Yodny

Cajuste

Cajuste (6’5/312) made 30 starts in five seasons for Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers, overcoming early-career injuries to earn Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year as a redshirt senior left tackle. Unfortunately, Cajuste sat out almost all offseason workouts with recurring knee and ankle injuries. A high school basketball star, Cajuste has NFL-caliber length (34-inch arms) and consistently kept Will Grier clean in pass protection, but his absence of an athletic profile and durability are concerns. Cajuste looks like a boom-bust prospect with starting left tackle upside whose floor is a long-term reserve.

Brutal timing on this one for Cajuste, as the injury knocks him out of contention for private workouts with NFL teams as the draft process nears its big April show. Making this one even trickier, the 6-foot-5, 312-pounder did not take part in drills while at the NFL Scouting Combine -- at least outside the bench press -- and does not figure to have a healthy opportunity to make those up over the next month. Cajuste was in play for a Round 2 selection (or even late in Round 1) prior to this quad tear. Per Wilson, he is expected to be on the shelf for three months, which should put him back in time for the start of preseason camp assuming a clean recovery.

Zierlein believes Cajuste (6'5/312) “has the traits and talent but doesn’t play as “bendy” in his lower body as expected, which causes inconsistencies with balance in both the run and pass game.” Cajuste excelled at the bench press but didn’t do the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has “starting talent” but is still on the Day 1/2 fringe.

Cajuste (6'5/312) placed fourth among all offensive linemen with his 33 reps. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller ranks the West Virginia stalwart as the No. 6 tackle prospect for the spring. Taking the temperature of his draft stock, Cajuste very much seems to be tracking toward a Round 2 selection, though we wouldn’t rule out his climbing into the back half of the first round depending on how the rest of his process plays out.

Cajuste (6'5/319) has been a common second-round selection in these team specific mocks -- which are excellent, for the record -- and it certainly makes sense for the Giants to target him in that range, as well. As Ledyard notes, the Giants have their tailback of the future in Saquon Barkley -- and he gives the Giants their long-term quarterback a round earlier in Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins -- but if they don’t block better going forward, it won’t matter. Cajuste should help keep Haskins upright as one of the better tackles in this class.

Solak believes the Eagles will opt to bolster their trenches because that’s what they have done in the Pederson/Roseman era and they need a “higher impact starter.” Solak also mentions that Cajuste (6'5/319) would “be ready to start in Year 1, but an extra year to sit and learn behind Peters would help him tremendously in 2020.” Cajuste is projected to be a 2nd-3rd round selection so this is a definite possibility for the Eagles.

Cajuste (6'5/319) is Brugler’s No. 7 offensive tackle and “has NFL starting potential if he stays healthy and eliminates the undisciplined parts of his game.” Unfortunately, Brugler calls that “a big if” because Cajuste is inconsistent from snap to snap. That’s not great to hear because he has 30 starts under his belt, so you’d think he’d be more consistent with all the experience. Brugler also notes that Cajuste’s medicals (knees) will be a big concern.

Cajuste (6'5/321) made the announcement on Twitter, saying that he’s preparing for the next chapter. The senior tackle has helped West Virginia put up tremendous offensive numbers in 2018, and we’ll see him featured in the Senior Bowl in Mobile in January.

Cajuste (6'5/321) is considered one of the better offensive linemen in the Big 12, and is known for having a “mean streak” while flashing the ability to help in the run and passing game for the Mountaineers. He currently projects as a mid-round talent, but with that size and production, he could move up if he tests well at events like this one.

Cajuste (6'5/321) sustained an injury to his right leg while getting rolled up in the pile near the goal line in the closing minutes of the third quarter. He was eventually able to limp off the field, albeit with assistance. Consider the future NFL lineman questionable to return to action. We will pass along updates as information becomes available.