Atonio Mafi
I won’t lie to you, I was confused when I saw Atonio Mafi was not on the list of invites for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. The UCLA product is probably the best guard and or offensive lineman that wasn’t invited to the event. With that in mind, what better time than to do a deep dive on Mafi? What should you know about Atoni Mafi as we go over his 2023 NFL Draft Profile?
UCLA had a really good offensive line this year and Mafi was a big part of it. Zach Charbonnet ran for 7.0 yards per carry in 2022 and gashing holes in the middle provided by Mafi had a lot to do with it. Mafi checks in at 6-foot-3, 338 and mauls people in the run game. It’s by far his biggest strength.
Mafi isn’t as dominant in the pass game but he’s got a good base and can anchor. I would have loved to see his bench number. Probably would have come in at a really respectable number. There are plenty of pancakes in Mafi’s film when you go back through it.
I was really encouraged with what I saw with Mafi at the East-West Shrine game. It wasn’t anything eye shattering but you can really tell the difference in the run game when he’s in there.
I think the concerns here are that Mafi isn’t exactly a dancing bear. He can climb to the second level of the defense but I’m not sure you want him out here as a pulling guard. The weight could also become a concern in the future. On his bad end, Mafi sometimes gets overextended and can get a bit high in his stance. What happens at the next level?
I have Mafi in the 5th to 6th round range as a developmental guard with some promise. It’s hard to imagine you can really go wrong with Mafi at the back end of the draft. The size, power, and angry mentality are all on display.
