Offensive Line Prospects

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(02-14-2020, 07:35 PM)Au165 Wrote: Someone asked me how good the Tackle class was and I was explaining it was one of the best in a while. This article sums it up pretty well.

https://theathletic.com/1607273/2020/02/14/pre-combine-nfl-draft-rankings-top-heavy-offensive-tackle-class-has-nfl-teams-excited/

For those that don't have The Athletic.

Quote:The overall depth of this offensive tackle class is mediocre, but it is the best collection of young talent in the early rounds that the NFL has seen in recent memory.

I took some heat last fall when I put Jedrick Wills at No. 1 in my offensive tackle rankings, but that is what the tape told me, and I continue to stand by that. But the beauty of this tackle class is the volume of high-level talent at the top. Several NFL scouts prefer the intriguing ceiling of Mekhi Becton. Some lean towards Tristan Wirfs while others think he needs to move inside to guard.
It will be interesting to see the order these tackles come off the board on draft weekend — maybe as many as six or seven in the first round. Until then, here is a look at my top-10 offensive tackles entering the combine:

1. Jedrick Wills, Alabama (6-5, 322, 5.28)
Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette), junior. Age: 20.93 (calculated to nearest 100th on draft day)
A two-year starter at Alabama, Wills lined up as the right tackle in offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s scheme, allowing only one sack over his 39 games for the Tide. He protected Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside in college and while he has the natural talent to switch over to left tackle, all of his in-game snaps in high school and college came at right tackle, creating an unknown in his evaluation.
A fired-up competitor, Wills looks like a man among boys as a run blocker, driving defenders off the ball and never passing on an opportunity to bury. He needs continued growth as a technician, but he has steadily developed in pass protection, gaining proper depth in his kickslide with fluid steps. Overall, Wills is a balanced, light-footed big man with the explosive power, aggressive mentality and budding confidence that should translate very well to the NFL level, projecting as a long-term NFL starter with All-Pro upside.


2. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa (6-5, 320, 5.08)
Mount Vernon, Iowa (Mount Vernon), junior. Age: 21.25
A three-year starter at Iowa, Wirfs lined up primarily at right tackle in offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s pro-style scheme. He became the first true freshman in the Kirk Ferentz era to start at offensive tackle and was considered interchangeable on the left or right sides (played mostly right tackle because Alaric Jackson was a better left tackle than right tackle).
A natural athlete, Wirfs’ background in track (explosiveness) and wrestling (body control) have translated to his football skills, including the importance of training and preparation. While he is still refining his fundamentals, his ability to reset is impressive, rarely losing his center. Overall, Wirfs’ lack of ideal length will push him to guard on some boards, but his big-man twitch, developed power and tendency to always default to his balance are an impressive combination, projecting as a starting tackle or guard in the NFL.

3. Mekhi Becton, Louisville (6-7, 365, 5.40)
Highland Springs, Va. (Highland Springs), junior. Age: 21.01
A three-year starter at Louisville, Becton was the starting left tackle in head coach Scott Satterfield’s stretch zone scheme, becoming the first player in school history to win the Jacobs Trophy, which goes to the top blocker in the ACC (as voted on by the coaches). He alternated at left and right tackle under the previous coaching staff, which used strongside/weakside tackles, and is well-versed at either position (played both spots in high school).
With his rare combination of size and athleticism, Becton stonewalls rushers in pass protection and generates a surge in the run game, using his length to escort defenders off the screen. He overwhelms with his natural strength, although he has some sloppy reps on tape and must continue to fine-tune his consistency. Overall, Becton has overaggressive tendencies that lead to balance concerns, but he is a gifted blocker with impressive movement skills and power, projecting as a high-upside prospect at either left or right tackle.

4. Andrew Thomas, Georgia (6-5, 318, 5.11)
Lithonia, Ga. (Pace), junior. Age: 21.25
A three-year starter at Georgia, Thomas was the starting left tackle in former offensive coordinator James Coley’s pro-style spread. He put his name on the NFL radar as a true freshman starter at right tackle (moved to the left side as a sophomore) and graded as one of the most effective blockers in the SEC the last three seasons.
Thomas has dominant qualities in the run game, steering and controlling blockers once he gets his hands on them. With his tendency to wind up, lean and abandon his lower body fundamentals, he needs to shore up his pass pro technique, but he gets the job done on tape due to his anchor, toughness and girth. Overall, Thomas’ balance issues are the main concern with his pro transition, abandoning his mechanics and getting himself out over his skis, but he can maneuver his hips in pass protection and clear run lanes, projecting as a starting NFL tackle with fixable issues.

5. Josh Jones, Houston (6-5, 311, 5.28)
Richmond, Texas (George Bush), redshirt senior. Age: 22.84
A four-year starter at Houston, Jones was the starting left tackle in head coach Dana Holgorsen’s shotgun spread offense. A basketball athlete most of his life, he played in three different offensive systems at Houston (for five different offensive line coaches), which stunted his development, but he showed promising development as a senior.
Jones has outstanding lower body movements and flexibility, replacing his hands and showing natural sink to keep rushers occupied. The anchor strength concerns are valid, and he looks to have body type restrictions so teams must be comfortable with his frame. Overall, Jones is currently a better pass protector than run blocker, but his flexible athleticism and eager hands are outstanding foundation traits to play left tackle in the NFL, making him deserving of first-round consideration.

6. Austin Jackson, USC (6-6, 308, 5.08)
Phoenix, Ariz. (North Canyon), junior. Age: 20.93
A two-year starter at USC, Jackson was the starting left tackle in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s up-tempo offense. Highly recruited out of high school, he steadily developed his body and game the last three seasons, making a jump as a junior that showcased his immense upside.
Although it rarely looks picture-perfect, Jackson has the foot quickness and body flexibility to get the job done in space. He allows his chest to receive too much action in his pass-sets, but the run game is where he must show the most improvement before he sees NFL snaps. Overall, Jackson is a smooth-moving big man with natural knee bend, projecting as a steady NFL starter when/if his upper body mechanics, specifically his punch timing and hand placement, catch up with his athletic skill.

7. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia (6-7, 339, 5.42)
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Poly Prep Country Day), redshirt sophomore. Age: 21.20
A two-year starter at Georgia, Wilson was the starting right tackle in former offensive coordinator James Coley’s pro-style spread. The Bulldogs had a top-three ranked recruiting class in 2017 and he was the highest-ranked prize in the class, although he required a redshirt year as he adjusted to the heat and got his body right.
A traits-based prospect, Wilson is built with a girthy frame, long arms and enough quickness to make it difficult for rushers to get around him. While he creates movement with play strength and a mean streak, he doesn’t consistently win with his hands and his fundamentals have yet to catch up with his natural skill, leaving him laboring and leaning. Overall, Wilson is a work in progress as a technician with uneven college tape, but he has yet to play his best football, offering the functional movements and brute power of an eventual NFL starter.


8. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State (6-6, 315, 5.25)
Spanaway, Wash. (Bethel), redshirt junior. Age: 21.96
A three-year starter at Boise State, Cleveland was the starting left tackle in head coach Bryan Harsin’s offense. After his redshirt year, he earned the starting left tackle job (pushing Archie Lewis to right tackle) as a freshman and started 40 games there the last three seasons, playing 95.6% of Boise’s offensive snaps over that span.
An impressive athlete for the position, Cleveland is comfortable in space with a quick, efficient punch and the intelligence to beat rushers to the spot. However, his lack of anchor strength and explosiveness in his hands are concerns for his NFL transition. Overall, Cleveland struggles to match power in the run game and his lack of length creates a small margin for error, but he stays balanced in his pass-sets with the lower body athleticism that frustrates rushers, projecting as an NFL starter.

9. Saahdiq Charles, LSU (6-4, 301, 5.09)
Jackson, Miss. (Madison-Ridgeland), junior. Age: 20.74
A three-year starter at LSU, Charles was the starting left tackle in offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s offense. Despite not becoming a full-time starting offensive lineman until his senior year in high school, he started all three seasons in Baton Rouge, protecting Joe Burrow’s blindside the last two years (aside from his six-game suspension in 2019).
A light-footed athlete, Charles is an impressive mover and shows enough core strength to hold his ground at the point of attack. He doesn’t have the ideal length for edge work and is consistently late getting his hands in position, which leads to body-to-body blocks and contact balance issues. Overall, Charles uses efficient movement patterns to consistently beat pass rushers to the spot, but his technique is under-developed and the maturity concerns will remove him from draft boards, projecting as a top-50 talent who likely won’t be drafted that high due to the red flags.

10. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (6-5, 307, 5.23)
Montgomery, Ala. (Edgewood Academy), redshirt senior. Age: 22.42
A three-year starter at Auburn, Wanogho lined up at left tackle in head coach Gus Malzahn’s spread-option offense, showing steady development each season. The Nigerian native has only been playing the sport since 2014 and moved to the offensive line in 2016 so the instinctive issues are understandable, but his intelligence and “want to” are there.
Wanogho is a gifted athlete with a bounce in his feet that allows for quick advantages, helping him protect the corner vs. edge speed or redirect vs. inside counters. He creates too many self-inflicted mistakes due to timing and finesse issues with his punch and needs to load more ammo into his hands. Overall, Wanogho doesn’t currently play with consistent timing or cohesion, but he is a toolsy prospect with NFL starting potential due to his light-footed athleticism and reliable football character.