Lorenz Metz, IOL Cincinnati: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Metz was a three-star recruit from Neuötting, Germany in the class of 2018

The Cincinnati Bearcats had one of the nation’s most talented programs in 2021, and several of their All-Conference selections returned for 2022. Right guard Lorenz Metz is a converted defensive lineman from Germany who could get some looks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Lorenz Metz, IOL Cincinnati: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior right guard from Neuötting, Germany

Background: Metz was a three-star recruit from Neuötting, Germany in the class of 2018. He was the No. 952 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,440 for On3.com. Metz was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals. He was an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. Metz also received offers from Central Michigan, Connecticut, Georgia Tech, and UMass. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management in December of 2021 and was named Outstanding Undergraduate Industrial Management Student of the Year by Lindner’s Department of Operations, Business Analytics and Information Systems. Metz began playing football when he was 18 and a chemical technician in Germany. He played defensive tackle for the Kirchdorf Wildcats in the German Football League in Germany and saw action in 12 games in 2017, recording 48 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and a sack. Metz transitioned from defensive tackle to offensive lineman as a freshman at Cincinnati.

2021 Production: 12 games, played right guard

2020 Production: 8 games, played left tackle

2019 Production: 13 games, played left and right tackle

2018 Production: 4 games, played left tackle (Redshirt Year)

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed significant time in 2022 returning from ankle surgery

Awards: 2021 First-Team All-American Athletic Conference, 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team

Pros: Special teams experience on the field goal block and field goal kick units, experience starting at three different positions, background as a defensive lineman, gets hands active early, engulfs linebackers who rush the passer, upper body strength, hands pack pop (although it’s inconsistent), quick reaction to the snap, consistently looks for work, lands punches on multiple defenders

Cons: Penalties are a major concern, only two seasons with over 100 offensive snaps, age, height leads to leverage concerns, surprisingly lean lower half, still developing awareness for stunts and games, pad level rises too high, chest gets out over his knees, tends to lean on defenders in pass protection, GPS as a blocker is underdeveloped, not a mauler, forward lean causes him to lose his balance, lacks the twitch and agility to recover when beaten, some minor false steps when preparing to get downhill as a run blocker, needs to do a better job keeping his shoulders clean, heavy-footed in space, doesn’t generate much movement in the run game, doesn’t consistently latch and sustain blocks, exposes his hands by carrying them away from his frame, hand placement is erratic, doesn’t drop anchor because of his high stance

Overview: Metz is unofficially listed at 6'9", 330 lbs. He allowed pressure on 6.17% of his snaps in pass protection in 2019 but cut that number down to 2.13% in 2021. Metz played along the defensive line in Germany, but he switched to the offensive side of the ball with Cincinnati. He started the majority of Cincinnati’s games at right tackle in 2019, took some snaps at left tackle in 2020, and started at right guard in 2021. Unfortunately, the All-Conference guard missed six of his team’s first seven games in 2022 as he worked back from offseason ankle surgery. Metz has ideal upper body strength and good pop in his hands. There was a play early in the third quarter against Alabama (2021) where he climbed to the second level and gave Henry To'oTo'o a halfhearted one-armed shove that sent the linebacker tumbling three yards backward. In pass protection, Metz’s punches have the power to deaden rushers. This makes him an asset when he oscillates between rushers on his left and right as he’s sometimes able to hit both in the course of a play. Metz activates his hands early in the down and engulfs smaller pass rushers who struggle with his arm length and upper body power. Penalties are a significant concern with Metz. He drew five flags in 2021, four in roughly 130 offensive and special teams snaps in 2020, and 18 in 2019 when he played tackle. Sometimes Metz’s internal GPS leads him astray. There are moments when it’s not obvious who he’s supposed to block in pass protection and he either ends up left alone blocking air, or he doubles back and ends up compressing the pocket. So far, Metz only has two seasons with over 100 offensive snaps, but that could change depending on when he returns to the lineup in 2022. He has the frame of a tackle, but he’s not skilled enough to play that role in the NFL. His height sticks out at guard and raises concerns about his ability to maintain leverage. Metz’s height causes several problems. His pad level rises too high, his chest frequently gets out over his knees, and he struggles to drop his anchor because of his high stance. Metz tends to lean on defenders in pass protection, which causes him to lose his balance. He lacks the twitch and agility to recover when beaten. Despite his listed playing weight, Metz has a surprisingly lean lower half. He doesn’t generate much movement in the run game and doesn’t consistently latch and sustain blocks. The former three-star recruit is still developing an awareness for stunts and games and how to handle them. He looks heavy-footed in space. In pass protection, he exposes his hands by carrying them away from his frame, and his hand placement is erratic. Inconsistencies dot Metz’s tape, but he’s also produced some promising performances against upper-level competition. The German didn’t allow a pressure in his starts against Alabama and Notre Dame in 2021.

Overall, Metz has unique playing experience and ideal arm length, upper body strength, and punch power for a guard, but his lean lower half and struggles with leverage limit his projection to the NFL. He currently falls in the UDFA bucket.

Role & Scheme Fit: Right guard in a zone blocking scheme

Round Projection: UDFA

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 10-27-22