The upcoming NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 28 in Las Vegas, Nev. Alabama football has several players in this year’s draft, including two projected first-round picks.
The staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine are doing player profiles leading up to the draft.
Chris Owens is the sixth offensive player to profile.
Chris Owens
-Position: Offensive lineman
-Hometown: Arlington, Texas
-Height: 6-3
-Weight: 305 pounds
-Strengths: Versatile (can plays center, guard, and tackle), strong communicator, good run blocker, adequate pass blocker
-Weaknesses: Took six years to become a starter, lacks elite physical traits, does not have ideal size for a tackle, will give way to speedy edge benders outside
-2022 draft projection: Undrafted free agent
2022 NFL Draft profile
Chris Owens spent six years at the University of Alabama as an offensive lineman.
He showed versatility under Nick Saban, playing at center, guard, and tackle. Owens started 20 games in his career, winning four Southeastern Conference titles (2016, 2018, 2020-21) and two College Football Playoff National Championships (2017, 2020).
He played center and right tackle for the Crimson Tide in 2021, assisting the program to an SEC Championship and an appearance in the CFP national title game. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder helped Najee Harris (2019, 2020) and Brian Robinson (2021) become 1,000+ yard rushers. Owens aided Tua Tagovailoa (2019), Mac Jones (2020), and Bryce Young (2021) to be 3,000+ yard passers. Jones and Young were Heisman finalists with Owens, and Young won the Heisman Trophy last season.
He’s a strong communicator with skills, but Owens lacks the elite physical traits to be a drafted lineman.
He stepped up in matchups versus Auburn and Georgia (SEC Championship) in 2021, but Owens has a hard time establishing an anchor position against marquee pass rushers. A team may give him a minicamp tryout, but very few (if any at all) see Owens getting drafted. He had success at Alabama, but his professional opportunity may come as an undrafted free agent.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
