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Each year, we run a series of post called "90-in-90" here at Niners Nation. The idea is that we'll take a look at every single player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few different ways. This is to help give everyone a basic understanding of a roster. Of course, this roster will change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not strictly one per day but you get the idea.
Andrew Lauderdale converted from tight end to the offensive line during his redshirt sophomore season at the University of New Hampshire (2014). By his senior year, he was third team all-conference in the FCS Colonial Athletic Association. Lauderdale has NFL height and is trying to gain NFL weight over this summer. He was not selected to the Combine but had an impressive Pro Day, showing remarkable quickness despite adding 20 pounds after his senior year ended (from 276 to 296).
The 49ers worked him out before the draft but New Orleans signed him as a UDFA the day it ended. They waived him two weeks later, on May 15th, and San Francisco signed him on June 9th after injuries to OL Jeremy Zuttah and Norman Price.
Basic info
Age: 23 (turns 24 on November 22, 2017)
Experience: Rookie
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 300 lbs
40-yard dash: 4.9 (Pro Day)
3-Cone drill: 7.27
225 lb bench press reps: 21
20-yard shuttle: 4.74
Vertical jump: 28”
Long jump: 8’07”
Scouting reports
Lauderdale (6-6, 291) was originally signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 1, 2017, and was later released on May 15.
A 23-year-old native of Concord, NH, Lauderdale attended the University of New Hampshire where he appeared in 42 games (22 starts) along the offensive line. As a senior in 2016, he started 13 games at left tackle, where he earned Third-Team All-CAA honors.
Why he might succeed in the NFL
He’s remarkably athletic and has a significant potential upside due to his size and recent switch to the offensive line. Despite recently having added 20 pounds to reach NFL size, he showed great speed and quickness at his Pro Day. Keeping in mind that Pro Day results often seem inflated compared to the Combine, Lauderdale’s 3 Cone time of 7.27 was faster than any at the Combine, and his 40-yard dash time of 4.94 would have been second best.
Why he might not
Look, I totally want to see this guy become an NFL star, pancaking defensive linemen and linebackers all over the field, because I’ve already got a perfect nickname for when that happens: SLAUDERDALE.
That said, being an above-average (but not dominant) FCS tackle is a long way from making it in the pros. And sitting by your phone for 3 weeks in May until a team hit by injuries calls you is pretty much the definition of camp body.
Odds of making the roster
The 49ers have a below average offensive line and Lauderdale has some positional flexibility, having played both tackle positions. His mobility suggests that he might even be able to play tackle on Sundays, eventually. You could imagine him being a potent special teams player, given his combination of size and speed and experience as a skill player, and in fact he was the Wildcat’s personal protector as a sophomore. (Hands team, any one?)
Even with all of that, I think he’ll have to play his heart out to make the practice squad, which is probably his only hope in this training camp. The competition is incredily tough and doesn’t allow much time for on-the-job training.