We are breaking down the Notre Dame football prospects ahead of the NFL Draft which begins on Thursday, April 29th in Cleveland, Ohio. There will be no NFL Combine this year due to the pandemic. However, Notre Dame will hold its Pro Day on March 31st at 12:00 PM in South Bend.

Next up, a highly experienced and technically sounds lineman with versatility for a NFL career.

SPECS

Name: Robert Hainsey
Position: OL
Height: 6-4 (per the Senior Bowl)
Weight: 302 (per the Senior Bowl)
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

BIO:

A western Pennsylvania native who came out of IMG Academy in Florida. He enrolled early with the Irish and ended up playing in every game as a freshman while starting the bowl game against LSU at right tackle. Thought to be a guard prospect for Notre Dame, Hainsey remained at right tackle for the remainder of his career.

He’d start all of 2018, missed the final 5 games of 2019 with a knee injury, then came back to start all of 2020. In all, his 34 career starts is an impressive career full of experience.

STRENGTHS:

Very good footwork. Shows off good hand placement and rarely gets beat by speed rushers to his outside. Good strength and a quality run blocker. Not super athletic but moves with good fluidity. Smart and uses his technique to get the most of his ability.

WEAKNESSES:

There are concerns about Hainsey’s strength in the NFL. A bulky upper-body and relatively skinny legs forces him to struggle anchoring against tougher competition. Hainsey’s 32-inch arms are adequate but not ideal for a tackle. A very good tackle in college with questions about his role at this position as a professional.

OVERVIEW:

It would shock me if Hainsey stayed at tackle in the NFL and moving inside for some reps at the Senior Bowl would seem to indicate that scouts feel this way too. Although, it’s always a good thing to bring in an interior prospect who can slide out to tackle in a pinch.

Hainsey did pack on 12 pounds for the Senior Bowl but most scouts think he’s pretty tapped out at his size. His reports are all over the place, ranging from a day 2 pick, to someone who could be a career backup.

PREDICTION:

5th Round, 152nd Overall to the Carolina Panthers

Carolina needs to get better along the offensive line and should be seeking a long-term replacement at center. This off-season, the Panthers restructured Matt Paradis’ contract to free up cap space. He’ll be heading into his final year of the contract with Hainsey being a smart successor to Paradis’ spot.

More Scouting Reports to Come:

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Ian Book
Liam Eichenberg