Technically polished tackle-to-guard convert who made a living mauling Mountain West defenders behind a square base and punishing grip strength. Casey's run blocking is his meal ticket — he drives his legs through the whistle, creates vertical displacement, and finishes with a nastiness that NFL run-game coordinators will love. The problem is protecting the edge: he lacks the foot speed and arm length to consistently mirror NFL-caliber speed rushers, and his Senior Bowl reps against Power 4 edge talent exposed how much he was schemed around in Boise. His NFL future is almost certainly inside at guard, where his anchor, processing speed, and road-grading power can shine without asking his feet to do things they can't. If he lands in a gap-scheme room with patient coaching, he's a quality starter; if forced to play tackle, he's a liability.
- Elite run-blocking power and finishing ability — drives legs through the whistle, creates vertical displacement, and looks to pancake on every rep
- Strong anchor that halts bull rushes and maintains pocket integrity, even when giving initial ground he re-anchors effectively
- High football IQ with quick stunt recognition, clean processing of blitz pickups, and excellent awareness of blocking angles
- Exceptional durability and consistency — 41 career starts, 2,700+ career snaps, only two penalties in entire college career
- Outstanding grip strength and ability to latch, steer, and control defenders at the point of attack in the run game
- Lacks the foot speed and range to consistently protect his outside shoulder against NFL-speed edge rushers — winds up chasing defenders up the arc
- Arm length concerns (33 1/4 inches at Senior Bowl, measured 37 3/4 at Combine — significant discrepancy needs clarification) and overextends to establish contact, leaving his chest exposed
- High-hipped build contributes to inconsistent pad level and waist bending, making him vulnerable to long-limbed defenders who can stack him
- Disappointing combine athletic testing — 40-yard dash (5.20, 31st of 39 OL), 10-yard split (1.85, 37th of 39), 3-cone (8.01, 13th of 14) confirm below-average athleticism
Zierlein's direct comp — both are well-proportioned, durable tackle prospects who counter lack of elite length with persistence and finishing ability. Cosmi moved from LT at Texas to RG in Washington, similar to Casey's likely trajectory from college LT to NFL guard.