Malakai Lee

Physical Profile

Lee's frame is his calling card: 6-6, 318-325 pounds with rare verified length — 36-inch arms and a wingspan north of 85 inches — measurables that clear NFL tackle thresholds before he ever takes a college snap. Unlike many prospects who carry that size stiffly, he is a fluid mover with the foot quickness and balance to project on the edge rather than kicking inside. He arrives college-ready from a mass standpoint; the physical development track is about redistributing weight and adding functional lower-body power, not adding bulk.

Play Style

On film Lee is a smooth, controlled pass protector who wins with length and mirror ability rather than panic or lunging — he sets with patience, uses his reach to stall rushers at the point of contact, and recovers well laterally for his size. His run blocking trended upward late in his prep career, showing more snap-to-whistle physicality and finish, though he still profiles more as a technician than a mauler at this stage. The traits-to-polish ratio is what drives his 'high-upside' billing from national evaluators.

Strengths

• Elite length and how he uses it — the 36-inch arms let him land first contact in pass protection, and he can slide and mirror edge rushers, keeping speed off his frame with independent hands
• Positional versatility — feet, balance, and frame project at either left or right tackle at the Power Four level, giving his staff lineup flexibility early
• Proven against elevated competition despite his Hawaii location — 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, Navy All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl selection, and led Kamehameha to consecutive HHSAA state championship appearances

Areas to Improve

• Playing with a consistently aggressive edge — evaluators note he added physicality as a run blocker over his final prep season and started putting defenders on the ground, but a nastier, finish-through-the-whistle temperament is the clearest remaining gap
• Run-game power and pad level — converting his mass into vertical displacement in a gap/duo-heavy scheme will require refining leverage and lower-half drive against college-caliber defensive tackles and edges

College Projection

Lee signed with Michigan, a program that develops offensive tackles as well as anyone and won't need to rush him. Expect a developmental year one (redshirt or reserve/special-situation snaps) focused on strength staff work and technical refinement, with a legitimate path to competing for a starting tackle job by year two or three. His length and pass-protection foundation make left tackle the ceiling outcome, with right tackle the floor — he should not need a move inside.

NFL Outlook

Lee checks the boxes NFL scouts screen for at tackle: 6-6, 36-inch arms, 85-plus-inch wingspan, and fluid feet — traits that cannot be coached. 247Sports' evaluation ('if he hits his ceiling, he will be playing football for a very long time') reflects a genuine early-round trajectory if the play strength and demeanor catch up to the tools. Realistic projection: day-two draft capital as a baseline with three years of development in a pro-style program, and top-50 potential if he becomes a multi-year Big Ten starter at tackle.

Best Fit

A pro-style, tackle-development program with a patient timeline — exactly what he chose in Michigan. He fits best in a scheme that blends gap/duo run concepts (which will force and reward the physicality development) with true dropback pass sets where his length and mirror skills are maximized on an island. A program that redshirts and physically develops linemen rather than playing them out of necessity is the ideal environment for his traits-over-polish profile.