The problem with needing a franchise offensive tackle and trying to get one in the draft is that it’s hard to project how that’s going to go. As is the case with every position, you have to be able to project how that lineman will fit into your system. You also have to part out what the player can and can’t do, and decide if the developmental curve is worth it.
Complicating this is that, while there are as many as five first-round talents at the position in this draft class, there are no obvious locks. That’s generally the case unless a Joe Thomas or Quenton Nelson drops from the sky. On the other hand, based on coaching, development, and scheme fit, it’s entirely possible to grab a franchise-defining tackle in the later rounds. It’s all about getting the right guy for your offensive scheme, and here’s how the 11 best offensive tackles in the 2020 draft class sort themselves out.
1. Andrew Thomas, Georgia
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 315
40-Yard Dash: 5.22
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5 inches
Broad Jump: 109 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.58 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.66 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Thomas was a four-star recruit from Atlanta’s Pace Academy, and he chose Georgia over 28 other schools, including Notre Dame and Michigan. The Freshman All-American started 15 games right out of high school, and moved to left tackle in time for the 2018 season. In 2019, he was awarded Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference honors after starting 13 games on the left side.
“I think athleticism,” Thomas said at the scouting combine, when asked what separates a good offensive tackle from a great one. “Playing at the next level those guys are freaks, so being more athletic helps you. And then technique, especially at the offensive line positions. Playing against those guys, you have to be a technician. Every down, every play, you have to change it up. It’s almost a like a chess match and you have to be able to adjust to different types of rushers, so I think that makes all the difference.”
Stat to Know: Thomas did his work in zone schemes on 83% of his snaps over three seasons, averaging 6.2 yards per carry (and 6.9 yards per carry when running to his gap in 2018 and 2019), with a 50% Positive Play Rate.
Strengths: Choppy kick-step at times, but he makes it work with excellent diagnostic skills and the proverbial head on a swivel. Has the feet to adjust to quicker defenders trying to slip past him to the pocket. Has a mauling, finishing mentality when moving in slide protection and to the second level. He’s happy to bury pass-rushers who come with less than stellar technique — embarrassed K’Lavon Chaisson multiple times in 2019 when Georgia faced LSU. Quick decision-making allows him to react well to stunts and twists — he hands off naturally when he needs to. Mirrors instinctively against inside moves. Plays from a solid base and doesn’t get rocked back easily.
Weaknesses: Pass sets are more abrupt than smooth — Thomas isn’t yet a natural mover as you’d like from an offensive tackle. Could be vulnerable to late movement from edge-rushers until he refines that. Has the raw strength to bury defenders once he gets his hands inside the numbers, but needs work in clamping on and staying there.
Conclusion: While Thomas isn’t the most agile mover, and I have concerns about the choppiness of his pass-sets against more advanced NFL pass-rushers, he presents the right mentality, levels of strength, and coachable traits to be a top-level tackle early in his NFL career. He’s best suited for a balanced offense in which the run game is a prominent factor, and physicality is a requirement.
NFL Comparison: Eugene Monroe. Like the Virginia alum selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Jaguars, Thomas checks all the boxes you’d like from a power tackle with improving agility characteristics. He’s as close to “plug-and-play” as you’ll find at the tackle position in this draft class.
2. Jedrick Wills, Alabama
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 312
40-Yard Dash: 5.05
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 113 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.84
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A string of colleges, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Kentucky, were after Wills coming out of Lafayette High in Lexington, Kentucky. But as so many top recruits do, Wills chose the Crimson Tide. He managed 121 snaps as a true freshman, allowing no sacks, hits, or hurries on 34 pass-blocking snaps, and things just accelerated from there. When right tackle Matt Womack suffered an injury in 2018, it was time for Wills to step in, and he never left the right side after that.
“I took minimal reps at Alabama,” Wills has said of a potential switch to left tackle. “Leading up to this pre-draft process, I’m trying to do both because that’s something teams are asking about. I’m just trying to have that versatility. It’s something that’s new. Every time at a new position, it’s something you have to get used to. It’s something I’m trying to get comfortable with.”
What’s the biggest challenge with the switch?
“Probably the muscle memory. Being on the right side for so long, it’s something that feels a little bit different. You switch your feet up, using your right hand, your punch time is going to be different. It’s small things.”
Stat to Know: Wills allowed just one sack, five quarterback hits, and 27 quarterback hurries in 970 career pass-blocking snaps.
Strengths: Straight-up demolisher in the run game. Explodes out of his stance, and if there isn’t somebody right in front of him to damage, he goes looking for work in a hurry. Goes after his assignment as a defensive tackle would with an absolute attack mentality. Tremendous upper-body strength augmented by a wide base — good luck out-leveraging him. Has the hand speed and strength to keep defenders at bay with a simple swat. Traps and limits edge-rushers well, if not consistently, with his hands. Once he catches a defender, that defender had better have a second move, or he will quickly disappear. Has the base punch and power of a tackle 30 pounds heavier, and the agility that matches with his size.
Weaknesses: Wills’ wide stance and aggressive nature make him vulnerable to movement concepts in space — as agile as he can be, he’s also prone to flat-out missing people at the second level. Looks out of place at times in zone concepts; floating around when he could be locking on. Needs to clean up the tendency to reach both in the run game and in pass pro. Kick slide in pass pro is decent, but will need work against rushers who cross his face quickly. Gets grabby when his hand technique is left wanting.
Conclusion: Wills is probably going in the top 10, and if you’re surprised by that, you may want to catch up with the realities of the NFL as it stands. The most important offensive lineman for the Chiefs in their Super Bowl run was right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who pitched a near-perfect postseason and played at an MVP level against the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV against the 49ers. Wills doesn’t need to switch sides to be of franchise-level importance.
NFL Comparison: Lane Johnson. Wills is a natural right tackle with the ability to dominate in run sets and improve in his pass protection. Johnson has been an outstanding and highly valuable right tackle since the Eagles took him in the first round of the 2013 draft with similar traits.
3. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 320
40-Yard Dash: 4.85
Bench Press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches
Broad Jump: 121 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.65 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.68 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Iowa’s Class 2A Offensive Lineman of the Year at Mount Vernon High School, Wirfs was the fourth Iowa male athlete ever to win consecutive shot put and discus titles, and he was the first true freshman ever to start on Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa offensive lines. Given the level of complexity Ferentz puts into his line schemes, that’s no small feat. A plus athlete at just about everything, Wirfs has become a weightlifting freak and was also a state wrestling champion in his senior year of high school. He played both left and right tackle for Ferentz through three seasons, showing improvement in all areas throughout his time there.
“Wrestling, it’s a big pretty big thing in Iowa,” Wirfs said at the scouting combine. ” I think there are two big things you can take away from wrestling that translate over to football: body control and an awareness [of] hand movement. Being able to do that I think shows teams, one, how competitive I am. It takes a lot to be a wrestler, especially people from Iowa will attest that and [it’s an] individual sports so it’s just you versus another guy. Like, I hate losing, so I’m not going to let another man beat me. I’m going to do everything I can to stop it. You’ve got to do the same thing on the offensive line.”
However he got there, Wirfs has become an obvious technician with plus strength who will be an immediate asset at the next level.
Stat to Know: Wirfs didn’t allow a single sack in 428 pass-blocking snaps in 2018, and gave up just two sacks, two quarterback hits, and three quarterback hurries in 481 pass-blocking snaps last season.
Strengths: Played in a complex and varied scheme that will translate well to whatever he does in the NFL. Excellent counter defender — Wirfs can re-set quickly from one defender to another with little lunging and loss of technique or strength. When he does extend and latch on, has a tendency to make people move away from the ballcarrier. Can push people out of his frame easily. When he drive-blocks with the right pad level, it’s a problem for defenders. Aggressive in looking for work on combo blocks and to the second level. Has a smooth kick-step in pass pro that allows him to extend and adjust to the rusher and be aggressive with his hands. Will not give up power when he’s set. Decent runner on the move and has a good sense of his targets in space. More of a zone than gap player, but has the attributes to do either very well.
Weaknesses: Wirfs loses play strength when on the move because he loses his leverage on high blocks. Needs to maintain his ideal level when he’s not in the octagon. Has a tendency to excacerbate this by playing on his toes in zone slide, and this is when he can get rocked back. Hidden to a point by heavy tight end usage to his side; hasn’t blocked in space as often as other tackles in this class.
Conclusion: Some believe that Wirfs is an automatic switch to guard at the NFL level; I think he has the abilities to stay at right tackle in the pros at a Pro Bowl level as long as he’s able to work a few technical things out and expand on his ability to block in space. I think it would be a mistake to move him to left tackle on a full-time basis, but he looks like a natural right tackle in an NFL where the position has grown in importance, and the required traits are more complex.
NFL Comparison: Isaiah Wynn. In college, Wynn was a plus athlete with great play strength who projected well at tackle or guard. Wirfs has a similar athletic demeanor, though Wynn was a bit more fluid an exact on the move.
4. Mekhi Becton, Louisville
Height: 6’7″ Weight: 364
40-Yard Dash: 5.1 seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Becton played right and left tackle, as well as center on the basketball team, at Virginia’s Highland Springs High School. He then chose Louisville over more than 25 other schools, including Michigan, Georgia, and Oregon. Over the last three seasons, he’s learned to thrive in a pro-style offense with varied blocking schemes.
“I take a whole lot of pride in it,” Becton said at the combine of zone blocking in particular. “I love outside zone and inside zone. It’s just fun running a man out of the play taking him where I want him to go… [People] don’t expect a person like me to move that well. So I think I surprised a lot of people.
Bu does he prefer a certain scheme?
“Nah, just run behind me. It don’t really matter what we run, as long as you’re running behind me.”
Stat to Know: Becton was indeed involved in a lot of zone blocking in 2019 — the Cardinals moved up from a 42% zone rate in 2018 to 81% in 2019. Last season, running backs running behind him averaged 2.9 yards per carry before contact and 5.6 yards per carry overall.
Strengths: Becton’s size makes itself readily apparent in several positive ways — when he squares to a defender, that defender tends to disappear for a second. Can absolutely erase pass-rushers as they move through the arc or when he’s blocking in space. Has more agility than you have a right to expect for a guy his size — he’s not Joe Thomas, but he makes it work with a good fundamental kick-step through the arc. Has a finishing mentality as a run-blocker, and there are examples of almost comical strength in which he just throws defenders aside. Massive wingspan allows him to correct his mistakes on the fly. Good enough at facing up against counters where this won’t be a major issue at the next level.
Weaknesses: Becton’s ability to rely on size and power can also be an issue — there are times when he wants to just throw edge-rushers aside instead of mirroring them through the down. That could present major issues at the next level against more advanced, practiced edge-rushers. He also needs to work on finishing with his drive blocks instead of just throwing himself at defenders.
Conclusion: Becton is the ultimate distillation of Bill Parcells’ “Planet Theory” in this draft class, in that there are only so many people on the planet who are this big and can be this agile, and you’d better get that guy when he comes around. Becton is by no means a perfect prospect, and if you’re looking for the next 310-pound blindside protector, he obviously isn’t your guy. But he is also far more than just a fat guy who moves around a lot — Becton has the athletic potential to be a dominant tackle at the next level, as long as he’s willing to expand his technique beyond the advantages his body gives him.
NFL Comparison: Bryant McKinnie. The 6-foot-8, 360-pound Miami alum was selected seventh overall in the 2002 draft by the Vikings, and played at a very high level for Minnesota and Baltimore over a 12-year career. Becton profiles similarly in his combination of unusual size and traits for the left tackle position.
5. Josh Jones, Houston
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 319
40-Yard Dash: 5.27 seconds
Bench Press: 24 reps
Vertical Jump: 28.5 inches
Broad Jump: 109 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A basketball and football star at George Bush High School
in Richmond, Texas, Jones first committed to Oklahoma State before switching to Houston over the offers of Nebraska and Missouri. He excelled for the Cougars in 2017 and 2018, but took things to a different level in terms of performance in 2019, and now is seen as a legitimate first-round talent.
“Those corners and linebackers, they see a 300-pound man running at them, they gotta make decisions,” Jones said at the combine about his play mentality. “Get out of the way, duck, whatever they gotta do. But that just opens up lanes and pathways for running backs and receivers.”
Stat to Know: Per Sports Info Solutions, Jones didn’t have a single blown block in the passing game in 2019. Houston’s running backs, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry in zone schemes and 4.9 yards per carry in gap schemes, averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and 3.3 yards per carry before contact, when running to his gap.
Strengths: Athletic technician with most of the assets you’d want in a tackle in a high-rep passing game with zone running concepts. Natural mover on sweeps and pulls; this could be an plus at the NFL level right away. Kick-step is a work in progress, but when he is smooth with it, and buries an edge-rusher to the middle of the pocket, that’s the kind of progress you want to see. Works easily to the second level in movement and hitting his targets. Showed marked improvement over the 2019 season.
Weaknesses: Has the natural athleticism to take seamless kick-steps, but has a tendency to get wide-legged against quicker edge-rushers to adapt to that speed. Needs to work on both core strength and latching through the snap as a drive-blocker. Aggressive with his hands, but needs more of a plan with it.
Conclusion: Jones is still a work in progress in many areas, but the growth he showed in the 2019 season is highly encouraging. If your NFL team is pass-first and you need a guy who can block that over and over, and show top-level athleticism in all areas, give Jones to your offensive line coach for a season, and you might just be rewarded with Pro Bowl potential.
NFL Comparison: Andre Dillard. Like the former Washington State standout, who was selected 23rd overall by the Eagles in the 2019 draft, Jones has some refinements to make, but presents as an ideal linchpin from an athletic and developmental standpoint. Power and core strength might be issues in the short term.
6. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
Height: 6’6″ Weight: 350
40-Yard Dash: 5.32 seconds
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical Jump: 29 inches
Broad Jump: 110 inches
3-Cone Drill: 8.26 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 5.07 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Alabama, Florida State and Michigan were hot on Wilson’s trail before he decided on Auburn, and he excelled after a redshirt season, picking up Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman nods. An ankle injury limited him to 10 starts in 2019, but he still made second-team Associated Press All-American. Perhaps most notably, Wilson’s love for SpongeBob SquarePants was listed by the New Yorker as the 37th reason to love New York back when Wilson was in high school.
“Because the No. 2 College-Football Recruit in the Country Is From Canarsie and Wears a SpongeBob Backpack,” it read.
“I studied Trent Brown a lot because I want to be like him,” Wilson said at the combine about his football influences. “The punch he has, it’s a vicious punch. Tyron Smith is another one. He’s a monster out there; fast, athletic, strong. I watched Joe Thomas when I was younger. I always tried to emulate him and the athletic kick that he had. That was special. I’d like to know how he does it. I’m gonna have to ask him if I ever meet him. It’s special to watch Ronnie Stanley, it’s fun to watch Orlando Brown. It’s fun to watch all the big ballers, all the big athletic guys. I definitely look up to people like that.”
Stat to Know: Over the last two seasons, running backs averaged 2.8 yards per carry before contact, and 7.6 yards per carry overall, when running to Wilson’s gap. Wilson also allowed just two sacks, five quarterback hits, and 17 quarterback hurries in 758 pass-blocking snaps over the last two seasons.
Strengths: Carries his weight in a proportional sense — doesn’t look out of place in any aspect of his play. As you’d expect from a player his size, Wilson can absolutely dominate in the run game with a fearsome drive block and the ability to wall defenders off to either side. Doesn’t present an ideal kick through the arc, but manages to make it work with a “catch-and-latch” style in which defenders move into his area and are enveloped. Outside linebacker-sized edge rushers risk looking like high-school backups as he throws them around. Can work in space better than you’d imagine.
Weaknesses: Works defenders through the arc more with girth and arms than consistent footwork. Can be fooled by defenders crossing his face. If he gives up speed around the pocket, it’s tough for him to recover. Needs to work on pad level to optimize his natural strength.
Conclusion: With just two seasons as a starter at the collegiate level, Wilson has some things he needs to perfect before he’ll be able to negate NFL-level edge-rushers as he did in the SEC. But the buzz around Wilson’s name is no fluke — any team looking for a career right tackle who can work with power and surprising agility might find Wilson to be their man in the middle rounds.
NFL Comparison: Trent Brown. We’ll go with Wilson’s own first comparison here. Selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft by the 49ers, the 6-foot-8, 355-pound Brown overcame concerns about his size/agility mix and lack of collegiate experience to become a solid player for the 49ers (2017), Patriots (2018), and Raiders (2019) in consecutive seasons.
7. Austin Jackson, USC
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 322
40-Yard Dash: 5.07 seconds
Bench Press: 27 reps
Vertical Jump: 31 inches
Broad Jump: 115 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.95 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Jackson was on a fast track to the NFL through his time at USC until a much more important decision presented itself — the opportunity to donate bone marrow to his younger sister in the summer of 2019.
“My sister has a rare blood disorder which causes your body not to produce red blood cells,” Jackson said at the combine. “She’s had it since she was born. The procedure I did, the bone marrow transplant, allows her body to accept my blood cells. Thank god we were a perfect match through blood testing. That allowed her to fully restart her system and her body is now producing red blood cells.
“It was a long process. I had to take the whole offseason to go home and be with her and train on my own. I couldn’t afford to get sick. Otherwise the procedure would have been prolonged. I battled back through fall camp and through the season to gain my strength back.”
Stat to Know: Jackson struggled a bit last season (for understandable reasons) by giving up four sacks as opposed to two in 2018, but he also posted lower quarterback hits allowed (from three to one) and quarterback hurries allowed (from 12 to nine).
Strengths: Has an ideal athletic frame and good raw movement skills. Keeps his head on a swivel to deal with stunts and counters. When he smooths out his kickstep, shows the embryonic traits you want in an arc protector. Good second-level speed and placement against targets. Has the running ability to be an asset on screens, traps, and pulls.
Weaknesses: Really choppy footwork in pass pro — tends to mince when he should glide. Feet in general are a problem; Jackson struggles to set landmarks with his base and loses power and placement battles as a result. Slaps and swats defenders when he should be looking to get his hands on them and dominate. Works too high off the snap and can easily get bent back as a result. Too susceptible to rip and swim moves.
Conclusion: While it’s tempting to give Jackson a pass on certain things (such as a level of athletic uncertainty) given his off-field medical circumstances in 2019, the tape shows a player with outstanding raw gifts whose tentativeness in several areas does him no favors. Jackson’s NFL coaches should be excited by the tools, with the understanding that making him a starter at the next level is going to take some work.
NFL Comparison: Mike McGlinchey. The Notre Dame star was taken ninth overall by the 49ers in the 2018 draft because of his athletic gifts and despite a need for refinement and core strength improvement. Jackson is unlikely to find himself a first-round pick, but he presents the same kind of tantalizing and cautionary combination.
8. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 308
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Born in Delta State, Nigeria, and the son of Prince Phillip U.D. and
Princess Onome Wanogho, Tega Wanogho moved to Alabama in hopes of becoming a big-time basketball player, but switched to football. That resulted in offers from a torrent of colleges, and visits with Alabama and LSU before deciding on Auburn.
“At first, just trying to stay in shape,” he said at the combine about the challenges inherent in the switch. “When I came to the United States, I really didn’t know it was football season. So, my interest was to come over here and start playing. I came here and it was football season. So, I was trying to stay in shape, so, that’s why I started playing. Believe it or not, I thought I was going to be the next LeBron James. I told people that every time I was playing. But I really thought I had a shot to do that. But I just did that to stay in shape. It turns out I was okay at that.”
Stat to Know: Over three seasons and 1,120 total pass-blocking snaps, Tega Wanogho allowed just three sacks, nine quarterback hits, and 34 quarterback hurries.
Strengths: Presents outstanding, if raw, athleticism that shows up when he’s drive-blocking on the move and when he’s able to put together a fundamentally positive pass set. Has the tools to be a formidable blocker on the move. Length and strength combination will excite a lot of pro offensive line coaches. Excellent, if inconsistent, footwork.
Weaknesses: Matching Tega Wanogho’s pressure numbers with his pass-blocking abilities is an interesting exercise, because he lets edge-rushers off the hook far too often. Doesn’t seem to have an understanding of how to mirror and maintain through the snap — will almost bail on his guy at times. Saved a lot by a quick passing game. Hands aren’t aggressive enough to win pit battles; Tega Wanogho wrestles when he should be setting the tone.
Conclusion: Tega Wanogho is by no means a finished product, and I’m not sure he’s a first-year starter at the next level. His NFL team will have to mix him in after teaching him more of the fundamentals of the position, but it says a great deal about his athletic gifts that he was able to make it work at the SEC level with so little positional experience.
NFL Comparison: Germain Ifedi. A first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016, Ifedi was an athletic, powerful college blocker who was a fundamental mess in a lot of ways, and never got past rudimentary (read: bad) NFL coaching to correct those issues. Tega Wanogho is a similarly appealing athletic prototype who will need a lot of work to become a starting NFL offensive tackle, but the building blocks are there.
9. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Height: 6’6″ Weight: 311
40-Yard Dash: 4.93 seconds
Bench Press: 30 reps
Vertical Jump: 30 inches
Broad Jump: 111 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.26 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.46 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Though he was a standout at Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Cleveland received offers from just four schools: Air Force, Eastern Washington, Washington State, and Boise State. He wasted no time helping the Broncos’ offense, playing 1,008 snaps in 2017 and logging more than 900 in both 2018 and 2019.
Stat to Know: Cleveland never allowed 20 total pressures in any season over three years with the Broncos, and he was called for just seven penalties in that time.
Strengths: Athletic and body-proportionate player who looks like a natural in his pass sets. Squares himself to the target effortlessly, mirrors well, and works through the arc. Moves well on pulls and screens. Gets into a low pad level naturally when it’s time to drive-block. Advanced hands as a pass-blocker; he’s really good at just about every requirement for the pass-protection side of his position.
Weaknesses: Cleveland needs obvious work on his core strength and punch — he didn’t present a troubling level of consistent power against his opponents, and it’s a further downgrade when you factor in his level of competition. Inability lock on and shed defenders gets him in trouble; too many reps when he’s walked back. Needs to be technically on point to provide any drive in the run game.
Conclusion: Of all the tackles I’ve watched in this class, Cleveland has the most disparate level of quality between his pass-blocking and his run-blocking, or anything that requires leverage and power. One assumes that an NFL-quality strength program and coaching will take care of this to a point. If Cleveland can enhance his strength to a league-average level, his pass-blocking refinement will take him a long way.
NFL Comparison: Nate Solder. The former tight end was selected in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Patriots, and parlayed his athleticism into some above-average seasons. Solder has also had disastrous campaigns in which he simply couldn’t win strength battles and gave up a ton of pressures, and this could be Cleveland’s fate if he’s not able to round out his movement skills with some sand in his pants.
10. Lucas Niang, TCU
Height: 6’6″ Weight: 315
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump:N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A highly-regarded prospect out of Connecticut’s New Canaan High School, Niang chose the Horned Frogs over Auburn, Miami, Penn State, and other major schools. A hip injury limited Niang to seven games in 2019, but he had already put some pretty solid tape up — most notably against Nick Bosa and Chase Young when TCU faced Ohio State in 2019.
“That was the most excited I’ve probably ever been for a game,” Niang recalled at the combine. “I love competition. I like competing against the best to see how I measure up. I was really excited. What helped me going into the game the most was just watching film. Knowing what to expect, what Nick liked to do, what Chase liked to do. I wouldn’t say I was nervous. I was ready. It was a good feeling after the game was over. Although we lost, I did my job.
“I had a fun game. Bosa unfortunately got hurt early, so I didn’t as many reps against him. And Chase was good. I could tell he was going to be great, but he wasn’t where he was this year.”
Stat to Know: In 995 pass-blocking snaps over three seasons for the Horned Frogs (including that banger against Ohio State), Niang never allowed a single sack, and gave up just five quarterback hits and 25 quarterback hurries.
Strengths: Athletic specimen with power in the run game. Niang has a ridiculous wingspan that he uses to both attack and repel, based on the situation. Has the movement skills to make up for his extremely odd pass sets, which we’ll address in a minute. Quick enough mentally and in short areas to make himself a force against counters and late movement at the line of scrimmage. Can clear his hands to re-set and recover when he’s beaten. Good mover and attacker to the second level. As he said, did a nice job against Ohio State in 2018 even when that defense was crashing all around him.
Weaknesses: Niang’s pass sets are… unconventional, to put it kindly. If you’re looking for a perfect walkback through the arc, he’s not your guy. Widens his feet far too often and can protect at the collegiate level with this, but advanced NFL rushers could eat him alive. Gets into those wide sets and makes himself vulnerable to counter movement. Upper/lower body imbalance (top-heavy) might make some teams pause.
Conclusion: Niang is a tough evaluation in some regards — the medicals, body type, and lower-body technique are going to push him down in some eyes. And there’s no way to really how how a guy with this kind of unconventional movement is going to fare in the NFL, especially if there’s a limited pre-season in 2020. Right now, he is both highly developmental and a near-finished product, but the developmental stuff is pretty major.
NFL Comparison: Bobby Massie. During his time at Ole Miss, Massie would drive you nuts with this wide-footed stance, but he’d somehow get the job done. Selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft by the Cardinals, Massie has managed to stay in the league for nearly a decade with up-and-down performances with Arizona and Chicago, and he’s cleared up his technique to a point. Perhaps Niang can do the same.
11. Saahdiq Charles, LSU
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 321
40-Yard Dash: 5.05 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A New Orleans native whose family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Charles became a prized recruit after his family settled in Mississippi. He chose LSU over Ole Miss, returning home and helping the Tigers win the national championship in his junior season of 2019, but he also missed six games for disciplinary reasons. He missed three games the year before to injury, but started at left tackle, right tackle, and guard in his freshman campaign.
“I am a fast-twitch player,” Charles said of himself at the scouting combine. “I can play out in space. Physical. I can finish.”
“Terron Armstead, Trent Williams,” he said, when asked which tackles he models himself after.”Both of them are fast-twitch players. Not on the taller side of the bunch, but they get the job done, just like I [try to].”
Stat to Know: LSU backs averaged 7.3 yards per carry, and 3.3 yards per carry before contact, when running to Charles’ gap in 2019. That’s a massive upgrade from Charles’ 4.7 and 2.3 in 2018.
Strengths: Natural pass-setter who will occasionally let edge-rushers creep into his kitchen, but displays the strength to finish the rep. Attacks well with his hands to counter bull-rushes and has the root leverage and strength to avoid getting bent back. Gets wide in his stance on occasion, but will latch through the rep to avoid losing pass rush on the back side of the pocket.
Weaknesses: Latches in pass pro and in the run game can quickly turn into holds — Charles can be great when he puts it all together, but he’s not consistent with his technique. Can take straight-on rushes; is less certain with stunts and counters. Has to play with ideal leverage, or his lack of core power will stand out.
Conclusion: There are times when Charles looks like a first-round talent, as was the case when he gave Alabama’s Terrell Lewis all he could handle. Then, you turn on other games, and it’s like you’re seeing a different player. Some teams might overlook Charles’ relative lack of experience when looking at his potential, but there is a definite “buyer beware” element here. Charles will need a tough and patient O-line coach at the NFL level to bring out everything he can be. If that happens, he’ll be a major steal.
NFL Comparison: Cedric Ogbuehi. The Bengals took Ogbuehi in the first round in the 2015 draft, hoping that his obvious athleticism would offset concerns about his technique and leverage. Things haven’t worked out for Ogbuehi, despite his talent, and Charles could be on a similar path, for all the good tape.
