If the Commanders Want to Go Big on the Offensive Line, Choose Atonio Mafi

Mar 29, 2023 - 1:00 PM

Atonio Mafi, OG

School: UCLA | Conference: Pac 12

College Experience: RS Senior | Age: ?

Height / Weight: 6’3” / 338 lbs

Projected Draft Status: 5th Round

Player Comparison: Chasen Hines

Player Overview

Cousin of tight end Devin Asiasi, Atonio Mafi was a three-star recruit out of California that was recruited by UCLA to play nose tackle. He became a starter early his freshman year and played along the Bruins defensive front. He would play one more season on defense before switching to the offensive side of the ball in 2020. It was in 2021 when he got the chance to start in three games at guard. He would start each game at right guard in his final season and earn second-team All-Pac 12 honors.

Strengths

• Wide frame that’s hard to get around
• Good short area quickness and footwork
• Works to second level and finds targets in space
• Devastating down blocker
• Locks arms, anchors, and keeps feet moving to stonewall rushers
• Good awareness; looks for work

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve sustaining blocks in passing game
• Can struggle with balance in pass pro
• Sometimes shoots his hands too wide
• Can play high and lose leverage to defenders
• Can struggle getting to blocks on outside zone runs
• Will have to maintain weight (once was 411 lbs)

Let’s see his work

How he fits on the Commanders

Although Atonio Mafi is new to the offensive side of the ball, he’s shown flashes of being a quality offensive guard. His athleticism for his size combined with his size and strength will make him a quality player if he continues to improve. Do the Commanders have time for him to develop? With this looking like the last year of Ron Rivera’s tenure with the team barring significant success, they may look for more polished prospects in the draft. But given that they held a private workout with Mafi and his experience with the zone blocking schemes Eric Bieniemy might run gives him a shot of being selected by Washington.