Green Bay Packers: Scouting Report on UDFA Tackle Travis Bruffy

Here is what one draft analyst had to say about Green Bay Packers’ undrafted free agent tackle, Travis Bruffy of Texas Tech.

For the better part of 5+ years, the Green Bay Packers haven’t really had to worry much about the tackle position. In fact, the combination of David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga formed one of the best duos in the NFL during that span.

However, this season there is some uncertainty. With Bulaga now in Los Angeles, the Packers signed free agent Rick Wagner who will likely be taking over the starting duties on the right side. Although after the draft Matt LaFleur pointed out that he would be competing for that position and it wouldn’t be handed to him.

While Wagner has been a starting tackle in the NFL for the past six seasons, he has only played all 16 games just one time and his on the field performance has been very up and down. Behind him are several inexperienced options, or if Green Bay wanted to get creative, Billy Turner or Lane Taylor could fill in if needed.

With not knowing what we will see from Wagner in 2020 and a lack of experienced depth behind him, this opens the door for undrafted free agent Travis Bruffy of Texas Tech to make a push at the final 53-man roster.

Bruffy was a two-time team captain and a second-team All-Big 12 member in 2019. Along with being an honorable mention selection as a sophomore and junior.

He would start 34 games over his four career all of which came at either the left or right tackle position and according to Pro Football Focus, with over 600 pass-blocking attempts last season, Bruffy would allow only two sacks. On top of that, his pass-blocking grade of 81.1 was the third-highest among all Big XII left tackles.

While at 6’6″ he has good height, at just 305 pounds – at least that’s what he’s listed at on the team site – Bruffy could benefit from adding some more weight as well as some more muscle to his frame.

For a closer look at Bruffy’s game and what he can bring to this Green Bay Packers team, here is what Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network had to say in his final scouting report leading up to the draft:

"Positives: Smart, tough offensive tackle with an underrated game. Blocks with proper lean, keeps his feet moving and works blocks. Patient in pass protection, stays square and displays outstanding vision. Makes excellent use of body positioning to seal opponents from the action. Explosive at the point and gets the most from his ability.Negatives: Not a natural knee bender. Stiff and lacks great footwork off the edge.Analysis: Bruffy was a terrific tackle at the college level, but he lacks great upside and does not possess the athleticism to play on the left side or the pure power for right tackle."

As we begin to look ahead to this season, our expectations shouldn’t be that Bruffy can step in and play meaningful snaps in 2020. However, with the lack of depth at the tackle position, he is an undrafted free agent that could make a push for a final roster spot, or at least the practice squad, if he is able to put together a solid training camp and preseason.