Scouting report: Max Unger

6’5, 305 pounds | Oregon | Center
Strengths: Has plus agility for an interior linemen. Very light on his feet and quick off the snap. Moves in space fairly well. Properly targets defenders on the second level. Great character. Solid team player who switched effortlessly from left tackle to center. Has the intelligence to make pre-snap adjustments along the offensive line. Picks up blitzes nicely. Uses his quickness to adjust to spin moves and stunts.
Weaknesses: Somewhat slender for the position. If he stays at center, Unger needs to add about 15 pounds of muscle to hold up against bigger NFL defensive tackles. Especially needs to add strength in his lower body. Will get pushed back by bigger tackles and will need guard help. At Oregon, In pass protection, Unger had a lot of space around him that allowed him to use his mobility to neutralize his opponents. It will be interesting to see how he holds up in a tighter line. Unger snapped mostly from the shotgun and will need to adjust some to having the quarterback directly under him on almost every play. Takes deep steps, which could cause him to tangle up with guards or quarterbacks in the NFL.
Final word: At this point in his career progression, Unger is a much better pass blocker than run blocker. As a sophomore, Unger was one of the best left tackles in the nation. Then, with the arrival of Fenuki Tupou at Oregon, he shifted inside so head coach Mike Bellotti could get the best players on the field. Will be at least a very dependable backup lineman at the next level.
Round projection: 2