Photo Credit: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Welcome back to more final player grades, today we start with the offensive tackles. OT is an interesting position in terms of value nowadays. Obviously, it helps to have the best starting tackles that you can find, however, the offensive line unit depends on a team putting their best five out there. What this means is that one weak spot on an offensive line can be hidden if the other 4 players can mitigate the weaknesses presented. I’m a former offensive lineman and believe that you should just have the best possible players you can on your roster and put them on the field.
We’ll be following the same format as yesterday, so let’s get going because we have a ton of players to talk about.
First Round Grades
1. Evan Neal, Alabama Red Flags: None Player Comp: Bryant McKinnie/ Mekhi Becton
Ideal Role: Bookend RT, best in a run-heavy scheme
If I were the Jags, I’d be taking Evan Neal #1 overall. Any questions I had about his balance over the summer were answered in 2021. He’s 6’7, 340 and built like a shed. He’s played all along the offensive line at Alabama in a program that pumps out elite talent, he looks to be one of the best tackle prospects Nick Saban has produced in his time in Tuscaloosa. Whether he’s in a run-first scheme or a pass-heavy scheme, I have no concerns with Neal. He’s the cleanest and safest offensive tackle prospect in this year’s class.
2. Ikem Ekwonu, NC State Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Starting Left Tackle
At the beginning of the season, I figured Ekwonu would be this year’s Alijah Ver-Tucker in that he was a guard moving to tackle. I was wrong. Ekwonu looks incredibly comfortable as a left tackle and has had two of PFF’s three best run-blocking seasons of all time in the last two years. Don’t let that fool you because he’s also an elite pass protector. He’s a lock for the top 10, I have him as such and I wouldn’t judge you if he was your OT1. He’s very close to Evan Neal.
3. Charles Cross, Mississippi St. Red Flags: System Player Comp: 90% of Laremy Tunsil
Ideal Role: Pass heavy offense at left tackle
Cross has by far the most pass rush reps of the three top players having been at MSU in Mike Leach’s system. He’s a good run blocker too, but he’s a phenomenal pass rusher, with great anchor and agility. I did his full scouting report earlier in the year and you can find out more by clicking the link on his name.
Second Round Grades
4. Tyler Smith, Tulsa Red Flags: none Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Offensive guard in the short term, starting Right tackle in the long-term
I think when looking at Tyler Smith you need to figure out how he translates in your system. I think he could be what the Cowboys had in La’El Collins in that he can be used as a guard and eventually moved out to tackle. He’s only 21 years old and has a very high ceiling. I think he’s one of the most overlooked tackle prospects in the class and I would argue he should be the first tackle after the “big 3” to come off the board.
5. Sean Rhyan, UCLA Red Flags: none Player Comp: none
Ideal Role: Tackle or guard
Some may think that Rhyan is a guard, but I’ve seen him play two solid years at left tackle with the Bruins. I understand that he’s got shorter arms than NFL teams tend to like, but you could move him inside if you wanted and I think you have a quality starting guard with tackle skills movement-wise.
6. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa Red Flags: Level of competition, technique (holding) Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Eventual Starting right tackle
Third Round Grades
7. Daniel Faalele, Minnesota Red Flags: Conditioning/Weight Player Comp: Trent Brown Ideal Role: Right Tackle
8. Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan Red Flags: Age (turns 25 in September) Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental tackle
9. Max Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: developmental right tackle
10. Abraham Lucas, Washington St. Red Flags: System Player Comp: an improved Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Ideal Role: Swing tackle
Fourth Round Grades
11. Zach Tom, Wake Forest Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Utility offensive lineman
12. Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky Red Flags: Dismissed from LSU for “violation of team rules” Player Comp: Bruce Campbell
Ideal Role: Developmental tackle
13. Nicholas Pettit-Frere, Ohio St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None Ideal Role: Developmental left tackle
14. Braxton Jones, Southern Utah Red Flags: Level of competition Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental left tackle
15. Rasheed Walker, Penn St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Swing tackle
Fifth Round Grades
16. Kellen Diesch, Arizona St, Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Swing Tackle,
17. Obinna Eze, TCU Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Backup RT
Sixth Round Grades
18. Luke Tenuta, Virginia Tech Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Backup swing tackle
Seventh Round Grades:
19. Myron Cunningham, Arkansas Red Flags: None Player Comp: none Ideal Role: backup versatile OL
UDFA Grades:
20. Tyler Vrabel, Boston College Red Flags: None Player Comp: None