Is Royce Newman late round gem in 2021 NFL draft?

Royce Newman was a four-star recruit who committed to Ole Miss. After redshirting his first year he played rotationally in 2017 and 2018. As a redshirt junior, he started at left guard and then bounced to right tackle as a redshirt senior. Newman went to the Senior Bowl in the hopes of improving his NFL draft stock, and by all accounts did just that.

Newman took that momentum into his pro day, where he posted respectable athletic measurables.

Traits where Royce Newman can succeed in the NFL

Coming into the NFL with known position versatility at the SEC level is going to get attention. Newman has the size, length, and quick feet in pass pro to make it as a tackle in the NFL. Still, he moves and pulls like a guard.

His ability to pull across the line and get into the second level is one of his better traits, and well as holding down blocks. Newman would fair well in a zone-blocking scheme. In pass pro, he wins with his fast get off, and a tenacious determination to throw punches. Newman is a fighter and his collection of skills provides a higher floor than most.

Where Royce Newman could struggle in the NFL

He is tenacious in his punches, but at times erratic. When he misses he can lose pretty quickly to longer defenders. His feet are quick and fire off of the ball but are not quite polished yet. At times he can lose power due to overset, but beyond that becomes exposed to counter moves and stunts.

Newman has a chance to make it at tackle, but his squatty, powerful frame may have his career see its best NFL reps at guard.

NFL Comparison for Royce Newman

I took the size and athletic stats that Newman provided in his pro day and compared them to recent offensive lineman with similar size at the combine. The list of similar athletes includes high upside prospects such as Riley Reiff and Ricky Wagner.

However, combining his on-field tape with his measurements, the two best NFL comparisons for Royce Newman would be Alex Lewis and Billy Turner.

The two are good for comparison mainly because they bring similar position versatility to the NFL. Lewis and Turner have started most of their career, whether at guard or tackle. Neither is flashy or the best on their respective line, but they can jump around if needed, and are not considered a weak link no matter where they play.

Turner was a third-round pick and Lewis went in the fourth round, and pick 70-130 may be the range that we see Royce Newman fall off the board.

Is Royce Newman a fit for the Chicago Bears?

Royce Newman is exactly the type of player the Chicago Bears need. Germain Ifedi bounced from guard to tackle last season and truly is not the answer at either spot. Newman can compete to start at right tackle, but at the worst will provide depth at guard and tackle.

What makes Newman enticing is also his draft cost. Round three may be a bit rich, but you could see Newman fall later into day three with some of his questions and the idea that he is looked at as a depth swing player.

Still, if Newman fell into the fifth or sixth round, he would be a home run depth addition for the Chicago Bears.