NFL Draft Profile: Jarrett Patterson, Offensive Center, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

NFL Draft profile scouting report for Notre Dame iOL Jarrett Patterson

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#55
Pos: iOL
Ht: 6047
Wt: 306
Hand: 1000
Arm: 3138
Wing: 7758
40: 5.33
DOB: 9/1/1999
Hometown: Laguna Hills, CA
High School: Mission Viejo
Eligibility: 2023

Jarrett Patterson
Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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One-Liner:

A high-floor, low-ceiling prospect, Jarrett Patterson’s advanced technique and intelligence only partially compensate for his underwhelming athletic profile. 

Evaluation:

NFL-level size and technique are hard to come by among draft prospects. Notre Dame’s experienced center, Jarrett Patterson, complements his NFL frame and decent length with extremely refined play and high-level awareness. In pass protection, Patterson exhibits patience while seeking out contact if unoccupied. He plays with steady gap discipline and consistently recognizes stunts. Furthermore, he maintains a wide base through engagement and can reset his base while being driven back. The California native also understands leverage and how to obtain it. What’s more, he displays efficient, quick, accurate and well-timed hands. He is capable of resetting when defenders bat his arms away. Further, Patterson plays with sound weight distribution and keeps his feet active to close distance on opponents. The former offensive tackle’s technique complements and enhances his power profile by manufacturing an anchor through leverage. Similarly, he has sufficient flexibility in his waist to enable him to stalemate defenders and combat power rushers. Moreover, Patterson plays with impressive grip strength to sustain blocks. He reliably mirrors through engagement. In the A-gap, he displays one-on-one power. In the run game, Patterson exhibits decent leg drive and can generate a push in double-team situations. Additionally, the talented lineman has the requisite movement skills to mirror in the A-gap and to perform short pulls on reach blocks. While Notre Dame’s experienced center should start early in the league, his ceiling is capped by his underwhelming athletic profile. Patterson will likely only see significant playing time in a gap scheme at the next level. He does not have the length to block on the move. The former offensive tackle will play along the interior at the next level, as he is routinely outreached by longer defenders. Further, NFL teams would be best served to keep him stationary in the A gap. From the inside, the lineman struggles to identify and pick up delayed rushers from the second level. What’s more, Patterson’s anchor and power are concerning. Defenders often push-pull, stack-shed or bench press to replace him. The California native also fails to control his opponents. Patterson is thrown around by any opposition that reaches his frame; this will be exacerbated by NFL-level competition. Moreover, the Fighting Irish star is an average mover who struggles on reach blocks. Patterson is inconsistent when tasked with getting to space. Likewise, he struggles to properly engage at the second level due to his poor change of direction ability. The Notre Dame standout’s movement skills even undermine his intelligence; he sometimes fails to pick up stunts that he successfully recognizes. Finally, Patterson will need to prove he has returned to form after a foot injury prematurely ended his 2020 season. One of the Fighting Irish’s top players, Jarrett Patterson is a high-floor prospect. His advanced technique and baseline athletic traits should make him an immediate low-end starter in a gap scheme with room to grow into a reliable first-string center. That said, his limited power and movement skills simultaneously rely on and undermine his intelligence and refinement.

Grade:

2nd Round

Background:

Born September First in Mission Viejo, California, Jarrett Patterson was an extremely accomplished offensive lineman at Mission Viejo High School. During his four-year varsity career, the team went 51-4. In 2015, he helped lead his school to the 2015 California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-AA Championship. In 2016, Patterson was selected to be First Team All-South Coast League, First Team All-Orange County, First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 and Second Team Cal-Hi Sports All-State. The then-offensive tackle only improved in 2017. After his senior season, Patterson was named First Team All-South Coast League, First Team All-Orange County, First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 and First Team Cal-Hi Sports All-State. What’s more, he was a Los Angeles Times Football All-Star and a member of the USA Today Family Insurance All-USA California Football Team. In recognition of his stellar high school career, 247Sports Composite Rankings listed Patterson as a four-star recruit. The same service ranked him 369th-overall in his class, 25th among offensive tackles and 45th out of recruits in the state of California. A slow starter, Patterson appeared in just three games during his freshman year at Notre Dame. That said, he broke out in 2019. In his sophomore season, the California native started all thirteen games at center. On 854 snaps played, Patterson allowed just two quarterback hits and zero sacks. He was named ECHOES Offensive Newcomer of the Year and received the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll for an offensive lineman. Further, he was placed on the Rimington Trophy Watch List. Before his 2020 season, Patterson was listed on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Independent Second Team and Pro Football Focus’s Preseason All-ACC First Team. The talented center started eight games at center in 2020. After the season, he was awarded Phil Steele Honorable Mention All-America. He was also placed on the Outland Trophy Watch List and the Rimington Trophy Watch List. Unfortunately, Patterson’s impressive run at Notre Dame was abruptly halted by a season-ending foot injury in 2020. He did not have the pin removed from his foot until March 2021 and has missed the Fighting Irish’s 2021 spring practices.