We proceed scouting the 2026 NFL Draft class for the Dallas Cowboys by trying on the undrafted free agent class. At present we’re taking a look at offensive sort out Shiyazh Pete from Kentucky.
OTKentucky WildcatsSeniorNo recruit rating6’9”309 lbs
Pete’s first 12 months in faculty was 2021 at New Mexico State. Pete redshirted and didn’t seem in a sport for the Aggies. That 12 months was basically a developmental season as he adjusted from small-school soccer to FBS measurement, velocity and construction. His second 12 months was his first season of sport motion and the beginning of his rise as New Mexico State’s left sort out. He appeared in 12 video games, began the ultimate 9, and began within the Fast Lane Bowl. He helped the Aggies shut the season with three straight 200-yard dashing video games and a program-record 25 touchdowns.
His third 12 months was the breakout season. Pete began all 15 video games at left sort out for New Mexico State, serving to the Aggies end 10-5, attain the Convention USA Championship Sport and play within the Isleta New Mexico Bowl. It was New Mexico State’s first double-digit-win season since 1960 and its first back-to-back bowl run because the 1959 and 1960 seasons. He earned First Staff All-Convention USA honors, and Convention USA credited him with serving to tempo one of many nation’s greatest dashing assaults.
In 2024, the season was extra sophisticated however nonetheless essential for his profile. He entered the season with actual nationwide recognition however his 2024 season was interrupted by harm. He missed the primary six video games, then returned to start out the ultimate six at left sort out. In these 2024 snaps, he allowed 5 quarterback pressures on 193 pass-blocking performs, with two sacks and three hurries.
After the 2024 season, Pete grew to become one of many extra essential offensive tackles within the switch portal. With Kentucky needing a beginning left sort out, they recognized Pete as a 6-foot-8, 320-pound monster with 31 profession left-tackle begins, and shortly obtained him into campus. He began all 12 video games at left sort out for Kentucky, recording a team-high 35 knockdown blocks and 100 blocks on the level of assault. He was additionally named one in all Kentucky’s 4 sport captains at South Carolina.
808 Offensive Snaps455 Go Blocking Snaps34 Pressures Allowed3 QB Hits Allowed6 Sacks Allowed3 Penalties
2023: First Staff All-Convention USA
General- 42.9Speed- 53Acceleration- 59Agility- 61Strength- 59Run Blocking- 47Pass Blocking- 59Discipline- 90
Uncommon sort out measurement and lengthTrue left sort out experiencePlays with pure attain to play on the sting and canopy up rushersGood motion expertise for his sizeShows sufficient foot quickness to reflect velocity rushers in move safety Exhibits burst out of his stance and might get shortly into his move setProven potential to deal with prolonged starter workloadHas excessive character and work-ethic indicatorsCan miss along with his preliminary punch with an excessive amount of regularity Has a behavior to overset and lose the insideNeeds to create extra motion within the run gameRun-game energy doesn’t persistently match his sizeNeeds extra anchor consistency versus speed-to-powerHe has to work tougher than shorter tackles to maintain his pads down and keep stability. When he performs excessive, defenders can get beneath him and drive him to catch energy as an alternative of stopping it earlyRecovery quickness is a query
The most effective projection for Pete is as a developmental swing sort out with left-tackle expertise and practice-squad worth early in his profession. His measurement, size, beginning background and late enchancment give him an actual motive to be in an NFL camp, however he’ll want time with an offensive line coach to tighten his punch timing, enhance his inside-out restoration, strengthen his anchor, and turn out to be extra constant producing motion within the run sport.
For Dallas, meaning he seemingly sees a ceiling of a apply squad place if he can flash sufficient, however his body and measurement is intriguing. And for a UDFA, that’s an awesome begin since that may’t be coached.
Shiyazh Pete is a large, long-levered developmental left sort out with official blindside expertise, but in addition with sufficient technical and athletic limitations to make him extra of a free-agent projection than a plug-and-play starter. His body is the inspiration of his enchantment as he seems to be like an NFL sort out, has performed nearly solely on the left facet, and completed his faculty profession with 45 video games performed and 42 begins between New Mexico State and Kentucky.
His greatest traits are his size, expertise and pass-protection upside. At New Mexico State, he performed greater than 1,800 snaps at left sort out and confirmed good motion expertise, good toes to climb to the second degree, sufficient mirror potential towards velocity rushers, and the burst to get shortly into his move set. His greatest tape reveals a sort out who can use his attain to widen rush tracks, cowl up edge defenders, and survive on the sting when his set factors are clear.
The run sport is extra combined. Pete has the scale to cowl up defenders and the attain to seal angles, however he’s not but a constant people-mover. He flashes torque and might transfer defensive ends, particularly in a zone-heavy run scheme, however he wants to enhance at creating motion within the run sport. That’s most likely the largest query for his NFL transition on whether or not he can convert his body into practical displacement towards stronger skilled edge setters and energy ends.
The technical issues are clear. Pete can miss along with his preliminary punch, overset towards velocity and open the within counter lane. His peak can work towards him when rushers get into his chest or drive him to play with excessive pads, and his lower-body stability might want to enhance towards NFL speed-to-power.
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
