Tag: Julian Pearl

Vikings sign OT Julian Pearl to practice squad, release two players

Minnesota made a move to bolster its depth on the offensive line.

In a series of roster moves on Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings signed free agent tackle Julian Pearl to the practice squad. Minnesota also released running back Myles Gaskins and terminated practice squad contracts of linebacker Dallas Gant and tackle Marcellus Johnson. The Vikings later re-signed Gaskins back to the practice squad.

Pearl will help bolster depth on the Vikings’ offense line moving forward. The 25-year-old Pearl went undrafted in 2024 and signed as a UDFA with the Ravens on May 3. He was part of their final cuts and was not on any team’s practice squad before connecting with the Vikings.

He played for Illinois for five seasons in college. Pearl was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in both 2022 and 2023. The big left tackle started 23 consecutive games to close out his collegiate career.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Pearl as a developmental swing tackle in the NFL if he improved his pass protection and upper-body strength.

Julian Pearl could be the steal of Ravens UDFA class

University of Illinois OL Julian Pearl could be the steal of the Ravens 22 man UDFA class.

Every year, there are “steals” in the NFL Draft and the undrafted free agent classes. Every April, we’re shocked when specific prospects rated positively on draft boards still somehow go undrafted.

These prospects can become the proverbial diamond in the rough, bringing immense value at a low price for whichever team signs them.

University of Illinois OL Julian Pearl could be that guy for the Ravens and their 22-man UDFA class. If you search his name on X (formerly Twitter), you’ll see a common theme- almost everybody was shocked that the former Illini wasn’t drafted.

The Danville, IL native received a sixth-round grade and projection of “average backup or special-teamer” on NFL.com.

The Scouting Combine invitee made All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after ending his college career, making 23 straight starts at LT. However, it was in 2022 that he showed his potential and talent, leading the way for an Illini OL unit named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award (nation’s best offensive line unit).

They led the way for Chase Brown (now with the Cincinnati Bengals), who spent almost the entire season as the nation’s leading rusher. With Pearl and Co. leading the way, Brown surpassed the legendary Red Grange on the school’s all-time rushing list during the Homecoming game and ended his career second on Illinois’ all-time rushing list.

It is a testament to Pearl’s run-blocking capabilities, which will help give him a decent chance of making the Ravens roster. However, versatility is the 6-6, 315lb prospect’s greatest asset. He was branded a “swing OL,” his best chance at making the team lay in his ability to play multiple positions.

Top three offensive tackles in Big Ten for 2023

No Buckeyes make the top offensive tackle list #GoBucks #B1G

The Big Ten is known for its powerful offense and great offensive lines, but I am not so sure that will be the case this year. At the offensive tackle position, there are two top-flight, elite-level possible first-round draft choices and then there are a few guys with the potential to break out.

The two top-flight prospects are numbers one and two, but the order of those players will surprise most. The third player chosen isn’t even a projected starter by most pundits but was a highly recruited kid with some serious hype.

Ohio State fans may be a little disappointed by the absence of Buckeyes, but when comparing what resides in Columbus to the rest of the conference, it makes sense.

2023 Buckeyes Wire Preseason All-Big Ten team: Offensive Linemen

We dive into our predictions for the All-Big Ten offensive line. #GoBucks #B1G

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Big Ten is loaded with top-notch talent and predicting who will end up on the All-Big Ten has proven challenging. Not only was it hard to choose one player over another, but it was also hard to admit that the Michigan Wolverines have a number of studs that will potentially wreak havoc on the rest of the conference.

This list is going to dive into the offensive linemen and as expected the Big Ten has some dominant offensive linemen that make it very hard to narrow it down to just five. This list will not make Ohio State fans happy, but the reality is there is some elite talent in the trenches of the Big Ten.

In the age of the transfer portal, it is possible for a complete dark horse to rise as a frontrunner, but we will do our best to provide the most educated guess based on previous performances and situations.

Way-too-early Browns seven round 2024 NFL mock draft

What prospects should Browns fans have an eye on during the 2023 season?

The 2024 NFL draft is nearly a year away but you can bet general manager Andrew Berry has already begun scouting for next April. It is hard to tell what the Cleveland Browns will need to focus on before watching the 2023 season start to play out. However, you can be a little predictive based on contracts and the age of the current roster.

The team doesn’t have any linebackers outside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on long-term deals past this season. They also have questions about the future of the offensive line both at tackle and guard. Let’s take a look at how next year’s draft could play out in this way too early 2024 mock draft.