Which offensive tackles will matter in the 2021 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?
2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings
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It’s a terrific year for offensive tackles with at least three expected to go in the top 15, a superstar who should go in the top three – but will drop because people go crazy for quarterbacks – and a whole slew of good options to take later on to work around.
From the college perspective, the top offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft are …
15. Brady Christensen, BYU
Size: 6-5, 302
The Good: He’s got an interesting look and style. He might not be all that bulky, but he carries his weight where needed and can move just well enough to be a nice pass protector who can work on either side. The power is there to be tough for the running game, but …
The Not-So-Good: The length isn’t there for a 6-5 tackle. He could be a left tackle, but he’ll likely have to work on the right side and he isn’t really a guard unless he bulks up a bit.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: While he’s not that old, he’ll be 24 when he starts his career. He’s ready to be a starting tackle at the next level – he did his part to keep Zach Wilson in one piece – and don’t be shocked if he turns into a better run blocker than he’ll get credit for.
Projected Round: Fifth
14. D’Ante Smith, East Carolina (OG)
Size: 6-5, 305
The Good: He bulked up in a big way over the last few yeas, adding 30 pounds of mass to go along on a frame that had no problems supporting it. He’s a good athlete for his size and has good quickness to be a left tackle right out of the box. However …
The Not-So-Good: He’s a bit of a tweener, and he might be maxed out a bit on his bulk. He got banged up early last year and skipped the rest of the campaign. Now he has to prove he can thrive at his current weight, and …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s going to have to find a home. Some team will draft him as a Day 3 left tackle option with a shot taken for the stars, but he’ll likely start out on the right side and could end up kicking in at guard in the right offense.
Projected Round: Fifth
13. Alaric Jackson, Iowa
Size: 6-6, 321
The Good: Very big and very experienced, he’s a left tackle who’s been a mainstay on the Hawkeye line over the last few years. While his blocking style might not be out of a textbook, he gets the job done. An all-star on the field and in the classroom, he’s a producer.
The Not-So-Good: It’s really, really odd that he’s so unorthodox coming from Iowa. He’s got the athleticism and the quick feet, but he’s not always balanced and he gets away with his style because he can move.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Love him on Day 3. Early on in his Hawkeye career he seemed like a lock to be a top draft pick when ready, but he never really progressed technique-wise. Again, the production is there, but he might need to be broken down to be build back up. The skill is there to be a fantastic value no matter where he plays on the line.
Projected Round: Fifth
12. James Hudson, Cincinnati
Size: 6-4, 302
The Good: The former Michigan Wolverine had to fight through too much red tape to get to Cincinnati, but the payoff was huge. He turned into the main man for the Bearcat O line in the great 2020 season, showing off his upside, athleticism, and the power to work with as versatile option for and NFL front five.
The Not-So-Good: He needs a whole lot of work. The raw tools are there, but he didn’t play all that much and might be just getting started. A technique problem, he needs to get his balance down, the finer points right, and …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll happen. He just needs more time, more experience, and just enough patience to expect something special on the other side. He’s way too good of an athlete and has way too much talent not to develop.
Projected Round: Third
11. Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa
Size: 6-9, 314
The Good: Really tall with rare length and athleticism for a tackle of his size, he’s a nightmare to get around with the raw tools to be ready right out of the box at a tackle spot on either side. Even though he’s built to be a top pass blocker, he’s able to blast away for the ground game, too. However …
The Not-So-Good: He’s going to need time in an NFL weightroom to get a whole lot stronger and maybe add even more weight to his frame. He’s been able to dominate with his length and quickness, but the craftier NFL pass rushers will eat him up early on.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Guys this big and this athletic have to go in the top 100. He might still need a while to harness all he brings, but he’s able to move well enough to overcome a slew of technique issues.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings Top Ten
2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings Top Ten
10. Stone Forsythe, Florida
Size: 6-9, 315
The Good: He grew into a left tackle. A very tall guard when he started out, he rose up to become a good blocker who’s just getting started. With just enough quickness to go along with his size and frame, he’s impossible to get around and just physical enough to knock guys off their balance from the snap. He’s got the power to go along with the length, but …
The Not-So-Good: He’s not much for the running game. The height and frame are a problem when it comes to trying to blast away. He’ll wall off his guy, but don’t expect him to bury anyone into the ground. However …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Don’t get too swept up in what he can’t do – he’ll be fantastic in pass protection. Expect opinions to be all over the map on him. The size and skill set are too intriguing, but he needs to go somewhere that likes to throw with interior linemen who can pop.
Projected Round: Fourth
9. Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State (OG)
Size: 6-4, 301
The Good: A strong all-around blocker who can work at guard if it doesn’t fly at tackle, he’s a tough guy who turned into the main man to help let Trey Lance operate. While he’s fine in pass protection, his real talent is as a pounder with the power missing from several of the top tackle prospects.
The Not-So-Good: The overall athleticism is just okay. He’s not massive, and he doesn’t quite have the next-level pass protection skills to work as a left tackle and might have issues with the speed guys on the right.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll depend on what you want him to do. He’s a 4-7 round prospect as a pure tackle, but his potential as a guard and his all-around versatility are enough to potentially push him into the top 100.
Projected Round: Third
8. Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Size: 6-5, 302
The Good: A fantastic college player who stepped in and became Notre Dame’s next great blocker, he was a rock of a left tackle with excellent toughness for the ground game and enough skills to hold his own against the elite pass rusher. While he’s not bulky, he’s got a great NFL frame with the technical capabilities to go along with the raw tools.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite physical enough for the running game – more adequate and competent than dominant – and he’s not quite the elite athlete you might like for an NFL left tackle. The body isn’t exactly the prototype length-wise.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a possible-boom-no-bust aspect to his game. He was a great recruit for the Irish, he more than hit the expectations, and he’ll be ready to go right out of the box as a mid-third roundish pick, if not a bit higher. For the right team, he could easily kick inside and be a dependable guard if needed.
Projected Round: Third
7. Sam Cosmi, Texas
Size: 6-6, 314
The Good: This is how an NFL left tackle should look frame-wise. Tall, bulky, and with the pass protection ability to step in right away, he’s a finesse blocker – that’s not a knock – who fits the modern next-level passing game. The athleticism and technical ability are all there to keep every type of pass rusher away from the quarterback.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not going to be a killer for the ground game. He’s not bad as a run blocker, but that’s not why you’re paying him. While he could be a guard if absolutely needed, there’s a problem if he’s moving inside.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: While he might not be for everyone, he was terrific at Texas, he brings the experience, and he’s a solid pass protector who’ll do what most NFL teams want. You want to keep your quarterback healthy? Here you go.
Projected Round: Third
6. Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Size: 6-5, 312
The Good: He’s a Nick Saban left tackle – you don’t get that gig without having the next level skills to handle the work. He’s got the prerequisite size, looks the part of an NFL tackle, and he can move well enough to have few issues with the better pass rushers. However …
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite the dominant force of nature that most Bama tackles are. He’ll get the job done, but can he destroy the man in front of him? That’s not really his game. There’s a whole lot to like, but he’s more of a very good next-level prospect than a sure thing Pro Bowl talent, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Whatever. He might not be a WOW type of blocker, but he’s rock-solid, won’t make mistakes, and he’ll be a long time left tackle that you don’t have to worry about.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings No. 5
2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings Top Five
5. Walker Little, Stanford
Size: 6-7, 313
The Good: If – and it’s a giant if – he can stay healthy and if there’s a little bit of patience, he could be the second-best tackle in the draft. He’s got the ideal size, strength, and all-around skill level to be a long-time main man on the outside, and when he’s right, he can move, too.
A star among Stanford offensive line star prospects, he occasionally played like a finished product almost from the start – he had the look of a guaranteed next-level sure thing as soon as he got rolling. Again, when he’s healthy, he’s as smooth and as promising as they come, but …
The Not-So-Good: The knee injury suffered in 2019 derailed everything. It came in the opener against Northwestern – that game was a season-killer for both sides – and it took him a full year to get back, and then came 2020.
He didn’t play. It wasn’t necessarily a bad move to opt out last season to give everything a bit more time to heal, but now he’s a massive boom-or-bust guess.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Stanford linemen are always hit-or-BIG-miss – to be kind – and Little is the scariest of prospects in both ways. If he can build on the 2018 season and look like that again, and with the potential to improve his strength and power, he’s a Pro Bowl talent who could be the star of the line. But he hasn’t don’t much of anything for the last two years and he still has to show off what he’s like on is rebuilt knee.
Love him in the third, but take your shot for the stars in the late-second.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings No. 4
4. Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Size: 6-6, 317
The Good: Here’s your run blocking tackle.
There are plenty of good ones in this draft – and a few elite ones up top – but for the teams that want to get more powerful and need a versatile option who could fit nicely in any of four spots, Jenkins is it.
He’s hardly bad in pass protection, but his real worth is as a blaster for the ground attack when the power to dominate his man and finish off the block. The size and power are there, and he moves just well enough to be fine on the outside, but …
The Not-So-Good: If you’re already thinking of an elite tackle prospect as a guard, he’s probably not an elite tackle prospect.
Again, he’s not awful in pass protection – he’s actually very solid overall – but he’s not going to be elite against the speed rushers and he might project to a Right Tackle Only, if that term even means anything at this point.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s not going to excite the masses when he goes somewhere in the top 50, but he’s the infrastructure pick who at the very least can provide a pounder for the ground game. Take him, and you have a starter for one of your front five spots for the next several years.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings No. 3
3. Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Size: 6-5, 322
The Good: Yeah, he’s got all the quickness, size, and NFL tools, but he also made himself into a player. He wasn’t considered an amazing recruit, but he showed up large as a mainstay for the Hokie line over the last few years.
There aren’t too many better combinations of skills in the draft. Few humans his size are able to move as fluidly, he’s solid enough to get the job done for the running game, and he’s a true NFL tackle who doesn’t have to project to guard.
Take him, and you’re getting an athletic outside blocker for any style of offense.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not going to necessarily be able to get away with the same things in the NFL. It’s not like he took plays off, but he didn’t always raise his game against the mediocre talents – he simply used his athleticism and skills to get the job done at times.
It’s nitpicking time, but sometimes he could stand to have a bit more dog in his fight. He’ll hit and pound away, but if you’re looking for that nasty tone-setter, that’s not really him.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s an NFL left tackle, and don’t try getting caught up in any ticky-tacky concerns. He might have the best all-around combination of size and athleticism of any offensive lineman in the draft
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings No. 2
2. Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Size: 6-4, 304
The Good: He might not be the best offensive tackle in the draft, but he has the skills to be as risk-free and as good as anyone outside of the No. 1 guy. He’s a tough guy’s tough guy for the running game, he’s great in pass protection with outstanding feet and quickness, and he doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes.
It’s not always right to tag the Northwestern guys as the smart players, but … yeah. He plays smart, he seems to figure out the problem to win at what he needs to do, and he’s smooth for an NFL blocker.
He’s a tackle, but with his build and all-around skills, he could be moved inside to guard for a team that’s already set on the outside.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite as big as some might like.
It you’re looking for that 6-8, 330-pound massive human type – and there are a few of those in this draft – that’s not Slater. He’s not all that long – don’t be that guy who tries to look important by pretending that arm length is a thing – so some are going to freak out that he doesn’t quite have the frame of your typical superstar NFL tackle.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Take him in the first round, maybe in the top 15, and you’ve got a solid blocker for the next ten years. There’s almost no bust potential here, he’ll bring the effort every play, and he’ll be a no-worry leader of the line with a little bit of time.
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle Rankings No. 1
1. Penei Sewell, Oregon
Size: 6-6, 331
The Good: The best blocker in college football in 2019, he was one of the keys to the Rose Bowl season as he helped Justin Herbert do his Justin Herbert things.
Absolutely everything is in place to be the best blocker in the NFL, too, with a ridiculous combination of size, quickness, and the upside to be even better with a little more time logged in – he doesn’t turn 21 until early October.
More than athletic enough to handle himself against the best speed rushers, and with a massive body to generate a blast when he needs to, again, all of the things are there to create an elite left tackle who can change around the entire way your offense is set up.
The Not-So-Good: Work with me here.
Yes, he’s young and there’s room for improvement overall to go from great to otherworldly, but that’s not a given. He’s got to be a bit more of a consistent blaster and he’s not going to stay as crazy-quick as he was in his late teens.
He opted out on the 2020 season and we’re in that time of year when absence makes the scouting heart grow weirder. It’s easy to look at the guys who played last year and find the good, making Sewell a wee bit more of a wild card considering he’s so young and still maturing into his body and game. And …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: The guy might be the second-best player in the draft.
You can’t pass up Trevor Lawrence at the 1, but Sewell has more of an upside to be a multi-year Pro Bowl talent than Zach Wilson. Nitpick all you want about the technique things to work on and some little things here and there, but go with this.
Oregon head man Mario Cristobal called Sewell the best offensive lineman he ever coached. Cristobal was Nick Saban’s offensive line coach at Alabama for four years.
Projected Round: First
