Arizona Cardinals select Jon Gaines in fourth round of 2023 NFL Draft

One of the most athletic and talented offensive linemen from the Pac-12 Conference is officially off the board, as the Arizona Cardinals have selected UCLA offensive lineman Jon Gaines with the No. 121 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Gaines attended Marquette University high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was a three-star recruit ranked the No. 1,263 overall prospect and No. 84 interior offensive lineman in the nation for his 2018 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking.

Gaines saw limited action in the first three seasons of his career with the Bruins, making 20 games appearances and five starts. But in his junior and senior seasons, he was a staple and every game starter on the Bruins’ offensive line. He was a key contributor to an offensive line that averaged over 200 yards rushing per game and had a 1,000-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons.

He showed off his football IQ and versatility in his final two seasons at UCLA, making starts at center, right tackle , and right guard during his career. In his senior season Gaines earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors and was a member of an offensive line unit that was selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.

Gaines flashed elite athleticism at this year’s NFL Combine, ranking No. 1 out of all guards at the combine in NFL’s Next Gen Athleticism Score with a 96. The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Gaines ran an impressive 5.01-second 40-yard dash, also showing impressive short-area quickness with the fastest 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle times among all offensive linemen in Indianapolis.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Jon Gaines

There’s no question that Gaines brings an elite level of athleticism to the table at his size, but will it translate to the NFL? NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Gaines as a fifth-round draft pick, and spoke about his potential at the next level.

“Move-blocking guard whose athleticism doesn’t guarantee consistent body control or balance in his play. Gaines is highly intelligent with a clear understanding of his duties on every snap. His hand placement can be a little sloppy, which diminishes his block sustain in the run game,” Zierlein said. “While Gaines moves well as a run blocker, he struggles to stay under control and in front of opponents while mirroring. Gaines has the mental makeup coaches will like, but he needs to upgrade his protection technique and improve his core strength. He has backup guard/center potential.”