocking his potential. He has starter traits, although he is a bit less dynamic and forceful in the run game than you’d expect when you see his profile up close and in person. Travis would greatly benefit from finding more engagement in his lower half to sustain push and momentum to create displacement at the point of attack.
2025 NFL Combine Results
TBD
Positives
- Hulking build offers loads of natural strength and anchor ability on the edge
- Does well to play rushers inside out and has the arm length to steepen angles
- Offers some continued developmental upside with just one year of FBS football on his resume
Negatives
- Punch placement is erratic and allows defenders to work his frame far too easily
- Illustrates some heavy feet in the run game and can be stagnant in the lower half when engaged with defenders
- Can be the last to move off the snap count at times, costing him valuable leverage
Background
Travis is from Minneapolis, MN, and played high school football for De La Salle HS. There, he was a standout offensive lineman who earned First Team All-State honors and was named District Red Lineman of the Year as a junior. Travis was also a standout basketball player. As a 3-star recruit (247 Sports), Travis collected offers from Minnesota and Iowa State but bypassed them to play at Princeton.
Travis’ true freshman season in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he played less than 150 snaps during his redshirt freshman season. He became a starter in 2022 and started another six games in 2023 before injury ended his season. Travis was named Second Team All-Ivy League in both of his seasons as a starter at Princeton. He finished his undergraduate degree in anthropology from Princeton and entered the transfer portal.
Travis, as a 3-star transfer (247 Sports), landed with Iowa State and played in 12 games (11 starts) in his only season with the program. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Tale Of The Tape
Travis is a monstrous offensive tackle who checks all the boxes from a physical attributes standpoint. He boasts NFL tackle length with a dense, athletic frame and illustrates the desired functional strength to play on the edge.
His stature appears to come at a cost, as Travis’ mobility and initial quickness are not hallmark traits of his game. He wins with framing and strong hands in pass protection, paired with the length necessary to ride rushers past their aiming points on the edge.
As a pass protector, Travis showcases cadence with his feet and is particularly impactful in short sets that allow him to get hands on rushers quickly. When he can take a shallow set, he is capable of quickly stabbing or two-hand punching into a good fit on the frame. When he’s tested with speed off the edge from wide alignment, he can be prone to swinging open the gate and leaving himself vulnerable to inside counters. Travis lacks the foot speed to flash and react on an island in these situations. Maintaining the integrity of his base is essential to keep him in line to wash and pin inside counters into the core.
Travis shows present eyes for twists, stunts, and games in protection. The execution of his exchanges with the guard needs work, but that is more tied to his hand usage and intent of delivery than not seeing developing attacks coming from opposing defenses.
Travis showcases sufficient flexibility throughout his frame. As a byproduct of his frame, he’s not a big leverage player, but he can sufficiently sit on his hips and maintain his posture. His balance is likable when engaged with defenders in his set or when playing in space to close an angle and get attached to a body.
For as likable as Travis is in pass protection in some phases, he can be equally frustrating in the run game. There’s not a great deal of burst or explosiveness out of his stance to create knockback and reset the line of scrimmage. When he attaches to defenders in solo block scenarios, he can be heavy-footed and struggle to keep his base active to sustain his leverage and positioning on the block.
Too often, he appears content to wall off an initial angle of a block. Travis does not create the kind of displacement his frame suggests he is capable of, and this will be a big point of emphasis for his transition to the NFL game. As he currently plays, he’s better suited for an inside zone-heavy scheme.
Travis appears to be a better athlete than some of his point-of-attack tendencies would suggest. He feels like a potential diamond in the rough when you consider he collected one and a half years of starting experience in the Ivy League before one year at Iowa State. His football IQ, functional strength, and raw stature are a package well worth betting on.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Travis projects best as a developmental tackle in an inside run-heavy scheme. He is a sufficient-level athlete, but keeping his release angles more vertical will better complement his strength profile.
Travis is a proficient pass protector who could potentially play in any style of offense but would benefit from a scheme that can offset speed on the edge with different launch points and play-action passing.
Grade: 72.50/100.00, Fourth Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
Make sure to check out our new home for all of our NFL Draft content.
