According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the San Francisco 49ers were among the teams to meet with Utah offensive tackle Braeden Daniels at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"[Utah]'s Braeden Daniels is one of the most versatile and experienced OL in the 2023 NFL Draft. There's so much interest in Daniels," wrote Melo.
Daniels also met with the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, and Arizona Cardinals.
.@Utah_Football's Braeden Daniels is one of the most versatile and experienced OL in the 2023 NFL Draft. There's so much interest in Daniels.
Combine Formals: Titans, Dolphins, Cardinals, 49ers.
Top 30 w/ Seahawks soon.✍️ @TheDraftNetwork x @B_Daniels71https://t.co/6twBgSv5Rw
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 24, 2023
The draft prospect is from Carollton, TX. He earned a pre-draft grade of 6.14 from NFL.com, which equates to a "good backup with potential to become a starter," per the site's 8-point grading scale.
Daniels started all 14 games at left tackle in 2022, allowing just one hit and no sacks in 513 pass-blocking snaps (966 snaps overall), per Pro Football Focus. He is versatile, having played 813 snaps at right tackle and 146 snaps at left guard in 2021, and 134 snaps at left guard in 2020. However, the offensive lineman is more comfortable blocking along the edges.
"I would definitely say I'm most comfortable at tackle because that's where I've played for the past two seasons," Daniels told Melo. "I also understand that I'd be a smaller tackle as far as the NFL goes. I'm self-aware. The goal is to come in and maybe have some great seasons at an interior position. Going forward, I can get a team out of a bad position at swing tackle where necessary."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6' 3 5/8" and 294-pound Daniels had a 40-time of 4.99 seconds, a vertical jump of 30.5 inches, a broad jump of 109 inches, a 7.53-second three-cone drill time, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.6 seconds. His other measurables include an arm length of 33 inches and hands measuring 9 3/8 inches.
"An NFL team is going to get a coachable player when they draft me," Daniels said. "I'm eager to learn and get better. I want to have a great career. I want to have a career that spans different goals and achievements. I want to be an All-Pro lineman. I definitely want to win a Super Bowl."
Below is the NFL.com draft profile bio on Daniels:
A three-star recruit from Hebron High School in Texas, Daniels signed with Utah for the 2018 season, in which he redshirted while playing in two games as a reserve. He moved into a starting role at left guard for all 14 games of the 2019 season and played in all five of the Utes' contests in 2020 (one start at left guard). Daniels was once again a full-time starter in 2021, garnering second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors with his effort in 14 starts (three at left guard, 11 at right tackle). He moved to left tackle for his final campaign, receiving first-team all-conference recognition for his play in 14 starts in 2022. Daniels allowed just five sacks in nearly 1,400 pass-blocking snaps during his collegiate career, per PFF. -- by Chad Reuter
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who compares Daniels to Hakeem Adeniji, wrote the following within his scouting report:
Active, athletic offensive lineman offering room for development at guard or tackle. Daniels is an impactful down blocker with the quickness to handle zone-blocking duties. Firing out and sustaining drive blocks, however, will require much better patience and footwork to keep from whiffing or falling off blocks. Small hands prevent him from latching in as a run blocker or in pass protection, but flurrying hands and a tenacious mirror help him stay in front of rushers. Position versatility and correctable issues could raise Daniels' draft profile as a middle-rounder with upside.
