Scouting New York Jets UDFA offensive lineman Leander Wiegand

The New York Jets not too long ago signed former European League of Soccer offensive lineman Leander Wiegand as an undrafted free agent. In the present day we break Wiegand down intimately.

The 25-year previous Wiegand is listed at 6’5” and 291 kilos. He didn’t play school soccer. He has been enjoying within the ELF (European League of Soccer) for the previous three seasons and has been a two-time all-star.

Background

Wiegand was a three-star highschool recruit who grew up in Germany and performed soccer in an novice league when he was 18 and 19. He was rewarded with a scholarship from UCF, who apparently had by no means seen him play and supplied him based mostly solely on his athleticism. Though he accepted the scholarship and attended UCF for a number of months, Wiegand dropped out earlier than he ever performed a recreation attributable to private causes.

In 2022, Wiegand joined the Cologne Centurions of the ELF and began for them in his rookie season. In 2023, he moved to the Rhein Hearth in the identical league and earned first-team all-star recognition. Lastly, in 2024, he modified groups once more and earned second-team all-star recognition with the Munich Ravens.

Wiegand was eligible for the 2025 draft and drew curiosity after a powerful efficiency on the IPP professional day. Nevertheless, he was not chosen.

After Wiegand went undrafted, the Jets signed him through the Worldwide Participant Pathway to an undrafted free agent take care of $249K of assured cash.

Let’s transfer on to some extra in-depth evaluation of what Wiegand brings to the desk as a participant, based mostly on intensive analysis and movie research.

Measurables/Athleticism

As famous, Wiegand was in a position to impress UCF together with his athleticism, after which he additionally impressed throughout ELF exercises in 2023 with a 32-inch vertical and seven.33 three-cone drill.

Wiegand has good dimension and enough size. On the IPP professional day, he weighed in at 318, which is definitely 27 kilos heavier than his present formally listed weight with the Jets.

His most spectacular numbers there have been a 32-inch vertical and 38 bench press reps. On the NFL scouting mix, no one had greater than 33 reps. As well as, solely six folks had a greater vertical than Wiegand and solely a type of was heavier than he was.

His different numbers have been strong however unspectacular, though his 40-yard sprint was clocked at a barely disappointing 5.39.

Utilization

Wiegand’s three years have given him some wonderful expertise and flexibility as he began for many of every yr in three completely different positions. He performed proper sort out at Cologne, then moved to proper guard with Rhein earlier than enjoying final season as Munich’s left guard.

He additionally lined up within the backfield or as a jumbo tight finish on occasion. He had one carry for one yard and this athletic landing catch.

Go Blocking

Wiegand began off as a sort out and confirmed the flexibility to drop into his stance and mirror the sting rusher’s strategy. Nevertheless, there have been occasions the place an edge rusher was in a position to leverage round him.

As soon as he moved inside, the expertise at sort out appeared to have served him properly as he appeared snug moving into place and fascinating his man.

In opposition to a bull rush he might be moved off his spot initially however has the power to re-anchor and achieve management of his man.

Run Blocking

Wiegand has a superb affect within the operating recreation, with the power and energy to create a surge and open lanes.

He flashes aggression and the power to win battles within the trenches, overpowering his man impressively right here.

He’s able to getting on the transfer and making blocks in house, each when pulling or in stretch-zone kind appears to be like.

Brief Yardage

Wiegand is an efficient choice to run behind briefly yardage conditions, with the flexibility to drive his man off the road or transfer him laterally to create a operating lane.

There have been a number of occasions the place he was stood up on the level of assault in aim line conditions when enjoying inside, however these have been typically nonetheless transformed efficiently anyway.

Display Blocking

Wiegand’s groups typically used the display cross and required him to leak out into house to cleared the path. In such conditions, what stood out was his consciousness and skill to discover a goal.

Footwork/Approach

Wiegand’s footwork was arguably a little bit clunky early on in his profession, however he appeared to make good progress in that space, dropping into his stance properly, shifting laterally successfully and enjoying with good stability.

His pad degree is mostly good, enabling him to make use of his power and size to win leverage battles within the trenches.

By way of his hand-fighting, he’s noticeably deliberate when delivering his first punch. This means he has listened to his coaches and paid consideration to the place his hand placement must be and the way his strikes must be timed. It’s good that he’s trusting his method and if he can proceed to hurry up that course of, he’ll be that rather more efficient on the contact level.

He can nonetheless be taken benefit of at occasions, although. On this play, he’s crushed for a sack as his man will get him off stability to get previous him on a bull-jerk transfer.

Penalties

In response to league data, Wiegand’s on-field self-discipline was strong as he simply had one holding penalty final season and two false begins in 2023.

Particular Groups

Particular groups weren’t certainly one of Wiegand’s main obligations on the ELF degree, however he did take part as a blocker on the placekicking unit at occasions, which is probably going all he’d be requested to do on the NFL degree.

Instincts/Intelligence

Wiegand lacks top-level expertise, however has had loads of enjoying time at a number of positions and training from former NFL expertise together with Joe Thomas. English not being his first language can be not a priority.

He typically needed to learn and react in stunt conditions or because the spare man however there have been admittedly occasions when he appeared confused about who to dam if there was no one proper in entrance of him.

Perspective

Wiegand’s self-discipline and work ethic have been praised by coaches and he appears decided to compete for a task with the Jets.

On the sphere, it looks like there are many occasions the place he makes his preliminary block after which simply stands round even because the play continues to develop. This can be extra a scarcity of expertise when it comes to the place to go “searching for work” quite than laziness or poor conditioning, although. He does dial up the aggression generally:

Accidents

Wiegand missed a few begins every season and did have some undisclosed accidents however he completed annually wholesome. He additionally sat out a latest OTA apply with the Jets for undisclosed causes.

Scheme Match

It could be too early to contemplate scheme match for Wiegand, who’s greater than possible seen as a longer-term growth mission. Taking part in on three completely different groups over the previous three seasons ought to serve him properly, although.

Whether or not he works as a guard or a sort out will probably be fascinating to look at. As famous, he has expertise in each roles. His two all-star appearances got here up to now two seasons after shifting inside. Nevertheless, that would have as a lot to do with him having developed and gained expertise because the transfer inside being higher for him.

Conclusions

With $249K assured and his IPP standing making certain that he received’t rely in direction of the participant restrict this season, Wiegand’s place on the apply squad is fairly safe. That is a type of conditions the place the Jets can place him on the apply squad and he received’t be eligible to be activated. If he progresses sooner than anticipated to the purpose the place activating him is a chance they wish to maintain alive, then they’d should put him on the apply squad participant with out his IPP designation and he would rely in direction of the restrict in any case.

It’s tough to learn an excessive amount of into his ELF movie due to the extent of play, however Wiegand is clearly a powerful and athletic participant who could be very uncooked however with indicators of growth potential.

Jordan Mailata is the IPP’s large success story and the Jets will probably be aiming to emulate that with Wiegand, though they don’t boast the league’s high offensive line coach so it might be spectacular if they’ll flip him into any sort of contributor.