Forrest Lamp made a name for himself when he fended off the best pass rushers Alabama could throw at him in an early-season non-conference loss. His body of work as a 6’4, 310-pound quarterback protector made him the first player in Western Kentucky history to go in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.
Forrest Lamp will give boost to Chargers’ offensive line
The Hilltoppers wouldn’t have had one of the nation’s most explosive offenses without Lamp setting the tone.
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Chargers selected the greatest offensive lineman in Hilltopper history with the 38th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. While questions about the level of competition he faced in Bowling Green remained a concern — he faced teams like North Texas, Florida International, and Rice on a regular basis throughout his career — an impressive showing at the Draft Combine made him too valuable to pass up.
What skills does Lamp bring as an NFL offensive lineman?
Lamp showed tremendous athleticism in Indianapolis, landing in the top five offensive linemen in four of the six drills in which he participated. With an 111-inch broad jump and 34 powerful reps on the bench press, he showcased the strength and explosiveness to translate his skills from Conference USA to the NFL.
He’ll get the advantage of a learning curve his rookie season. Lamp protected quarterback Mike White’s blind side as a starting left tackle, but is projected to move inside and start his NFL career as a guard. While his average height and arm length may keep him stuck in an interior role, the Chargers are betting they’ll get several years of Pro Bowl service from him after spending a premium draft pick to get him.
There’s a chance he pans out on the edge in the NFL as well. Former NFL defensive end Stephen White was quick to praise his dominance against Conference USA opponents — and Alabama — last fall.
Lamp’s success at left tackle boiled down to his lateral movement. The Hilltoppers kept edge rushers at bay thanks to the kind of strength that negated swats and spin moves and the quickness to shut down speed rushes intended to collapse the pocket from the corner. Here he is showing off the ability to shadow his man in a 2015 game against Indiana.
Why might he have more success at offensive guard in the pros?
He’s also solid in the run game, where his above-average athleticism should make him a big time presence as a pulling guard. Lamp has a good burst off the snap and understands when to drive defenders back vs. just tying them up to create a hole. The clip below isn’t sexy — it’s just a two yard gain — but a look as the left tackle showcases his ability to swallow up his defensive end and take him out of the play entirely.
His skill hasn’t gone unnoticed outside the world of scouts and NFL wonks. He recently signed an endorsement deal with, who else, Lamps Plus.
Why might he disappoint at the next level?
The show he put on at the Combine solidified his status as one of the draft’s premier blockers, but questions remain about his ability to consistently take on NFL linemen. The major concern is whether his relatively short arms will prevent him from ever moving to the exterior of the line, where he’d carry the most value as a pro. Lamp is sound in almost every other aspect — good fundamentals, great workout numbers, and tremendous college production.
He’ll likely move to the interior of the line with the Chargers, which hampers his value. Early-round picks are traditionally saved for blind-side saving tackles, rather than path-clearers like Lamp. He’ll have high expectations to live up to at offensive guard.
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