Washington Huskies 2023 NFL Draft Profiles: Kirkland and Bainivalu
Coming off an 11-2 season, two Washington Huskies offensive linemen, Jaxson Kirkland, and Henry Bainivalu, are headed to the NFL.
Herb Nightengale
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Coming off an 11-2 season, two Washington Huskies offensive linemen, Jaxson Kirkland, and Henry Bainivalu, are headed to the NFL.
The Washington Huskies will likely have two players in this year’s draft. We look at offensive linemen Jaxson Kirkland and Henry Bainivalu, who helped UW’s productive offense and an 11-2 overall record.
Both men are big guys at 6’7″ and over 300 pounds and have some position flexibility.
Jackson Kirkland
Huskies Career
In 2017, Kirkland began his UW career by redshirting. As a freshman, he started every game at right guard the next season. The Athletic named him Freshman All-American First Team.
Kirkland played right guard for 11 games in his sophomore season but missed the Apple Cup because of an injury. Again he was outstanding and named the Washington Huskies top lineman of 2022.
Kirland moved over to left tackle in 2020. Playing with the same high quality, he earned First Team All-Pac-12 first team in the Washington’s covid shortened season.
Twice more, Kirkland made the conference’s First Team. In 2021 he played in nine games at left tackle as his season ended with a back injury.
Due to the injury, Kirkland returned in 2022 for his sixth season at Washington. Instead of going through the draft process, he figured coming back to Washington would improve his stock.
To regain eligibility, he had to get NCAA approval which was granted.
After missing the Washington Huskies first three games of 2022, Kirkland returned to his left tackle position against Stanford. Then the UW coaches moved him inside, and he finished the season at left guard.
Good hand placement is one of his strengths. On pass plays, it allows him to mirror his opponent and extend his range. Quick rather than fast, Kirland gets a good jump when he pulls.
A big area of opportunity for Kirkland is his base. His legs aren’t as strong as they need to be. That hurts him when he faces power rushers.
Draft Prospectus
The versatile lineman is expected to go in round five or later. All the mock drafts I have seen are leaning that way. The hometown Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers are showing interest in him.
Kirkland is a little old for an NFL rookie, as he turns 25 in the summer. In addition to guard, Kirkland can fill in at tackle in a pinch. Teams looking for versatility will have him on their radar.
Henry Bainivalu
Huskies Career
Like Kirkland, Henry Bainivalu also came to the Washington Huskies in 2017 and redshirted that year too. The Sammamish High School product didn’t become a starter until 2020.
Though most of his Washington Huskies career, Bainivalu was a guard. He played in every game he was available, but Bainivalu was behind Kirkland at right guard until the latter moved over to tackle.
Draft Prospectus
His size and length say tackle, but Bainivalu’s skill set translates to guard. That’s because he’s better in tight spaces where he can fight his man straight up and redirect.
Bainivalu will need to improve his strength to play at the next level. In college, he struggled when defensive linemen got inside him.
The ideal team for him would be one thin at the guard spot and willing to take a chance on him. Many mock drafts project Bainivalu headed to Las Vegas in Round 6.
His NFL career will start as a backup or on the practice squad. Bainivalu works hard, so he could be a serviceable starter in a few seasons.
Where do you think the Washington Huskies offensive line duo will wind up?