Bucs stole the best pass-blocking guard in college football with 6th-round pick
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to have a wide-open competition for the starting left guard spot.
They signed multiple veterans in free agency to challenge for that role, adding Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson to the mix. With first-round pick Graham Barton likely to take over as the starting center, Robert Hainsey could also be involved in the left guard conversation.
But the player who could emerge as the best option is actually sixth-round rookie Elijah Klein.
Last year at UTEP, Klein earned the highest pass-blocking grade of any guard in college football, per Pro Football Focus:
— Cody Haynes (@codyh33) May 2, 2024
Not bad for a late-round pick, eh?
It’ll obviously be an uphill battle for a Day 3 prospect to beat out a couple of NFL veterans for a starting job as a rookie, but stranger things have happened before, and Klein clearly has a proven track record of success.
QB Baker Mayfield
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
QB Kyle Trask
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
QB John Wolford
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Rachaad White
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Bucky Irving
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Chase Edmonds
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Sean Tucker
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
WR Mike Evans
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Chris Godwin
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Trey Palmer
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Jalen McMillan
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Deven Thompkins
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Rakim Jarrett
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
TE Cade Otton
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
TE Payne Durham
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
TE Ko Kieft
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
TE Devin Culp
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 04: Devin Culp #83 of the Washington Huskies looks on before the…
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 04: Devin Culp #83 of the Washington Huskies looks on before the game against the Montana Grizzlies at Husky Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OT Tristan Wirfs
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Sua Opeta
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OL Graham Barton
Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Cody Mauch
(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OT Luke Goedeke
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OL Robert Hainsey
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OL Ben Bredeson
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OT Brandon Walton
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OT Justin Skule
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Elijah Klein
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Yaya Diaby
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Chris Braswell
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Randy Gregory
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Anthony Nelson
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Vita Vea
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Calijah Kancey
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Logan Hall
Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Will Gholston
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Greg Gaines
Nov 5, 2023Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports; Houston, Texas, USA;Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) passes as…
Nov 5, 2023Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports; Houston, Texas, USA;Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) passes as he is pressured from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Greg Gaines (96) in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
LB Lavonte David
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
LB SirVocea Dennis
Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Share this
image
gallery
LB K.J. Britt
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
LB J.J. Russell
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Jamel Dean
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
CB Zyon McCollum
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Christian Izien
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
CB Bryce Hall
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Tavierre Thomas
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
S Jordan Whitehead
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DB Tykee Smith
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DB Josh Hayes
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
K Chase McLaughlin
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
P Jake Camarda
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
LS Zach Triner
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
