Rankings and quick lookaheads of all the offensive tackle prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Combine.
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2019 NFL Offensive Tackle Combine Workout: Friday, March 1
Here we go with the 2019 NFL Combine, with all the breakdowns and analysis of every positive and negative for all of the top prospects. This isn’t that hard. Just simplify it – who can play football well enough to make an impact at the next level?
The bigger breakdowns will come before the NFL Draft, but for now – again, from the college perspective – here are the pre-combine rankings for all of the offensive tackles invited to the big workout.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest.
2019 Pre-NFL Combine Offensive Tackle Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted pre-NFL Combine.
32. William Sweet, North Carolina 6-7, 300 (7 FA)
He’s got the length and he has the frame, but he just doesn’t move well enough after tearing his ACL two years ago. With his size, he’ll be a late round flier.
31. Ethan Greenridge, Villanova 6-5, 337 (7 FA)
A veteran tackle with intriguing size, he’s a backup, and he might end up at guard, but he doesn’t move well enough. He’s more than worth a long look in a camp, though, at right tackle.
30. Andre James, UCLA 6-5, 305 (6)
He just doesn’t move well enough for a player who doesn’t have the bulk or the prototype size. He can bring a little pop, but he’s not really a guard, and he doesn’t fit at tackle.
29. Brandon Knight, Indiana 6-5, 307 (7 FA)
A nice all-around blocker for either tackle spot, he’s not for every scheme, but he can move well enough to potentially stick for the right team and the right passing system.
28. Tyler Jones, NC State 6-3, 303 (7 FA)
Versatile enough to play anywhere on the line, he’s a left tackle who did a great job of keeping Ryan Finley in one piece. The problem? He’s just not big enough at the NFL level.
27. Jackson Barton, Utah 6-7, 304 (7 FA)
A bit too tall and lean, he has a good frame and is fine as a pass protector, but he’s hardly a blaster for a ground game – he’s too upright.
26. Ryan Pope, San Diego State 6-7, 315 (7 FA)
A perfectly-framed blocker who has the right size and the length to make everyone want to do a deep dive, but he’s just okay as a football player. He can move, but he doesn’t blast.
25. Yosh Nijman, Virginia Tech 6-7, 322 (7 FA)
Is he okay after suffering a leg injury? When healthy, he’s got the size and he’s got the next-level tools to be a star. But he needs to learn how to be more of a pass protector and has to stay in one piece.
24. (OG) Paul Adams, Missouri 6-6, 315 (7 FA)
He might end up living as a guard, but he’s a veteran tackle with the athleticism to move up fast.
23. Bobby Evans, Oklahoma 6-4, 312 (5)
He’s a big body who came up with a good year at right tackle on an elite offensive line. Athletic, he’s got the skills, but he needs more polish as a power blocker. Get ready for opinions to be all over the map on his draft upside, but he’ll be a mid-round flier.
22. (OG) Joshua Miles, Morgan State 6-6, 310 (7 FA)
On the one side, there’s tread on the tires after missing 2017 with academic issues. However, he needs more time and work. He’s got all the NFL tools and size, but he’s a total project to find a spot somewhere on a line.
21. Chuma Edoga, USC 6-4, 302 (5)
A true Right Tackle Only with the likelihood of eventually moving to guard, he has a nice blend of athleticism and next-level skills, but he doesn’t have the consistent pop. The power isn’t quite there.
20. (OG) Donnell Greene, Minnesota 6-5, 326 (6)
There’s a lot to work on, and he doesn’t quite use his big body and power well enough, but he’s a grinder of a blocker who’ll make some offensive line coach happy … after a lot of technique work.
19. Devon Johnson, Ferris State 6-7, 315 (7 FA)
While he’s a project and he relied way too much on his size and raw skills, he’s big, can get bigger, and with time, might just become one of the top five tackles prospects in this draft.
18. Isaiah Prince, Ohio State 6-7, 310 (5)
A true right tackle, he’s never going to be special as a pass protector, but he’s functionally good enough to hold his own and be just fine. There’s nothing smooth about his style, but he gets the job done.
17. Mitch Hyatt, Clemson 6-5, 306 (6)
Way underloved, he was a fantastic college player over the last four years, he doesn’t quite all the tools that translate to the next level. He doesn’t have the athleticism, and he doesn’t have the power, but he’s functional enough to make a roster.
16. Tyler Roemer, San Diego State 6-7, 305 (6)
A mid-round pick on talent, but with concerns after getting suspended from school, he’s a great athlete who has a nasty enough streak to like as a run blocker. However, the character issues will be front and center in Indy.
15. Oli Udoh, Elon 6-6, 337 (7 FA)
With unteachable tools and great size, he’s a massive blocker who could live on the right side of a line. Good luck relying on him against NFL pass rushers, but he’ll smack them in the mouth for the ground game.
14. (OG) Max Scharping, Northern Illinois 6-6, 315 (4)
So where is he going to play? He’s a tackle who could end up having a long career in the interior of a line. A veteran who has seen it all, he’s not going to be overwhelmed. Now he has to show he can produce as a pass protector.
13. Trey Pipkins, Sioux Falls 6-5, 310 (6)
Someone will fall in love with him. He’s a big athlete who can instantly lead a line. He needs to be a bit smoother, and he needs technique tweaking, but there’s a lot to like about his upside with a little work.
12. Dennis Daley, South Carolina 6-5, 313 (5)
A high-riser in the process, he should be a nice mid-round pick with a good workout. He’s a solid SEC-caliber blocker with the right size, and there could be a massive breakthrough with a little tweaking.
11. Tytus Howard, Alabama State 6-5, 299 (4)
He’s not huge, but he’s a terrific athlete with great feet and a whole world of upside. He needs to get bigger and stronger, but with a little time there’s special skills and talent missing from a bulk of the class. He’s a project, though.
10. Derwin Gray, Maryland 6-5, 336 (5)
Most of the top tackle prospects in this year’s draft can move, but are missing the power. That’s not Gray. He’s more of a top-shelf guard prospect down the road, but he can be a blaster at right tackle.
9. David Edwards, Wisconsin 6-7, 315 (3)
Athletic for his size and with enough power to hammer his man – when he gets leverage – he’s a good blocker as is, and the upside is there to get a whole lot better with a little more time in the weight room and with more bulk.
8. (OG/C) Dalton Risner, Kansas State 6-5, 300 (2)
The only real knock is that he’s not the greatest of athletes. He’s versatile enough to play anywhere on a line, he’s as solid as they come, and he’s good enough to start somewhere up front from Day One.
7. Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia 6-5, 318 (2)
The talent is there to be a high-riser thanks to his size and tools. He might end up with the Right Tackle Only tag, but he should be a great one as long as he can find a little more nasty to his run blocking.
6. Andre Dillard, Washington State 6-5, 306 (2)
There could be a bit more size and bulk, but in today’s NFL, the rock-solid veteran what teams want as a pass protector. While he might not be a road grader, he’s a left tackle prospect who’ll keep the quarterback upright.
NEXT: Top 5 Offensive Tackle Prospects Before the NFL Combine
5. (OG) Dru Samia, Oklahoma 6-4, 296 (3)
Why Dru Samia Is Here On The List: Nah, he’s not quite big enough, and he’s not going to get a whole lot bigger, but he’s got the makeup and the talent to be a longtime starter at right tackle at a high level.
He’s got the grouchiness and fight needed to make up for his lack of size, he could move to guard if needed, and it’s in his DNA to be a leader and tone-setter. Blow off that he’s not going to be a road grader – he’ll outquick most defensive linemen just enough to be more than fine. Be shocked if he doesn’t own most of the agility drills.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Just how light does he look? More than that, is he really going to be athletic enough to overcome the lack of raw bulk? He’ll b eaten in the middle rounds, but he could work his way into the late second round with an amazing workout.
Bottom Line: You can’t survive with a whole line full of guys like him, but you want every to have his toughness and fire. He’s one of those linemen who just find a way to make a starting lineup and produce.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Offensive Tackle
4. (OG) Kaleb McGary, Washington 6-6, 306 (2)
Why Kaleb McGary Is Here On The List: Trey Adams might be the superstar NFL prospect on the Washington line, but he wasn’t healthy for most of this year and stayed in school. McGary was able to step up and shine as the role of the lead dog for the Dawgs.
He’s a bit more rangy than big, but he carries his weight well enough to be more of an athletic blocker than a blaster. While he’s more of a wall-off run blocker, he’s able to get the job done with power when he needs to. Strength isn’t a problem; it’s how he uses it.
Yeah, he’s a right tackle or a guard, but the versatility will matter. He’ll be moved around where needed.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Does he have the heart? Not to be glib, but literally, is his heart okay considering he’s had to play through an arrhythmia. He’s a starter and a top 50 pick if he’s okay, but the medical evaluations in Indy will be everything.
Bottom Line: There’s not enough upside to get too fired up about him being a star on an NFL line, but he’s a sure-thing safe starter somewhere up front as long as everything checks out fine. If all is fine, he’s a ten-year starter.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Offensive Tackle
3. Greg Little, Ole Miss 6-6, 325 (1)
Why Greg Little Is Here On The List: The guy looks and plays the part. A superstar high school prospect, he came into Ole Miss and turned in a strong career as a main man for a line that was all about the pass protection.
While he’s not the perfect prospect, he has the raw tools, the quickness, and the ability to grow into a multi-year Pro Bowl talent as long as he can grow into a stronger run blocker. He’s got the frame, but can he blast away on a man? He didn’t have to do too much soul crushing with the Rebels, but all of the other talents and skills are too good to ignore.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Can he look the part of a destructive force for the running game? As is he’ll be a first round pick thanks to his feet and his pass protection skills, but he didn’t quite develop into a mauler. More of a technician, now the NFL weight room strength needs to develop.
Bottom Line: He’s an NFL left tackle with the talent, quickness and ability in a rare frame. His all-around game might not be air-tight, but any NFL O line coach worth his salt should be able to make the right adjustments and unleash an All-Pro.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Offensive Tackle
2. Jawaan Taylor, Florida 6-5, 334 (1)
Why Jawaan Taylor Is Here On The List: No, he’s not a Right Tackle Only, and even if he was, that doesn’t carry the stigma it once held. He’s massive, and he can move well for his bulk, but yeah, he’ll occasionally have issues with speed rushers.
Tackles of his size – and he is a tackle, not a guard, at least early on – are rare. There aren’t a slew of killer tackles for the ground game in this draft, and he stands out as a physical blaster who might just become the best run blocker of the bunch. He’s big, and he knows how to use his bulk to seek and destroy.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Just how well can he move? If he’s even slightly above-average in the short drills, he’ll be moved into the top 15 on everyone’s board. As is, he’s already a top 20 pick, but it might not take all that much to move up just a wee bit. For some teams that want to pound away, he’s what they’ll want.
Bottom Line: There’s one big question mark – can he keep everything under 340? He can play big, but he’ll likely be better at around 330ish or under as long as he can keep his strength. The potential is there to balloon up and put on a ton of bad weight if he’s not careful, but he’ll be fine. He’s a first round tackle to work a line around. In this draft, that’s rare.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Offensive Tackle
1. Jonah Williams, Alabama 6-5, 297 (1)
Why Jonah Williams Is Here On The List: He’s not the prototype size-wise, only because he’s missing the raw bulk and girth, but he’s a master technician who overcomes his lack of size by doing everything right. But don’t let the lack of raw size fool you. He’s a tough run blocker who’ll finish his man off with efficiency.
Best of all, he’s still growing into his talent and he’s still maturing as a blocker. He’s not going to get any longer, and he’s not going to be able to do anything about his lack of an ideal frame for a top tackle off the board, but he moves like a tight end and is built for what the modern NFL passing game needs on the left side.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Official measurements will matter. There’s not that much of a concern that he’ll be off by all that much or not quite up to the norm, but he’s going to have trouble staying up at around 300 pounds. In a top-heavy draft, not having the right length and size might be just enough to cost him a spot or two in the top ten.
Bottom Line: This might be a defensive tackle-heavy draft, but in terms of raw talent, he might be the No. 1 pick on the board, or second behind Nick Bosa. It takes something special to grow into Nick Saban’s left tackle, and he’s been close to that good from the start. He’s an instructional video on how to play the position.
