Joe Tippmann NFL Draft Scouting Report

OC, Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann was a consensus three-star recruit out of high school. As a senior, he was named the Indiana Mr. Football offensive lineman. He was accredited with 102 pancake blocks in his senior year. Tippmann’s career at Wisconsin started slowly. He redshirted as a freshman and played in only two games the following season. He took over the starting center position in 2021 and never looked back. Tippmann was a pivotal piece to the Badgers’ No. 2-ranked rushing attack in the Big Ten. 

Tippmann blends together incredible raw power and athleticism. This shows up on tape as he latches and anchors during sets. As a run blocker, Tippman plays with a good, strong base. His feet remain active while engaged with defenders. He effectively washes defenders down the line in the zone game. He understands how to utilize the defender’s momentum against them driving in that specific direction. Tippmann is a good and reliable duo blocker to handle bigger/physical defensive tackles. His athleticism/quickness is evident on tape watching him climb to the second level and attack linebackers. Tippman is quick out of his stance after snapping the football as a puller. It is impressive how quickly he gets out in space. Defensive backs in space do not fare well when Tippmann has them in his sights. He plays with a physical demeanor and will finish blocks to the ground. 

In pass protection, Tippmann showcases the lateral agility to mirror defenders in short, condensed spaces. I loved his spatial awareness—he keeps his head on a swivel to locate incoming defenders and make contact. If left uncovered, he acts as a bumper to his interior teammates. His hands fit well on initial engagement. He will detach and re-fit his hands to regain momentum and stabilize his blocks. Tippmann has been uber reliable in pass pro allowing one sack in two years for the Badgers. 

Tippmann’s physical profile is outstanding but it comes with a few drawbacks. Tippmann has to work harder to get underneath his opponent’s pads due to his height. He is inconsistent with bending at the knees and will find himself leaning from the waist. This creates block sustainability issues. He can be a bit over-aggressive to get the jump on quicker defensive linemen, resulting in him lunging and not connecting. Tippmann could benefit from improving his punch timing. Too many times, defensive linemen attack quickly, get their hands into his chest, and win the leverage battle. This also makes him susceptible to the push/pull technique. Defenders tend to attack his right shoulder/hip to force improper weight distribution creating balance issues. 

In conclusion, Tippmann projects as a day-one starting center for multiple NFL offenses and schemes. Tippmann is a scheme-versatile blocker that impresses on both running and passing plays. His power and athleticism allow him to win single or double-team reps. Tippmann is the quarterback of the offensive line and his knowledge of blocking schemes will assist his acclimation to the league. He has the physical ability to develop into a long-term starting center in the league.

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• An incredible combination of height, weight, and athleticism
• Positional flexibility upside 
• Experience

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Leverage
• Flexibility
• Late mechanics

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 6”

Weight: 313 lbs

Arm Length: 32 3/4”

Hand Size: 10 3/4”

Athletic Testing (TBD):

40-yard Dash: TBD

Vertical Jump: TBD

Broad Jump: TBD

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD 

Ideal Role: Center 

Scheme Fit: Scheme versatile; Gap or zone

Prospect Comparison: Mitch Morse

TDN Consensus Grade: 78.00/100 (Third Round Value)

• Parson Grade: 78.00/100

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Maryland (2022), Ohio State (2022), Illinois (2022), Minnesota (2022)

Joe Tippmann NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.