INDIANAPOLIS — Kadyn Proctor looms over everyone. The frigid Indianapolis air did nothing to cool off the heat surrounding the offensive line group inside Lucas Oil Stadium. When the 6-foot-7, 360-pound Alabama tackle stepped to the podium on Saturday, you could almost feel the floorboards strain. He stared down the media crush with the exact same intensity he used to flatten SEC edge rushers over the last three seasons. Then, he flashed a massive grin, the stadium lights catching the heavy diamond chain resting against his chest.
The Hippo in the Room
Proctor didn’t dodge the burning question surrounding his draft stock: his playing weight. Operating in the 365-to-370-pound range during the 2025 season felt heavy, even for a giant. Now, he strictly targets the 350-pound mark to optimize his movement and stamina. Training for the NFL means cutting out the Krispy Kreme donuts—at least until after Sunday’s field tests.
Proctor grew from a skinny 245-pound high school basketball player into a massive trench warrior. His former Alabama quarterback, Ty Simpson, famously compared Proctor’s explosive get-off to a hippopotamus launching out of the water with a loud grunt. Proctor laughed off the jab but owned the comparison. A man this size simply shouldn’t move this fast. He flashed that freaky athleticism in Tuscaloosa, catching an 11-yard lateral against Georgia last season and rumbling down the sideline like a runaway freight train.
He knows the physical traits are there, thanks in part to his mother, who stands 6-foot-2. But succeeding on Sundays requires elite pad level and consistent hand placement. He spent the last two months hammering those exact technical flaws. Proctor dominated the college ranks while battling a torn ankle ligament in 2023 and a severe shoulder injury through much of 2024. He grades out with elite toughness. Now, he just needs to marry that raw grit with NFL-caliber technique.
“I’ve told teams that I’m in the 350s. Anything under 355 right now, that feels really good to me. If any team gives me a weight, then I can go down and achieve that… I understand like, a big human being that can move and jump out of the water or run fast, like that’s exactly what I am.”
— Kadyn Proctor, Alabama Offensive Tackle
Draft Implications / What’s Next
Proctor confirmed formal meetings with five trench-needy franchises: the Bengals, Lions, Steelers, Browns, and Texans. Cincinnati sits on massive cap space and desperately needs a reliable tackle to keep Joe Burrow upright. Detroit, meanwhile, could draft him to play guard immediately, setting him up to kick outside when Taylor Decker eventually retires.
Scouts remain split on his absolute best fit. His pure size and punishing run-blocking scream all-pro guard, but his rare wingspan keeps him firmly in the left tackle conversation. Sunday’s on-field testing will determine if he locks in a top-20 selection. If he proves his hips are fluid and his footwork is clean, a team will draft him early. For Proctor, the exact position on the line doesn’t matter. He just wants to hit someone.
