FARGO — North Dakota State offensive tackle Cody Mauch posted an elite 3-cone drill time at NDSU's recent pro day. Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst for "The Athletic," called it one of the best ever for that position group.
Brugler said the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Mauch posted a verified 7.12 seconds in the 3-cone drill at the pro day.
"Mauch is an easy prospect to like because of his athleticism," Brugler told The Forum. "His 7.12 3-cone at his pro day was one of the best I've ever heard for an offensive lineman."
Mauch has been projected to go as high as the first round in some mock drafts and in the top two rounds in others. Most expect Mauch to get selected no later than Day 2 of the draft in the second or third round.
Brugler recently released his 2023 NFL Draft Guide , which is referred to as "The Beast."
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Cody Mauch is a OT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.32 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 88 out of 1288 OT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/EoVKn7qGE8 #RAS pic.twitter.com/6deJ6byfA8
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 8, 2023
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo. The first round is on April 27, the second and third rounds on April 28 and the rounds 4 through 7 on April 29.
Brugler noted that Mauch's 3-cone drill was better than former Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, who the Baltimore Ravens drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Linderbaum's time was 7.13 seconds. The 3-cone drill is a good indicator of player's agility, change of direction and body control.
"That's one of the best 3-cone times I've even seen from a 300-pounder," Brugler said on a recent "The Athletic Football Show" podcast . "That's elite, elite 3-cone time at a pro day."
Mauch has a 9.32 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) at offensive tackle, according to Kent Lee Platte, which ranks as an elite score.
ESPN Draft analyst Matt Miller has Mauch ranked as his No. 5 prospect at tackle less than three weeks away from the draft. ESPN's Jordan Reid has Mauch ranked as his No. 3 prospect at guard. Mauch is viewed as a prospect who has the potential to play all five positions along the offensive line.
The Bison also have two other prospects who are draftable talents, according to Brugler. Bison fullback Hunter Luepke and tight end Noah Gindorff could have their names called during the NFL Draft, but both are coming off injuries.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Luepke did on-field testing and drills at NDSU's recent pro day, coming back from a shoulder injury that required surgery.
"It was good to see Luepke work out at his pro day," Brugler said. "He was moving around like a fullback who wants to be drafted. His pass-catching skills will give him a chance."
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Luepke rushed for 621 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games this past season. He also caught 14 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns before a shoulder injury in the second-to-last game of the regular season ended his college career.
Luepke is top rated among fullbacks/H-backs in the draft, according to multiple ESPN analysts including Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and Reid. Miller has Luepke ranked as his No. 2 prospect at that position group.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gindorff didn't do any on-field testing at NDSU's pro day on his way back from an ankle injury. He's expected to do his own pro day on Thursday.
Gindorff played in three games this past season for the Bison, catching six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown before undergoing a second procedure on an ankle injury that ended his final season at NDSU.
"Gindorff was dealt a bad hand with his injury and how it has kept him off the field," Brugler said. "But he has draftable talent when healthy and he'll show that in camp whether he's draft or not."
A lot of verified pro day numbers in today's Prospects to Pros.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 5, 2023
Like Cody Mauch's unreal 7.12 3-cone at his pro day - one of the best numbers this draft process. Better than Tyler Linderbaum's 7.13 from last year. https://t.co/SMOLI2RIfu
Cody Mauch is going to be a PROBLEM in the run game @PFF_Sam | @PFF_Mike pic.twitter.com/dUmQ7n7J02
— PFF NFL Podcast (@PFFNFLPod) April 7, 2023
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