To get you guys ready for the 2020 NFL Draft, I’ve been hard at work at putting together a draft guide that will serve as a one-stop shop as to how hundreds of college prospects fit with the Chargers and how I think they will project at the next level all together.
I’m putting the final details to the guide and am aiming to release it in the next few days. But while I do that, I wanted to give you all a sneak peak as to what’s inside.
With that, here are my rankings and reports for the top-20 offensive tackles in the upcoming draft:
| Ranking | Player | College | Round |
| OT1 | Jedrick Wills | Alabama | 1 |
| OT2 | Tristan Wirfs | Iowa | 1 |
| OT3 | Mekhi Becton | Louisville | 1 |
| OT4 | Andrew Thomas | Georgia | 1 |
| OT5 | Josh Jones | Houston | 1-2 |
| OT6 | Ezra Cleveland | Boise State | 1-2 |
| OT7 | Austin Jackson | USC | 1-2 |
| OT8 | Ben Bartch | St. John’s | 2 |
| OT9 | Lucas Niang | TCU | 2 |
| OT10 | Isaiah Wilson | Georgia | 2-3 |
| OT11 | Matt Peart | UConn | 3 |
| OT12 | Prince Tega Wanogho | Auburn | 3 |
| OT13 | Saahdiq Charles | LSU | 3-4 |
| OT14 | Hakeem Adeniji | Kansas | 4 |
| OT15 | Jack Driscoll | Auburn | 4-5 |
| OT16 | Tyre Phillips | Mississippi State | 5-6 |
| OT17 | Charlie Heck | North Carolina | 6 |
| OT18 | Alex Taylor | South Carolina State | 6 |
| OT19 | Trey Adams | Washington | 6-7 |
| OT20 | Yasir Durant | Missouri | 7 |
1. Jedrick Wills Jr. | Alabama | #74 | Junior | Lexington, KY | 6042 | 312
40-Yard Dash: 5.05 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 113 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.84 seconds
Career: Strictly played right tackle for the Tide. Started 29 games for Alabama in three years with the program.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: Uses a quick kick step to get into his sets. Displays sound footwork to mirror outside speed rushers. Slides laterally and moves feet in all directions with ease. Bends the knees and sinks hips. Maintains leverage and positioning throughout the play. Patient, coordinated movements. Shoots hands with tenacity, controlling opponents’ movements. Sets up run blocks with a quick first step out of his stance. Keeps pads low and can deliver some movement on first contact. Can pick up blocks on the move and stun with a striking punch. High football IQ and aware blocker. Recognizes stunts and blitzers. Nasty competitor.
Weaknesses: Base can get too wide in pass protection. Hands can wonder, leaving his chest open at times. Tries to go for the home run punch at times. Susceptible to inside moves.
Final Word: Wills is a good athlete who is light on his feet with impressive play strength and a competitive demeanor in the running game to overwhelm his opponents, but will need to continue to refine his hands in pass protection, projecting as a starting right tackle with All-Pro upside.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
2. Tristan Wirfs | Iowa | #74 | Junior | Mount Vernon, IA | 6047 | 320
40-Yard Dash: 4.85 seconds
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
Career: First true freshman starter in Kirk Ferentz era. Started 33 games (28 at right tackle, 5 at left tackle).
Red Flags: Arrested for DWI in 2018 and suspended for a season opener. Cited for being underage at a bar in 2019.
Strengths: NFL caliber build and very impressive movement skills. Shows a high football IQ at tackle. Powerful finisher and shows impressive toughness on the edge against power moves and in the run game. Light on his feet—a dancing bear—and is able to slide laterally or get depth with his kick-step. Balance and length are pluses to his game, and he can get low and play with leverage in the run game as needed. Heavy hands and punches with great placement at the chest. Athleticism and nasty streak at the second level.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t always bend naturally at the knees, and he tries to use his length to reach and often overextends at his base, leading to a lunge against speed rushers. Can use his head and shoulders to absorb contact.
Final Word: Even though his lack of length has some projecting him to kick inside, Wirfs is a freakish athlete who possesses solid movement skills, lower-body strength to move bodies in the run game, refined hands and very good competitive toughness projecting as a long-term starting tackle or guard.
Fit Likelihood: High
3. Mekhi Becton | Louisville | #73 | Junior | Highland Springs, VA | 6073 | 364
40-Yard Dash: 5.10 seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Started as a true freshman for the Cardinals. Started over 30 games during his college career.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: A long, massive, unbelievably huge person. Wins with power and athleticism. Can beat defenders up with his size and will get low to push through defenders and bulldoze them out of the play. Exceptionally nimble feet to get depth when moving laterally. He uses his size well and can win with length on the corner. Mauler in the run game, will eat up defenders when climbing to the second level.
Weaknesses: Needs to monitor weight over professional career. Weight control over the course of his career. Does carry it and move well, but you want that number to continue to creep lower, not higher for the sake of conditioning purposes. Can lean into contact, forcing him to lose balance. Doesn’t consistently use proper hand techniques.
Final Word: Becton is a large blocker who is an excellent pass protector and run-blocker, possessing a rare combination of power and athleticism, but he will need to refine his hand technique in pass protection and clean up some overaggressive tendencies, projecting as a solid starter at left or right tackle.
Fit Likelihood: High
4. Andrew Thomas | Georgia | #71 | Junior | Lithonia, GA | 6051 | 315
40-Yard Dash: 5.22 seconds
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
Career: Started 41 career games while garnering all-American honors in 2018 and 2019. Stepped in as a true freshman at right tackle for the Bulldogs.
Red Flags: Dealt with a minor ankle injury in 2018 but hasn’t missed time on the field.
Strengths: Solid size and athleticism. Good initial quickness. Can get to and block effectively at the second level. Flashes violence in his initial hand punch to control defenders. Good recoil and settle in pass protection. Can absorb the bull rush and anchor effectively. Flashes foot quickness and balance on the perimeter and in space.
Weaknesses: Oversets in pass block, inconsistent knee bend. Hands can get too wide. Flashes nastiness, but needs to play with more consistency. Overextends at times, often losing balance.
Final Word: Thomas is a high-end athlete who possesses adequate footwork, heavy hands, intelligence and toughness to make an impact as a pass protector and run-blocker, but he needs to clean up the balance and mechanical issues, projecting as a starting tackle in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: High
5. Josh Jones | Houston | #74 | RS Senior | Richmond, TX | 6050 | 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
Career: Started 45 games during his career. Stepped into the starting job as a redshirt freshman.
Red Flags: Dealt with minor injuries in 2017 and 2019 but never missed significant time.
Strengths: Gifted athlete. Effortless lateral quickness with light feet. Rarely allowed a rusher to wrap his outside shoulder, shutting down the corner on tape. Flexible hips to react to inside moves. Uses his length to meet rushers mid – shuffle. Aggressive run blocker, latching and running his feet. Mean streak and plays with an attitude. Doesn’t give up much ground. Athletic and does an adequate job getting into the second level.
Weaknesses: Clunky technique and often finds himself out of position. Needs to get stronger at the point of attack. Flat steps in his kick slide. Caught leaning and doesn’t have a firm grasp on timing. Needs to tighten up his punch and handwork, leaving his chest open for rushers and sustaining in the run game.
Final Word: Jones is a quick-footed blocker who possesses reactive athleticism, good body control, flexibility and the range and mobility to block in the open space, but there are concerns with his anchor and sustaining in the run game, projecting as a starting left tackle in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: High
6. Ezra Cleveland | Boise State | #76 | RS Junior | Spanaway, WA | 6060 | 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
Career: Started 40 straight games for the Broncos.
Red Flags: Dealt with a turf toe injury throughout the 2019 season.
Strengths: Tall, proportionate frame. Athletic feet in pass protection to reset and react to movement. Efficient kick slide, sliding very smoothly and getting to his destination point with ease. Initial quickness to cut off wide speed. Uses his long arms to lock out, slow rushers and maintain space. Strong mirroring and agility skills to hold his own against the most athletic edge rushers. Patient hands. Mixes up how he throws pass-rushers off balance. Has the grip and core strength to hold his own at the point of attack. Alert to recognize blitzers and reorganize his assignments. Quick to climb and comfortable in space, taking out second-level defenders with clean angles and sustain skills.
Weaknesses: Marginal recovery anchor, playing too much on his heels and in an upright position. Late or wide hands, allowing rushers to attack his chest and walk him backwards. Several bad habits like ducking his head and lunging. Rarely snaps his hips through when blocking in the run game. Hardly ever the low man in this area. Doesn’t always match the power of defensive linemen.
Final Word: Cleveland is a top-end athlete who is a coordinated mover with the foot quickness to beat rushers to the spot, has quick hands and the range to get to the second level, but he lacks the anchor ability and power in his hands, projecting as a starting left tackle in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: High
7. Austin Jackson | USC | #73 | Junior | Phoenix, AZ | 6047 | 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
Career: Started two seasons at left tackle for the Trojans.
Red Flags: Underwent a bone marrow transplant surgery to save his sister’s life, but the effects of the surgery lasted into the season for him.
Strengths: Looks the part with an ideal frame, length for the position. Room for additional mass. Above-average set-up quickness and movement skills to mirror rushers and control himself in space. Displays natural flexibility and bend to open his hips and redirect. Proper pad level off the snap and looks to extend and punch with his long arms. Recovers well with terrific reactive athleticism to shuffle, sink, and anchor while maintaining his base. Good mental processing to pick up blitzers. Rangy player who can pull and get to the second level with ease. Durable player.
Weaknesses: Footwork and hands are still learning to work in sync together. Inconsistent hand placement, struggling to keep his elbows inside to recoil and handle counter moves. Underdeveloped counter measures. Bad habit of prematurely opening up his kickslide. Needs to develop upper body and core strength to create more movement in the run game. Aggressively overextends, which causes him to lose his balance.
Final Word: Jackson possesses the physical traits, awareness and movement skills, but he needs to develop his anchor in pass protection and improve his mechanics with his footwork and hand technique to match his length and quickness, projecting as a mid-tier starting left tackle.
Fit Likelihood: High
8. Ben Bartch | St. John’s (MN) | #78 | Senior | Dayton, OR | 6056 | 309
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
Career: Began his collegiate career as a tight end gained over 75 pounds to play tackle. Two year starter for St. John’s after his weight gain.
Red Flags: Did not participate at the Combine due to a lingering injury from the Senior Bowl.
Strengths: Adequate athleticism for the position, former tight end. Fluid to get out into space and seal the edge or work up to second level. Keeps his weight even to have a good anchor and stall bull rushers. Incredible body control, recovers and redirects really well. Patient in his punch. Good core strength to deliver shocks defenders. Explosive lower half to get depth off the line of scrimmage, can run rushers wide of the pocket. Above average instincts with the ability to even pick up stunts.
Weaknesses: Smaller arms for the position. Base can get too wide. Lacking true power, will get driven back into the quarterback when he stands up too straight and loses power. Will let defenders get into his chest before trying to readjust his hands. Wasn’t battle tested, massive leap in competition level.
Final Word: Bartch is a technically refined blocker who possesses the footwork, athleticism, play awareness and quick hands, but his lack of length hinders his ability to anchor at times and he needs to become stronger as a run blocker, projecting as a high-upside tackle with the ability to play guard.
Fit Likelihood: High
9. Lucas Niang | TCU | #77 | Senior | New Canaan, CT | 6060 | 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
Career: Started 27 games at right tackle for the Horned Frogs. Did not allow a sack during his final two seasons with the program.
Red Flags: Played through a torn labrum during the 2019 season and missed a portion of the year as a result.
Strengths: Can anchor against bull-rushers. Strong point of attack strength with a powerful punch to stymie and control defensive linemen. Lock horns and drive defenders out in the run game. Poised and controlled in his movements. Doesn’t panic and instead relies on his length. Instincts are on point and allow him to recognize what’s happening in front of him. Hands/feet/hips are always working in unison. Plays with great pad level.
Weaknesses: Plays with average body control. Hands can be a little frenetic and end up outside defender’s frame. Slightly deficient in core power. Has quick feet but average footwork when getting into his kickslide. Battled injuries during the time he played this season prior to surgery; so, health is a concern.
Final Word: Niang is an ascending offensive tackle with the frame, foot quickness, mobility, anchor ability and range, but he needs to be much more consistent with his pass set technique, particularly his footwork and more timely with his hands, projecting as a starting right tackle in a zone scheme if he can stay healthy.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
10. Isaiah Wilson | Georgia | #79 | RS Sophomore | Brooklyn, NY | 6064 | 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
Career: Two year starter for the Bulldogs who anchored the right tackle spot in 2018 and 2019. Started 24 games during his time at Georgia.
Red Flags: Missed a couple games in 2019 due to a sprained ankle.
Strengths: Enormous frame with wide base. Moves well to gain depth. Anchors well in his pass-sets and doesn’t allow rushers to go through him. Locks down pass rushers once he gets his hands on them. Has the smarts to pick up blitzers. People mover in the run game. Unloads on down blocks. Blocks with a competitive edge.
Weaknesses: Not a natural knee-bender, leading to leverage issues. Wide hands due to his long arms, erratic hand placement. Lacks foot quickness to cut off defenders. Struggles to establish adequate angles.
Final Word: Wilson is a big-bodied mauler who is strong at the point of attack with adequate quickness, length and a finisher’s mentality in the pass and run-blocking department, but he is an unrefined technician and flexibility may hold him back, projecting as low-end starting right tackle.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
11. Matt Peart | Connecticut | #65 | Senior | Bronx, NY | 6065 | 318
40-Yard Dash: 5.06 seconds
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical Jump: 30 inches
Broad Jump: 113 inches
3-Cone Drill: 8.01 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.92 seconds
Career: Four year starter for the Huskies. Started 48 straight games.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: NFL frame with outstanding arm length. Quick initial set-up to cut off speed. Resets quickly to recover-and-counter after a rusher’s first punch/move. Displays bounce in his feet to stay coordinated mid-shuffle – his hoops background is evident, rarely giving up the corner. Good lateral quickness and able to race ahead of the pack on pull blocks and screens. Good reactive athleticism to recover when beaten around the edge. Keeps his balance through contact and stays off the ground. Rolls hips and drives his legs to uproot defenders as a run blocker.
Weaknesses: Play strength needs continued development. Not a powerful tackle and won’t generate much push as in-line blocker. Technique is a work-in-progress. Not a natural knee-bender, leading to pads and hips tending to rise off the snap. Inconsistent hands, creating awkward positioning and allowing rushers to get inside his frame and bully him backwards. Shoots hands too soon. Needs to do a better job locking out and sitting in his stance to maintain spacing. Allows defenders to rip through his edge.
Final Word: Peart is an athletic tackle who quickly finds his landmarks and uses his natural movement skills, base and length to keep rushers busy as well as possessing the mobility to work at the second level, but his hand technique and functional strength need improvement, projecting as a solid starting right tackle by Year 2 with the ability to kick to the left side.
Fit Likelihood: High
12. Prince Tega Wanogho | Auburn | #76 | RS Senior | Nigeria | 6050 | 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
Career: Started 32 career games for the Tigers.
Red Flags: Missed most of the draft process due to an injury. Redshirted in 2015 while recovering from a broken leg.
Strengths: Long, athletic frame. Great foot quickness. Possesses terrific lateral range and reaching ability. Gets depth with smooth, fluid kick-slide and does a good job of mirroring. Agile enough to win the edge in pass protection and has the strength to reset and hold his ground if the defender counters. Latches on and gets opponents moving with finesse and instincts in the run game. Has strength to anchor, hands carry power in pass protection. Explodes out of stance into defender. Accelerates feet after contact and finishes. Moves smoothly to the second level. Length and strength to redirect around the pocket when beaten around the edge. Reliable football character. Competitive toughness is evident.
Weaknesses: Inexperienced at the position and still raw. Didn’t play offensive line until he came to Auburn. Base can get too wide on pass protection, struggling to regather himself. Appears stiff when facing vertical rushes. Impatient and will panic if a defender does start to crowd him. Grip strength, hand placement and carrying out blocks are areas that need to be improved upon. He can struggle to engage athletic defenders at the second level. Works with technique on pass sets but loses that technique suddenly at the high point of the pass rush.
Final Word: Wanogho possesses overall athleticism with terrific feet, power in his hands and a frame that most offensive tackles would kill for, but he is raw with his technique and his instincts are a work in progress, projecting as a starting tackle with an impressive ceiling if everything clicks.
Fit Likelihood: High
13. Saahdiq Charles | LSU | #77 | Junior | Jackson, MS | 6041 | 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
Career: Started 28 games over the course of three years with the Tigers. Part of an offensive line that won the 2019 Joe Moore Award for best OL in college football.
Red Flags: Suspended for six games during the 2019 season. Had shoulder surgery in 2018. Significant character red flags may take him off some draft boards.
Strengths: Solid athlete. Effortless lateral quickness with light feet. Balanced center of gravity in his kickslide. Flexible hips to react to inside moves. Uses his length to meet rushers mid-shuffle. Plays with good pad level. Aggressive run blocker, latching and running his feet. Silky smooth out in space. Mean streak and plays with an attitude.
Weaknesses: Needs time to transform his body for the NFL, adding functional strength. Wild technique and often finds himself out of position. Caught leaning and doesn’t have a firm grasp on timing. Needs to tighten up his punch and handwork, leaving his chest open for rushers. Needs to better sink his hips to strengthen his anchor.
Final Word: Charles is an impressive athlete who possesses exceptional movement skills and movement skills in the pass and run-blocking, but he lacks the strength in his hands and finishing tenacity, projecting as a low-end starting left tackle as long as he can stay clean with any off-the-field issues.
Fit Likelihood: High
14. Hakeem Adeniji | Kansas | #78 | Senior | Garland, TX | 6043 | 308
40-Yard Dash: 5.17 seconds
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical Jump: 34 inches
Broad Jump: 115 inches
3-Cone Drill: 8.32 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 5.08 seconds
Career: Played both right tackle and left tackle during his Kansas career. Started 48 straight games for the Jayhawks.
Red Flags: Tore both labrums in 2017.
Strengths: Thick bodied frame with long arms. Excellent kick slide, foot quickness and mirror ability to beat edge rushers and stay in front of them. Wide base and power in his punch to stymie defenders at point of attack. Core strength to anchor at shallow depth. Comfortable climbing to the second level. High football IQ.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent punch timing, exposing his chest a lot to defenders. Pad level can be inconsistent at times. Hand placement requires fine tuning. Not a mauler in the run game. Needs to better sink and roll his hips instead of relying on his upper body.
Final Word: Adeniji is a quick, reactive athlete that possesses sound hands and footwork as well as the discipline in pass protection, but he doesn’t have the ideal amount of power to stymie NFL-level defenders, projecting as a high-upside backup tackle or guard in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
15. Jack Driscoll | Auburn | #71 | RS Senior | Madison, CT | 6045 | 306
40-Yard Dash: 5.02 seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: 29.5 inches
Broad Jump: 114 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Transferred to Auburn from Massachusetts. Started 45 straight games between playing at Auburn and Massachusetts. Played only right tackle for Auburn, but has experience on the other side of the center.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: Sound footwork and lateral kick sliding to get depth off the line to cut off pass-rush angles. Handwork accuracy is precise to fend off counters. Good lower body strength to anchor. Always on alert to recognize additional blitzers. Stretches well on outside runs. Range to get to the second level with ease, latching onto linebackers and finishing. High football IQ.
Weaknesses: Average size and length. Has hip tightness, leaving him off balanced. Won’t overwhelm defenders, lacking power at the point of attack in his punch. Hand placement can be too wide at times, leaving his chest open. Marginal push as a run-blocker.
Final Word: Driscoll is a battle-tested player with an ideal combination of footwork and quickness who adapts to his opponent throughout the game, but his lack of strength and length hinders him, projecting as a backup right tackle with the ability to kick inside to guard in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
16. Tyre Phillips | Mississippi State | #78 | RS Senior | Grenada, MS | 6050 | 331
40-Yard Dash: 5.37 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical Jump: 25 inches
Broad Jump: 93 inches
3-Cone Drill: 8.17 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 5.11 seconds
Career: Transferred to Mississippi State from East Mississippi Community College. Only one year of starting at the FBS level. Started 13 games at left tackle for the Bulldogs.
Red Flags: N/A
Strengths: Massive frame. Keeps his balance at contact, staying attached to blocks. Quick out of his stance to achieve angles and clear lanes. Upper body power to shock defenders at contact. Gets his hooks into defenders to redirect. Plus awareness, especially on combo blocks. Generates movement in the run game, clearing running room.
Weaknesses: Carries sloppy weight. Inconsistent depth on his kick slide. High pads and needs to use better knee bend in his pass-sets. Can get a bit heavy-footed, not being able to recover in pass protection if the defender quickly decides to alter his path to the quarterback. Can have late hands, leaving his chest exposed.
Final Word: Phillips is a large, strong, physical tackle who is an adept run blocker, mauling through defenders with his powerful hands and has the tools to be a solid pass-protector, but he needs to refine his pass blocking techniques, projecting as a backup tackle or guard with the ability to start down the road.
Fit Likelihood: Low
17. Charlie Heck | North Carolina | #67 | RS Senior | Kansas City, MO | 6075 | 311
40-Yard Dash: 5.16 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 28 inches
Broad Jump: 112 inches
3-Cone Drill: 8.02 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.86 seconds
Career: Comes from a family of offensive linemen and his dad is currently a coach for the Chiefs. Started 34 career games while at UNC.
Red Flags: Broke his hand in 2019.
Strengths: Coordinated big man with adequate size, length and height. Uses his length, hip torque and awareness to keep rushers occupied. Shows to excel when reaching the second level. Executes well on down/reach blocks. Plays with a nasty streak. Impressive production.
Weaknesses: Caught ducking his head on blocking attempts in the run game. Can be a half-sec late to get his hands up, leaving his chest open for defenders. Weak initial punch. Struggles to gain depth on his kick slide. Tendency to bend at the waist, leaving helmet out in front of toes. Can be a bit late to recognize stunts/twists.
Final Word: Heck has good athletic traits and decent movement skills for someone of his size, as well as an aggressive mentality to take it to his opponents, but his balance, ability to sustain blocks, and pass protect with sound technique are not up to par, projecting as a swing tackle.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
18. Alex Taylor | South Carolina State | #73 | RS Senior | Moncks Corner, SC | 6083 | 308
40-Yard Dash: 5.09 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 25 inches
Broad Jump: 116 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.77 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.79 seconds
Career: Transferred to South Carolina State from Appalachian State. Two year starter.
Red Flags: Former basketball player who has been rumored to love hoops more than football.
Strengths: Excellent body, long arms, big hands. Solid technician — efficient mover with clean feet and a fluid kick-slide to get depth and take away edge speed. Understands leverage and positioning and keeps working to seal lanes. High football IQ, showing ability to locate blitzes. Strong personal and football character.
Weaknesses: Very thin-framed with minimal lower-body strength and power. Struggles to establish a low pad level due to height. Overaggressive with his hands, leaving his chest open for defenders. Inability to generate movement in the run game.
Final Word: Taylor is an athletic blocker who possesses the length, footwork, and flexibility to create a wide arc for pass rushers, but his taller stature leads to leverage issues and he can struggle to sustain blocks, projecting as a developmental tackle in a zone scheme.
Fit Likelihood: High
19. Trey Adams | Washington | #71 | RS Senior | Wenatchee, WA | 6080 | 318
40-Yard Dash: 5.60 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 24.5 inches
Broad Jump: 92 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Started over 40 games during his career at Washington. Formerly a top prospect but saw his draft stock fall off the map after significant injuries.
Red Flags: Missed most of 2018 due to a back surgery. Missed half of 2017 due to a torn ACL.
Strengths: Humongous frame with above average length. Plays with good functional strength. Works to reach his landmarks and find proper position. Uses his reach as shock absorbers to withstand speed-to-power moves. Plus leg strength and can drive defenders off the spot. Uses adequate footwork in the run game to go with a powerful base.
Weaknesses: Athleticism is lacking. Plays tall and bends at the waist. Poor hand placement and invites rushers into his frame. Little sustain and more of a get-in-the-way blocker. Head ducker and loses sight of his target. Late to locate and reach second level defenders. Major durability concerns.
Final Word: Adams is a long, wide-framed tackle who possesses the strength in his hands, footwork and body control to stymie defenders in the pass and run-blocking department, but he lacks flexibility and plays too tall as well as having major durability concerns, projecting as a swing tackle.
Fit Likelihood: Medium
20. Yasir Durant | Missouri | #70 | Senior | Philadelphia, PA | 6060 | 331
40-Yard Dash: 5.52 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 25 inches
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Transferred to Missouri from Arizona Western Community College. Started 33 career games while at Missouri.
Red Flags: Missed a game in 2019 due to a neck injury.
Strengths: Broad shoulders, thick hips and proportionate bulk. Long arms to cut off speed rushers, creating a wider arc. Wide, balanced base in his pass-sets, anchors well. Flashes the upper body strength to control defenders and seal run lanes. Always alert and aware to pick up blitzers.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent punch timing. Hand use is a mess: tardy, wide and inaccurate. Inconsistent depth in his kick slide, waist-bender. Doesn’t control the point of attack like he should, often lunging and relying on his upper body, struggling to sustain blocks. Lacks a mean streak.
Final Word: Durant has remarkable physical ability with his size and length to keep defenders at bay as well as power to create movement in the run game, but he is mechanically undeveloped and struggles to sustain blocks, projecting as a swing tackle or guard.
Fit Likelihood: Low
