2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Could the New Jersey native be an answer for the Giants’ offensive line?

The New York Giants may once again be forced to invest significant draft capital along the offensive line. Not only was theirs one of the very worst in the NFL over the course of the 2023 season, but they have lingering questions thanks to injuries and expiring contracts.

The Giants use a varied blocking scheme under Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka, and could target versatile linemen.

Boston College’s (by way of Elmwood, N.J.) Christian Mahogany is not only one of the top interior linemen in the 2024 NFL draft, but he’s also one of the more scheme diverse. He has an uncommon blend of size, strength, and athleticism for a guard and can execute any blocking scheme asked of him.

What does he bring to the table?

(Besides a fantastic name for an offensive lineman)

Prospect: Christian Mahogany (73)
Games Watched: vs. Northern Illinois (2023), Florida State (2023), Virginia (2023), UConn (2023)
Red Flags: ACL (2022)

Measurables

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 322 pounds

Strengths

• Athleticism
• Play strength
• Versatility
• Football IQ
• Run blocking

Mahogany is a big, yet athletic guard prospect who possesses a well-proportioned physique with solid length and carries his 322 pounds well. He’s also an experienced and versatile interior lineman who’s played 785 snaps at left guard and 1,532 at right guard (as well as the occasional snap at left and right tackle).

Mahogany has surprising movement skills for a 320-pound guard, with light, quick feet, solid long speed, and fluid hips. He’s able to easily mirror and redirect as an interior blocker, as well as open his hips when asked to pull. Mahogany has enough speed to get – and stay – ahead of the play when blocking in space. Boston College frequently asked him to pull from the backside of the play to create a numbers advantage on the play side, or to work up to the second level. His movement skills allow him to be an effective blocker on zone runs, easily staying in phase with his teammates while getting defenders to flow laterally. Likewise, he has good play strength and is able to displace defenders vertically when blocking downhill for man-gap runs.

His athleticism also allows him to easily mirror and redirect against athletic defenders in pass protection. Mahogany generally frames his blocks well, seeking to take control of opponents’ chest plates while getting good extension to keep his own chest clean. He also does a good job of processing games along the line of scrimmage, picking up late pressure or twists. His play strength, meanwhile, allows him to anchor against bullrushes as long as he maintains good leverage and a wide base.

Weaknesses

• Leverage consistency
• Blocking accuracy

Mahogany’s main weakness comes from a lack of consistency in leverage. He can occasionally allow his knees to straighten and hips to rise when blocking against particularly athletic defenders or when blocking on the move in space. He can also be prone to ducking his head or lunging at defenders when his hips rise in an attempt to get under defenders pads.

Not only does that leave him vulnerable to losing leverage and being overpowered, he can be prone to inaccuracy. Mahogany does a great job of getting into position quickly, but he can miss his blocks if he allows his hips to rise and head to dip.

Likewise, he can allow his base to narrow, compromising his play strength and allowing powerful defenders to walk him into the backfield.

Mahogany suffered a torn ACL while working out in preparation for the 2022 season. He returned to play a full season and didn’t seem impacted in 2023, but teams will want to do their due diligence.

Game Tape

Projection

Christian Mahogany projects as a starting guard with positional and scheme versatility at the NFL level. He has experience at both left and right guard positions, though he has more — and more recent — experience at right guard. Teams might want to keep him at that position to shorten his learning curve early in his career.

Mahogany has issues to clear up in order to reach his full potential. In particular, his inconsistent leverage and tendency to dip his head into contact prevent him from being as good as he could be. However, he has the athleticism and play strength to fit in any blocking scheme, as well as the upside to excel if he lands in a good situation.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes. He could start at left or right guard for the Giants.

Final Word: A solid Day 2 pick with high upside.