In a draft class loaded with intriguing prospects, one name that suddenly exploded onto scouts’ radars at the NFL Combine was Patrick Kutas — and not for a traditional reason.
At 6’5″ and 318 pounds, Kutas already had the size profile NFL teams covet in an interior offensive lineman. What he did under the bright lights in Indianapolis, however, was something almost nobody saw coming: a jaw-dropping 45 reps on the 225-pound bench press, leading the entire combine and placing him among the elite strength performances in combine history.
A Performance That Put Him on the Map
Bench press reps aren’t the only measure of NFL readiness, but a 45-rep showing is elite strength — a level only a handful of players have ever hit at the NFL Combine. Historically, only a few players have reached that mark across all positions, and doing so instantly injects a player like Kutas into conversations he might not have been in before.
Before Indianapolis, Kutas was known primarily as a strong, physical blocker — a transfer from Arkansas who carved out a starting role at Ole Miss and became one of the most consistent linemen in the SEC trenches this past season.
But this performance didn’t just show he is strong. It showed work capacity, upper-body explosiveness, and elite aggression — traits NFL teams love in interior blockers who must maul defenders on every play.
Draft Analysis: Strengths That Translate
1. Elite Strength & Power:
The 45 bench reps tell an indisputable story: Kutas can absolutely dominate the point of attack. In the NFL, guards and centers must be powerful enough to stand up stout defensive tackles and push them off the line — and Kutas demonstrated strength well beyond the average for his position.
2. Physical Run-Game Presence:
His strength doesn’t just look good on paper — it shows up on tape. Kutas has been a major contributor in the Rebels’ rushing success, regularly driving defenders backward and creating running lanes for SEC-level backs.
3. Positional Versatility:
College tape shows he’s not just a one-trick pony. He started games at both tackle and guard, giving pro teams flexibility. That kind of versatility — especially with his strength — is a major plus in draft evaluations.
4. Durability & Toughness:
Beyond the bench press, Kutas has played consistently against high-level SEC competition, and that experience — combined with his strength — suggests he can be trusted in the physical weekly grind of the NFL.
Player Comparisons & Archetype
Draft analysts often look for NFL player comps to paint a clearer picture of what a prospect could become. In Kutas’s case, the comparisons lean toward the archetype of a mauling interior force — the kind of blocker who is a cornerstone of power offenses:
- Rodger Saffold-type force in the interior — a big, strong player who can anchor and drive defenders in the run game.
- Brandon Scherff-like physicality — not necessarily in draft slot or career trajectory, but in the strength and nastiness he brings to every snap.
Teams looking for a bully in the middle who can help establish a dominant ground attack will have their eyes trained on a player like Kutas.
Areas to Develop
No draft prospect is perfect, and even with his standout strength, there are areas where Kutas will need refinement:
- Technique polish: NFL linemen need elite hand placement, leverage control, and pad level consistency. These are skills he’ll continue to refine at the next level.
- Agility & Footwork: While his strength is elite, improving quickness in short spaces — especially for pulling and second-level work — will be key for his long-term success.
Draft Stock & Projection
Thanks to that historic 45-rep bench performance, Kutas enters the post-combine draft process with significantly increased visibility among teams. That kind of strength puts him on screens and boards in a way that typical game tape alone sometimes doesn’t — and if he continues to impress in private workouts and meetings, evaluators could view him as a Day 2 starter with potential to be an everyday NFL guard.
In a draft class where physical dominance inside is at a premium, Patrick Kutas may well be the strongest man in the draft — and one of the most intriguing offensive line prospects to watch as draft season heats up.
