Steelers Draft Profile: Bench Press King Beaux Limmer Not Lacking Strength or Confidence

INDIANAPOLIS — When the weights were put back on the rack for the last time during the 2024 NFL Combine, one man stood tall as the king of the bench press: Arkansas center Beaux Limmer.

Limmer put up 39 reps of the 225-pound bench press at the combine. That was five more reps than the second-best prospect, LSU defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, and seven more than the next-best offensive player, USC guard Jarrett Kingston.

The last time any player put up 39 reps or more was back in 2021, when defensive linemen Tommy Togiai and Jaylen Twyman lifted 40 times. The last time an offensive lineman did as many was Fresno State’s Netane Muti in 2020, whose 44 reps are tied for the sixth-most of all time.

If you know Beaux Limmer, him dominating the bench press was far from a surprise.

“It’s an unbelievable, surreal experience,” Limmer said. “I grew up watching the combine. Last year, I got to watch (Arkansas teammates) Ricky (Stromberg) and (Dalton) Wagner do the same thing. I always dreamed of being in this spot. Just to be here is such a big blessing.”

His bench press prowess wasn’t the first time Limmer’s strength drew attention. His strength coach, Ben Sowders posted a video of Limmer squatting 700 pounds before his final collegiate season last August, drawing viral attention.

LOVE THESE MEN AND LOVE WHAT WE’RE BUILDING 🔥🔥🔥. THE HOG IS 🐗 STRONG💪‼️ pic.twitter.com/Bt72rU0HW6

— Ben Sowders (@Bsowders48) July 20, 2023

Sowders told the Fort Smith Times Record that Limmer could have lifted more.

“It’s kind of hard to see in-person, but Beaux could have done more,” Sowders said. “At the end of the day, I need Beaux to be the starting center. It comes to a point where, is the juice worth the squeeze?”

Limmer made the move from guard to center before his final season at Arkansas, and he projects to primarily play the pivot at the next level. He got experience at both spots playing over 2,700 snaps of SEC football.

“Having confidence that I’ve has success in (the SEC), I can take it over to the next level, that’s the biggest thing,” Limmer said.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Measured at the 2024 NFL Combine: 6-foot-4 5/8, 302 pounds, 31 7/8-inch arms, 77 7/8-inch wingspan, 9 1/2-inch hands

Tested at the 2024 NFL Combine: 5.22-second 40-yard dash, 4.57-second shuttle, 7.47-second three-cone drill, 9-foot-2 broad jump, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 39 bench press reps

RAS: 9.92 as a center, 9.79 as a guard

WHERE WILL BEAUX LIMMER BE DRAFTED?

Limmer saw his stock rise after the 2024 Senior Bowl, and has since settled in as a likely fourth-round pick. His current average position at NFL Mock Draft Database is at No. 122 overall in the fourth round, just three picks after the Steelers are scheduled to make their first selection of the third day.

SCOUTING REPORT / HOW DOES BEAUX LIMMER FIT?

Limmer is an excellent athlete and an advanced run blocker, but has some necessary areas of improvement in his pass protection ability. In many ways, he projects to be a similar player to what the Steelers had in 2023 with Mason Cole — except for the snapping issues.

Limmer is plenty strong enough, but his shorter arms combined with some technique issues give strong defensive lineman an edge that can be exploited, as Texas nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat showed at the Senior Bowl.

There's only so much you can do to slow down 360+ pounds.

T'Vondre Sweat is inevitable when he wants to be. pic.twitter.com/oWTi3pvjUj

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 31, 2024

While the development of his pass protection skills could certainly come along, it makes Limmer a risky pick for a team that needs a Day One starter at the center position.

Limmer also brings some versatility, though his athletic upside as a guard is not as high as it is as a center. The Steelers could draft him as a developmental interior lineman, with hope that he will develop into a starter at either position, but it would seem necessary for them to backstop the center position with a proven veteran in the meantime if they go down that road.

Derrick Bell provided reporting from Indianapolis.

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