2025 NFL Draft: OT Rankings
1
Armand Membou
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 332 lbs
Strengths:
Membou is an elite athlete at the OT position. His tape was a lot of fun to watch. He gets into his pass sets with such ease. The agility is there to perfectly mirror speed rushers, adjusting as he needs to any sort of move they try to pull. Of course, this also translates nicely to the run game. Membou easily can pull across the line to seal up the backside. In space, he is quickly able to locate and get to his moving targets, landing a firm blow when he arrives. When it comes to strength, there is a good amount present in his game. He sets a firm anchor, and when he gets beaten, he has the agility to recover and the strength to quickly re-establish his anchor. His footwork is smooth in both phases, which helps him limit mistakes. He is also very calm when getting into his kickslide, and doesn’t panic at any point or make unforced errors.
Weaknesses:
Membou gets a pass for length, but some matchup will be tougher than others. Against longer opponents, there have been times where he found it more challenging to sustain his anchor, and the rusher was able to slip off. But his recovery athleticism does come in handy and bail him out in a lot of these instances. Still, it is a crack that is present in his game. Once in a while, when defending against speed, his momentum will be used against him with an inside counter. His strength is good, but not quite elite. Similar to with his arm length, certain matchups may be a bit tougher than others. It is a bit of a nitpick, but worth mentioning. A correctable issue that he has is his timing and placement with his hands, which can sometimes be off.
Summary:
Membou is an elite athlete, showing the ability to mirror rushers and block on the move. With many offensive line prospects with this kind of athleticism, they are often quite deficient when it comes to strength. Though Membou might not be elite in this category, it is still quite good. This combination of traits makes for a sky high ceiling, giving him the potential to be one of the elite players in the game at his position. His length is good but not great, but he does a good job of working around it when it does cause some problems. There are some technical things he can clean up, mostly to do with hand usage, but there aren’t a ton of issues in his game. Membou should be a good starter on day 1.
| Grade: 90.0 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Will Campbell
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 319 lbs
Strengths:
Not only does Campbell have a nice blend of strength, power, and athleticism, he also possesses the kind of mean streak that offensive line coaches search for. He plays a tough game, and is always looking to dish out maximum punishment with each block. Campbell sets a firm anchor in the passing game, and can match the power of strong opponents. His athleticism allows him to mirror speed around the edge, and gives him the ability to adjust and recover when beaten. His athleticism is also evident in the run game, where he does well when asked to get into space. But as good as he is on the move, it is hard not to like him best in a phone booth, where it is just old school football in the trenches. Campbell excels in those situations, showing the ability to plough his opponent out of the way to open up a running lane.
Weaknesses:
Campbell is still coming along when it comes to technique, as well as harnessing his aggressiveness properly. His pad level becomes elevated on too many occasions and this, combined with average arm length, leads to times where he gets pushed backwards. The issue also shows up as a run blocker, which can prevent him from generating the kind of power he wants. Campbell has good athleticism to protect against speed. However, sometimes he overdoes it. He will overset, and savvy rushers will take advantage with an inside counter. Sloppy hand technique can lead to some inconsistencies in both the passing and running game.
Summary:
Campbell is a mauler with good strength, power, and athleticism. The abilities and traits fit the demeanour, which has led to some eye catching blocks. He can handle bull rushes and speed around the edge. As well, he can run block in a phone booth or on the move. The capabilities are all there. Inconsistent technique, such as an elevated pad level, sloppy footwork, and poor hand placement/timing have led to some negative plays. As well, there are times where oversets and various mental lapses show up. There are some warts to his game, but most of them can be fixed. The one thing that can’t be is his arm length, which isn’t bad, but isn’t great either. Ultimately, Campbell should be a good starter early on. His traits give him a solid foundation, and as he irons out the technical kinks, he should be able to play at a high level with consistency. You might see some mistakes as a rookie, but the good definitely outweighs the bad, in this case.
| Grade: 86.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Kelvin Banks
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 315 lbs
Strengths:
Banks has a great blend of traits and the upside to become a high end starter at either OT or G. His strength is probably what stands out the most. A generous amount of forward push is created when he is blocking downhill in the run game. As well, the ability to anchor in pass protection shows up, with some reps showing him completely stonewalling his opponent. His athleticism is also good–maybe shy of elite–but good nonetheless. He has the quickness to mirror speedier rushers around the arc, and good enough length to also help him widen that curve that they have to bend around. Banks can block on the move in the run game. Whether on pulls across the line, or the blocks in space that require him to get upfield. With a head of steam, he’ll make sure to blow up his target if he gets the chance to land one.
Weaknesses:
Banks has all the tools, but is still raw when it comes to his technique. His hand placement is off, and missed strikes lead to him ending up off balance, which opens up an opportunity for his opponent. Banks also sees his pad level elevate, and has allowed his opponent to get under his shoulders and drive forward on a good handful of occasions. The agility is there for him to protect against speed around the edge. However, his footwork can be sloppy at times, and he doesn’t always get enough depth on his sets. Inconsistencies when it comes to sustaining blocks show up in the run game, as well as in pass protection. This, again, is due to sloppy technique, which sometimes causes him to either slip off, or concede leverage to his opponent.
Summary:
Banks has the tools to be a very good starter at either OT or G, even if he has spent all of his time at LT up to this point. At his best, he is anchoring in pass protection, or mirroring speed rushers around the edge. In the run game, he can create significant movement, or block in space if asked to. The problem is that his poor technique means that the great plays show up in flashes, but have some struggles mixed in. At the end of the day, I do think he has a chance to start on day 1, but there very well could be growing pains. As he gains experience and cleans up his technique, he should be able to settle in and be a high end starter. Early on, he is probably better in the run game.
| Grade: 84.7 | Round Grade: 2nd |
4
Josh Conerly
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 311 lbs
Strengths:
Conerly is a good athlete who is very smooth in his pass sets. He easily is able to mirror quick and bendy rushers that are usually good at threatening around the edge. His footwork is outstanding. Very clean, and it helps give him a chance to recover after an initial loss. Conerly is good when asked to kick out and block in space for a screen pass. His arm length is good, and helps prevent a lack of leverage that would lead to quick losses. In addition to good footwork, Conerly is good with his hand technique. He isn’t affected when feisty rushers attempt to swipe away his hands. Instead, he fends off their attempts and is able to keep his hands in a good position.
Weaknesses:
Conerly will need to get stronger, as he transitions to the next level. As it stands, he gets few wins purely due to his strength. In pass protection, he can survive against power rushers, but he really has to battle to avoid a loss. As well, his best run blocking comes on the move. When operating downhill closer to home base, most of his best reps are just stalemates. Conerly has good mirroring ability, but there are instances of oversets, which open up the inside counter moves for the defender.
Summary:
Conerly has the athleticism and length to make it at the next level, but is probably scheme specific. He will need to get stronger regardless, but I’m not sure he’ll be at the point where he can operate in a power-based scheme. He’s a much better fit for a zone scheme. At this point, he has enough strength to stalemate, but won’t bully his opponent into a win. Still, his mirroring ability and blocking in space are both high level aspects of his game. I’m not sure he is quite ready yet, but Conerly should soon be a starter, in the right system.
| Grade: 82.1 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Ozzy Trapilo
School: Boston College
Ht/Wt: 6’8”, 316 lbs
Strengths:
Trapilo passes the eye test on tape. He has a tall frame and seems to have enough strength to set a firm anchor in pass protection. His hand placement is good, and he is able to get a good jab or two to throw off the rush plan. Trapilo does well to stay centred and square up his frame to that of his opponent. He has functional athleticism, which allows him to hold his own against speed rushers, and execute some simpler pulls. As a run blocker, he does well to angle defenders away from the play, which opens up a good lane for the ball carrier. Trapilo has experience at LT and RT.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism is okay, but not in the high end tier. In my exposures, he wasn’t asked to get too far away from home. Laterally, he can be a little stiff, so it was probably better off. This stiffness also shows up when he is matched against speed. If he doesn’t land the initial strike, he is more vulnerable to getting beat. But this, in turn, leads to some oversets, which invites an inside move. Trapilo has decent strength, but could improve his grip strength a little bit. As well, I’d like to see more power in his game, especially as a downhill run blocker.
Summary:
There is something about Trapoli’s game. He doesn’t really have elite traits or make eye popping plays. But he quietly is just solid and reliable. His athleticism is functional, but probably not good enough to be relied on all the time. As well, it would be nice if he could add more strength to create more outright wins. The good news is that he seems to have a tall frame with more room to further bulk up. Trapilo doesn’t wow you in any one area, but he is solid enough, in an all around sense, to compete for a starting spot right away. As he continues to get stronger, and refine his overall technique, Trapilo could be a good starter at RT.
| Grade: 81.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
Josh Simmons
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 317 lbs
Strengths:
Simmons has solid movement skills and enough strength to handle higher end edge rushers. At his best, he is mirroring guys around the edge, and showing the slide quickness to adjust to keep any counter moves from beating him. He’s got decent enough strength to anchor, and also shows the ability to move people in the run game. Even against stronger opponents, Simmons still does well to position himself in a way that allows him to use leverage to his advantage and angle his opponent out of the way. Simmons is capable of blocking on the move, and has shown good speed when getting in front of the ball carrier and into space. Brings experience at both tackle positions.
Weaknesses:
Simmons has the strength to initially neutralize power rushers. However, he doesn’t have great grip strength to sustain consistently. Worker bee defensive linemen are able to chip away at him. Sometimes he is just able to hang on long enough, but other times, they break free. His athleticism is an asset against speed, but he doesn’t always seem to trust it. Simmons has a tendency to abandon his footwork when he doesn’t trust his speed to be sufficient enough to protect the edge. Stunts and late blitzes also seem to catch him off guard sometimes, which also leads to an abandonment of technique. A knee injury ended his season after only 5 games, so the medicals will be something to monitor.
Summary:
Simmons has a decent blend of athleticism and strength to be a good player in pass protection and as a run blocker. However, his grip strength has led to some iffy moments with near losses, as well as some outright losses. Going forward, he will need to learn to trust his technique and physical abilities more, and not get sloppy when a sense of panic sets in. I think he still needs some time, and might still be a bit green. That said, he should be able to develop into a starter within the next couple of years. Enough traits are there, and good coaching should be able to steer him in the right direction.
| Grade: 80.0 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
Charles Grant
School: William & Mary
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 311 lbs
Strengths:
Grant is an elite athlete at the OT position, and also brings elite arm length with him. Starting with his athleticism, it is what stands out from the first second you turn on his tape. He glides effortlessly in his pass set, quickly and efficiently defending around the arc. Grant has the ability to mirror the best speed rushers, and his arm length only helps in widening their arc. He also has clean footwork, which limits the areas where speed rushers can expose him. His effortless movement skills also translate beautifully to the run game, specifically when asked to pull or get out vertically in front of the ball carrier. He is quick to get to the other side and seal up the edge, and can stack up blocks when he climbs up to the second level.
Weaknesses:
Grant has elite athleticism, but doesn’t come close to matching that in power. His frame is tall and lean, and power rushers really pushed him to his limit. The scheme their offense ran helped to hide his deficiencies in this area. This issue is compounded when you factor in the extremely low level of competition he faced. If a rusher was able to test him at that level, you would have to add in a multiplier to project the damage that would have been done at the NFL level. The jump in competition, no doubt, will be a big adjustment for him. The issues are mostly the same in the run game. Not a lot of power or forward movement. Grant instead gets by with his athleticism and good technique putting him in the right places, as well as being in a zone scheme, which limited his downhill tasks.
Summary:
Grant is an elite athlete with elite length, making him an intriguing target for teams that have implemented a zone running scheme. He has clean technique, which is impressive for a small school guy, and he can mirror the quickest rushers. But his effectiveness at the next level will depend on how well he can fill out his frame, and how much strength he will be able to add. At this point, it isn’t sufficient enough for the NFL level, and it is hard to see him being ready to see very many meaningful snaps as a rookie. I don’t anticipate that he will ever have enough power to really be scheme versatile, he can be a great player in a zone scheme if he can even just get up to functional. The upside is high, but patience will be needed, as he gets stronger and adjusts to the step up in competition level.
| Grade: 76.9 | Round Grade: 3rd |
8
Aireontae Ersery
School: Minnesota
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 331 lbs
Strengths:
Ersery has a tall, heavy frame, and brings enough power to be an asset in both phases of the game. He has shown the ability to stonewall bull rushers who think they can overrun him. And it is not just his strength, but also his willingness to go out and initiate contact. He packs a strong punch, and he wants to use that to his advantage before his opponent can really get anything going. In the run game, he will bulldoze guys right out of the way, opening up some nice running lanes. For a big guy, his athleticism is pretty solid. He has enough speed in his kickslide to be fairly effective protecting the arc, and his length further allows him to widen that angle for the defender.
Weaknesses:
Ersery is a fine athlete for his size, but isn’t perfect by any means. He has a top heavy build and isn’t great when it comes to twitch. Signs of stiffness show when he is moving laterally, whether in his slide or on the move as a blocker in space. For this reason, I like him better when blocking closer to home base. Ersery’s technique still needs some work, at this point. He consistently plays at a high pad level, and really has to strain to hold his anchor on some reps. On others, he gets dangerously close to holding. This issue has led to instances where the pocket collapses a little from his side. He can also be inconsistent with his hand placement. As well, he lunges, which leaves him vulnerable once his balance is gone.
Summary:
Ersery has enough tools in the toolbox to be a starter at the next level. His big frame and strength/power allow him to match up nicely against the rushers who have power of their own. He also has good length and functional athleticism. That said, he isn’t a perfect athlete, and issues with his technique will leave openings that defenders are able to exploit. Athletically, there are signs of stiffness, and I prefer him as a drive blocker, rather than someone who gets into space too often. While he played LT in college, I’d expect a move to the RT, where players with his combination of strengths and weaknesses typically end up. He’ll have to clean up the technical deficiencies, but he should at least be a solid starter.
| Grade: 76.8 | Round Grade: 3rd |
9
Anthony Belton
School: North Carolina State
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 326 lbs
Strengths:
Belton has a massive frame and the strength to over power his opponents. He has good length and will have the size advantage over most opponents. There were many times where Belton was just able to engulf, not even giving him a chance to get by. His length allows him to push speed rushers out the back door, and it makes the arc wider. Belton can be a bully in the run game at times. He opens up running lanes by ploughing his opponent right out of the way. At his best, he is creating a considerable amount of movement. In both phases, Belton can deliver a jarring hand strike, which can be devastating to a defensive lineman’s pursuit of the ball.
Weaknesses:
Belton is still quite raw when it comes to technique. For how strong he is, it was disappointing to see how often he negated a lot of it by playing at a high pad level. He will have to learn to keep it down. With how he currently plays, he set himself up to get pushed back quite often. The rusher was able to land a strike right in the centre of his chest, and then push forward. His athleticism is decent for his size, but nothing really special. I wouldn’t have him moving too far away from home, besides maybe the odd play. As well, he doesn’t have enough juice to mirror speed rushers or recover after an early loss. Belton plays the game with sloppy footwork, and doesn’t always have the best balance, which further hurts him in these situations. He also had instances of oversetting. The push/pull technique was one way that defensive players were able to take advantage.
Summary:
Belton’s massive frame is easy to like when you’re looking for an OT. He can engulf pass rushers, and his strength and length are both tools that can have him dominating reps. That being said, his technique prevents him from having as much success. His high pad level loses him leverage, and he gets pushed back, despite being the stronger player in most, if not, all of his matchups. As well, sloppy footwork and average athleticism take away from what he can do. In his game now, a lot of mistakes are evident. He will need time to develop, but Belton has enough going for him to have a chance to become a starting RT at some point down the line. If he can’t put it all together, his size and strength should earn him a depth role.
| Grade: 72.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
10
Logan Brown
School: Kansas
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 311 lbs
Strengths:
Brown is a high upside player thanks to the interesting blend of traits that he possesses. He is a great athlete. Speed is good, but he is also very fluid. This is what consistently stands out with Brown. At his best, he can mirror any speed rusher, and has the reactive athleticism to deal with any tricks that are thrown his way. He glides effortlessly up the field when needed to block at the second level. Brown can line up blocks one after the other, and hit his moving target. For having such a lean frame, I was surprised by the strength he displayed. Brown was able to hold a firm anchor quite often, and when he did lose, it was for reasons other than strength or power. Although his best run blocking is done on the move, he is capable of playing downhill, too. He won’t go and bowl anyone over, but he can certainly create forward movement.
Weaknesses:
Brown is a 1 year starter, and it shows with how raw his technique is. It was startling to see how often he let defenders cut across his frame and get through the gap. His pad level is high more often than not, and he lets rushers get under him, which gets him pushed back into the pocket. When threatened by speed, he abandons his footwork at times, despite having the athleticism to defend this type of attack. Brown gets beaten by swim moves, the push/pull, and various other inside counters. He bites on stutters and winds up lunging, which puts the rusher in a great spot. A lack of control also shows up in the run game, which makes him inconsistent when attempting to hit moving targets, as well as when he is blocking downhill.
Summary:
Brown is a classic case of a player having all of the physical tools, but a lot of technical problems. The high points of his tape are outstanding, and show a glimpse of what he can become. However, the low points can be frustrating. Right now, it has to be accepted that it will likely take some time. Brown should be considered a developmental prospect, and he sure has a lot that he’ll need to fix. That said, his athleticism is elite. Further, his strength is already good, and I think he can still add even more mass to his frame and get stronger. The technical issues make his floor low, and it is not a guarantee that players can overcome these issues. But his upside will make for an intriguing pick for any team willing to pull the trigger.
| Grade: 71.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
Emery Jones
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 315 lbs
Strengths:
Jones has a well built frame and has shown, in flashes, that he can be physically imposing. He has shown to be capable of moving people off of their spot when blocking in the run game. His arm length is good, which makes it tougher for his opponent to disengage. Jones packs a strong punch, which he effectively uses in pass protection. He’ll give you a jab, and will follow it up with another. There is a little nastiness in his game. Jones has the strength to anchor in pass protection. As well, if left unoccupied while protecting the passes, he will look for work and help out a teammate, if he can. When dialed in, he is tough to move. Jones has decent functional athleticism for the OT position, and his relative athleticism improves if you were to consider him a G.
Weaknesses:
Jones needs to play a cleaner, more controlled game. There are instances of lunging, or other times where he’ll just whiff on his hand strike before winding up off balance. Although he packs a strong punch, Jones still allows defenders to swipe at his hands and have success in freeing up the middle of his frame. At that point, he is in a position to be walked backwards by a bull rushing DE. Jones has functional athleticism, but overall, it is nothing really worth writing home about. He won’t get destroyed on every play by speed, but he will have his losses. As well, there are times where threatening speed rushers cause him to abandon his technique. His footwork really takes a nosedive. Jones will also need to improve his grip strength. Especially in the run game, there were too many times where he would just slip off the block in the middle of the battle. This, again, comes down to needing to play with more control.
Summary:
Jones is a big and strong player, but plays the game with poor technique and has athleticism that gets a pass, but will not make him stand out positively. At his best, he is anchoring in pass protection and paving running lanes as a downhill blocker. However, his inability to fend off hand fighting, as well as a high pad level, allows defenders to collapse the pocket. As well, speed rushers are always capable of giving him a go around the edge. At the end of the day, he’ll need to play a much more controlled game, and sustain his blocks more consistently. Perhaps he moves inside to G at the next level, where he can stay closer to home without having to worry about speed around the edge. But I do think he can make it at RT, given his strength and long arms. His ceiling likely is higher at G, however. In any event, Jones has the makings of a solid, but unspectacular pro. If he can improve his technique, he can be a fine starter at either position, and even with some issues lingering, he should at least be a good depth option.
| Grade: 70.9 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Myles Hinton
School: Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6’7”, 323 lbs
Strengths:
Hinton has a nice blend of traits, showing off good movement skills and a nice amount of power and strength. He has the ability to anchor against some of the bigger guys he’ll face. When he is on his game, his feet are dug in firmly, and opposition power isn’t a threat. Hinton’s athleticism allows him to mirror various rushes and protect the edge against speed. Both traits translate nicely in the run game. He can block downhill and create a lot of push. He actually finishes really well, continuing to dive his opponent forward right until the whistle. As a blocker in space, he has the speed and quickness to hit those targets, and his strong finishing was also evident here. He put some guys right on the ground. Hinton has a bit of versatility to him, starting games at both LT and RT.
Weaknesses:
The traits are all visible with Hinton, but at this point, his game is filled with too many mistakes. Despite the raw strength he possesses, he sometimes has a tough time sustaining his blocks. Technique is to blame here more than anything else. His pad level gets a bit high, and his hand technique is also unrefined. There were also multiple times where he was considerably slow to get out of his stance off of the snap. For an extra split second, he would still be sitting there, which obviously puts him at a disadvantage on those plays. The issues sustaining blocks were present in his run blocking as well as pass blocking, and some whiffs were also there.
Summary:
Hinton has all the traits to be a successful player in the league. His strength/power is enough to anchor in pass protection against tough competition, and can send guys flying when he is run blocking. If not for sloppy technique, he could be a day 1 starter, but that, unfortunately, is not the case. Issues with his footwork and hand technique have led to inconsistencies when it comes to sustaining blocks, both in the pass and run game. He actually had some quick losses because of it. As well, his bad habit of being late out of his stance after the snap will get him in a lot of trouble if it is not fixed. Hinton is a work in progress, at this point, but the upside is there. Obviously, with these kinds of players, there is risk, and the development doesn’t always work out. But he has starter upside if a team is able to successfully develop him and improve his technique. He might go on day 3, and he could be a solid value pick.
| Grade: 70.9 | Round Grade: 4th |
13
Chase Lundt
School: Connecticut
Ht/Wt: 6’8”, 304 lbs
Strengths:
Lundt is a nimble, athletic OT prospect, who comes with plenty of upside. He has the athleticism to mirror speed rushers around the arc. Really, from an athletic standpoint, he is capable of whatever you might need of him. He has recovery speed, enough twitch to effectively block in space etc. The flashes have been quite good, where he is able to stay square to his opponent, play with clean footwork, and good hand technique. When all that combines with his athleticism, the output is very favourable. As a blocker on the move in the run game, his ability to change directions allowed him to hit moving targets, and he had enough speed to climb to the second level in time. Though power isn’t his calling card, there were flashes of it. He has some instances where he was able to anchor and not give up any ground, as well as times where he could generate some movement in the downhill run game.
Weaknesses:
Lundt is still a raw prospect from a technical standpoint. It wasn’t all bad, as he showed to be capable of playing a sound technical game. Consistency was the issue. On some plays, his footwork was smooth. On others, it would get pretty sloppy. Lunges were also a frequent part of his game, and he exposed his rush edges to be passed through by the rusher. Lunges were also present in the run game. As well, there were times where he would overrun his target, and others where a bad angle prevented him from getting there. Lundt has a tall frame that is a bit on the leaner side. He could stand to add some strength, which should allow him to play with more power.
Summary:
Lundt is a highly athletic player who has put together flashes of a good all around game. However, inconsistencies in his technique has led to some bad losses, and will make him tougher to trust earlier on. As well, though he is not overmatched when it comes to power, he could stand to add some. Lundt has good developmental upside, and can become a starter if he is able to iron out the kinks and play a more consistent game. Otherwise, he might end up as a swing tackle.
| Grade: 68.9 | Round Grade: 5th |
14
Cameron Williams
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 317 lbs
Strengths:
Williams has a massive frame and great length. Just that on its own makes it a challenge for rushers to get around him. For his size, I was impressed with his functional athleticism. He isn’t this crazy athlete, but given his size, it was an asset more than it was a liability, which is good. Enough quickness is present in his pass sets to combine it with his long reach and keep rushers from being able to turn the corner. Williams has a strong jab, and can get a good bit of push as a run blocker. As far as blocking on the move goes, he won’t be doing anything overly complicated, but he can do some stuff in space.
Weaknesses:
Williams has some good traits, but is raw and unrefined. His technique is quite sloppy at this point, which leads to some losses. In pass protection, his size will do the trick early in the rep. However, his hands seem to get complacent, and he allows his opponent to get by him with a swim move. Dip/rip moves have also caused him trouble, and the best he can do once beaten is revert to holding, or let him go. His athleticism is alright, but he is not immune to speed rushers beating him around the edge. For a bigger guy, I was disappointed with the lack of power he demonstrated. He creates some push in the run game, but isn’t overly dominant. In pass protection, he had more stalemates, many of which turned into losses due to a high pad level.
Summary:
The size, reach, and functional athleticism work in his favour, but overall, Williams is still very raw. Savvy rushers take advantage of his unrefined technique, and can beat him in a variety of ways. As well, the amount of power he played with wasn’t what it should have been. He has the frame to add some more mass, so getting stronger will be something he needs to do. As well, he’ll need some time to improve his technique before he is ready for game action. Williams has some upside, but is a developmental guy, who may one day be a starter or valuable depth piece.
| Grade: 67.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
15
Branson Taylor
School: Pitt
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 321 lbs
Strengths:
Taylor is a tall, well built tackle with the strength to handle some of the most powerful rushers. He sets a nice, firm anchor, and has shown stonewalling ability. On some of his wins, he doesn’t just win, he really dominates the play, eliminating his opponent from relevance. Taylor looks to initiate contact to maximize his chances of gaining enough leverage to have that kind of impact on the play. He blocks well in a phone booth, both in pass protection and the run game. In the run game, his downhill drive is clearly visible on a regular basis. The mentality is the same as it is in pass protection. You have to love the mean streak. He’ll create early push, and continue to drive his opponent forward, way out of the play. Taylor has experience at RT and LT, while also possessing a skill set that should translate to G. Versatility should not be an issue.
Weaknesses:
For Taylor, athleticism is the big one here. He has some significant struggles stopping speed rushers around the edge. When the mismatch in athleticism is too big, there are several reps where he’ll abandon technique and end up with his back facing the line of scrimmage, as he makes a desperate attempt to push the rusher out the back door. Taylor will also end up flat footed at times, and be very vulnerable to different moves, such as an arm over. There were also instances where a rusher was able to effectively use the dip/rip move to beat him. In the run game, he is good downhill, but I wouldn’t want him regularly blocking on the move, besides on short pulls. Taylor is coming off a season ending knee injury.
Summary:
Taylor’s game is one of two tales. The first is high end strength and power, while the other is of low end athleticism and movement skills. His power should still allow him to play RT in a power based scheme, where his athletic limitations will be somewhat mitigated. However, his highest ceiling may be at G. His drafting team will have to make that decision. Either way, he has some technical aspects to clean up. Taylor has low end starter upside, but projects more safely as a solid depth guy.
| Grade: 65.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
16
Hollin Pierce
School: Rutgers
Ht/Wt: 6’8”, 341 lbs
Strengths:
When you turn on the tape, you can tell right away that he is going to be bullying people–and he doesn’t disappoint. Pierce has a towering frame, and his mass and strength are both equally amazing. Anchoring in pass protection is a breeze for him. He packs a strong punch to stunt their rush plan, and when it gets down to it, he’ll completely stonewall the attempt, refusing to be pushed back even a tiny bit. Pierce is a road grader in the run game. Going downhill, he’ll plough right through his opponent, moving him well off his spot, opening up a nice running lane. His arm length and wingspan are both in the elite of the elite category. This allows him to really add an extra element to his blocks, helping him sustain them. As well, it also helps him widen the path that speed rushers take to the QB.
Weaknesses:
Pierce passes the size and strength test with flying colours, but fails the athleticism test. He is a lumbering mover that will be exposed by speedy and bendy rushers. The lateral mobility isn’t even close to some of his opponents, and there were instances where they blew right by him, almost before he could even get out of his stance. Further, there are times where he would set out to protect around the edge, and he would get smoked by a spin move, or another inside counter, giving the rusher a direct path to the QB. In the run game, he won’t make an impact as a blocker on the move. Not ideal, but it is what it is.
Summary:
Pierce brings elite strength, power, and size to the table. His flashes of dominance while being bull rushed or while run blocking downhill are just outstanding. However, because his athleticism is so bad, some of the losses look just as bad as his wins do good. This isn’t to say that there aren’t technical aspects he can clean up in order to improve, but overall, he feels like a “what you see is what you get” kind of prospect. The strengths will be there, as will the weaknesses. In a power based scheme, he might be able to get by, but with his limitations against speed, I question if he has the upside to become a starter. It is hard to say. But with the tools he has to work with, teams certainly will be willing to try, and they should at least be enough to land him a role as a backup.
| Grade: 63.1 | Round Grade: 6th |
17
Carson Vinson
School: Alabama A&M
Ht/Wt: 6’7”, 314 lbs
Strengths:
Vinson has a tall frame with good length. When it comes to these kinds of players, they are often leggy and stiff movers, but Vinson is actually quite mobile. He has the ability to mirror rushers around the edge, matching whatever move they might throw at him. His natural length further widens the arc and can make it difficult for rushers that are lacking bend. Pulling across the line is easy. He gets out of his stance quickly and is efficient in getting to where he needs to go. Vinson also does well when needed to climb to the second level. He gets upfield quickly and possesses the quickness to adjust to moving targets.
Weaknesses:
Vinson has a lean frame and is lacking when it comes to strength and power. Even with a head of steam, he doesn’t generate much as a run blocker, and is more so a stalemate or “get in the way” type of blocker. Stalemates make up most of his better reps in protection too, when he is fully engaged in a block, and not mirroring and keeping his opponent at an arm’s length. He gets bull rushed too often, having the pocket collapse from his position. From a technical standpoint, he is still quite raw. There are a lot of oversets and lunges, and inside counter moves have been a good method of victory for his opponents. His hands are also late getting up at times, and the placement is often too wide. Something to also consider here is the lower level of competition that he faced in most of his games. The jump will be steep at the next level.
Summary:
Vinson is a developmental OT at the next level. His length and athleticism make him a worthwhile option somewhere later in the draft. He has a ways to go, both in terms of strength needing to be added and technical refinement. As well, the step up in competition likely adds to the transition period. He doesn’t really have any issues that aren’t fixable, which does give him starter upside. Of course, an issue being fixable doesn’t always guarantee that it will be fixed. But the upside is there, nevertheless, and Vinson will be best suited on a team that has the luxury of being patient and taking him along slowly. In time, he should be able to develop into a swing tackle, and if all goes well, he might just end up starting.
| Grade: 60.3 | Round Grade: 6th |
18
Jack Nelson
School: Wisconsin
Ht/Wt: 6’7”, 314 lbs
Strengths:
Nelson has a tall frame and possesses decent movement skills for his size. There were flashes on tape where he was able to hold his own against some speed trying to get around the edge. He moves pretty well in space and has shown to be capable of hitting moving targets. In both phases, Nelson plays with good hand technique, timing up his strikes nicely, and landing them accurately. Nelson enters the NFL with some versatility, having OT and G experience as a starter.
Weaknesses:
Nelson doesn’t bring much of a power element. In the run game, he struggles to generate forward movement, and can be hit or miss in short yardage situations. In pass protection, aggressive rushers force his pad level higher and have him straining to hang on. There were some bad beats with inside moves, a couple of which got his QB blown up. Nelson is a decent athlete, but is inconsistent when it comes to protecting against speed. On some plays, he panics and abandons his footwork, and looks more like he is chasing the guy, rather than being in his kickslide. Instances of overextending have also led to some quick losses.
Summary:
Nelson has height and decent athleticism as a baseline of traits to work with. He flashes of good technique, but tends to sway away from it in times of trouble. As well, he doesn’t have much power in his game. The technique will need to be improved, and he could also stand to get stronger. At this point, Nelson is a developmental project who might have future potential if he can eliminate some bad habits from his game.
| Grade: 58.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
19
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
School: Florida
Ht/Wt: 6’7”, 316 lbs
Strengths:
Crenshaw-Dickson has good length and a tall frame, which he effectively uses to box defenders out when they try to rush the passer. He isn’t the most physically imposing player, but he can neutralize power when he is on his game. Similarly, he isn’t the quickest guy, but when his footwork is clean, he is capable of following a rusher around the arc. There have been flashes of power in the run game, and there are instances where he can create some forward drive with his legs. Crenshaw-Dickson can execute basic pulls and is capable in space. He enters the NFL having experience at RT and LT.
Weaknesses:
Crenshaw-Dickson has traits that give him enough to get by, but he doesn’t stand out as being physically gifted. While he can do some basic stuff in space, there are limitations to his mobility. As well, he shows some flashes of power, and can neutralize some that his opponent might have, but he isn’t overly imposing. His wins are okay, but nothing flashy, and his traits won’t make up for bad technique. His technique, speaking of it, has been good in spurts. When everything is clean, he generally holds his own. However, there are inconsistencies. His footwork can be a mess just one play after a good rep. As well, failed hand strikes and poor positioning/timing with his hands have led to some quick losses.
Summary:
If Crenshaw-Dickson can turn his flashes of good technique into more consistency, I wouldn’t put it past him to become a middling starter. However, he projects as a backup that can come in and be generally reliable. His physical traits aren’t bad in that they’ll run him out of the league, but they don’t set him apart in any way. When his technique is good, he is pretty reliable, but there are still a lot of inconsistencies at this point. The limited upside will likely push him down boards, but if he can clean things up, and perhaps even show that he can play G, he’s got the chance to stick around in the league.
| Grade: 57.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
20
Jalen Travis
School: Iowa State
Ht/Wt: 6’8”, 339 lbs
Strengths:
Travis has a long reach and a big frame, which makes it very difficult for defenders to go around him. Even when there is a speed mismatch, the route is longer and less efficient than it would be with other players at OT. Travis has decent grip strength when he is able to latch on. You don’t see him just outright getting pushed back very often. He enters the NFL having experience at both LT and RT.
Weaknesses:
Travis is lacking when it comes to foot speed and quickness. Even shorter pulls across the line are difficult for him, and it is a coinflip as to whether he can reach the other side in time. I wouldn’t want him blocking upfield in space, as he doesn’t have the agility to redirect and adjust to moving targets. For such a big guy, he plays with little power. He doesn’t get overpowered, but that might be a positive for a smaller or leaner OT. A big guy like Travis should be more physically imposing. It would be nice to see more push as a downhill run blocker. In pass protection, he can do slightly better than stalemate, but bad technique hinders him and leads to losses. He struggles to consistently centre his frame to his opponent, and can get twisted around. Inside counter moves have been effective against him, and a high pad level and poor hand placement has caused him to concede much of his leverage.
Summary:
Travis has the size and length that you look for in an OT. However, he lacks athleticism and is average at best when it comes to strength. If he can clean up his technique, he might be able to generate power with more consistency. The size will earn him some looks, and there is hope that he can develop in some areas. He likely has too much to overcome to be a starter, but he has enough tools to potentially become a backup RT. If he can show he can play G, it would help his chances.
| Grade: 55.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
21
Ajani Cornelius
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 310 lbs
Strengths:
Cornelius brings good length to the table, and has the ability to deliver punishing hand strikes to his opponent, knocking him off stride in his pass rush. He plays the game with a mean streak, always looking to dish it out. Cornelius has good straight line speed which allows him to efficiently climb to the second level as a run blocker, and he can stack a couple of blocks along the way.
Weaknesses:
Cornelius is lacking when it comes to lateral mobility. He just doesn’t have much twitch, and he struggles to mirror opponents who have enough speed and bend to get around the arc. Making for a bad combination, he is also lacking when it comes to power. He’s got a firm punch, but he is not great at anchoring against power. Most of his best reps are stalemates. Meanwhile, a high pad level, late hands, and too much leaning all contribute to leaky rush edges and some quick losses. As a run blocker, he can move up field in a linear sense, but his lack of quickness and agility makes it tough for him to hit moving targets.
Summary:
Cornelius has a frame that can be useful at the NFL level, and has shown flashes with his hand strikes and straight line movements that have led to some success. However, his lack of agility limits him as both a pass and run blocker. When you add in his mediocre at best power, he has an uphill battle in front of him. Cornelius will have a chance if he can get stronger and improve his ability to anchor. If he can, he can make it as a depth guy.
| Grade: 52.8 | Round Grade: UDFA |
OT Rankings
- Armand Membou (90.0, Rd 1)
- Will Campbell (86.4, Rd 1)
- Kelvin Banks (84.7, Rd 2)
- Josh Conerly (82.1, Rd 2)
- Ozzy Trapilo (81.4, Rd 2)
- Josh Simmons (80.0, Rd 2)
- Charles Grant (76.9, Rd 3)
- Aireontae Ersery (76.8, Rd 3)
- Anthony Belton (72.4, Rd 4)
- Logan Brown (71.1, Rd 4)
- Emery Jones (70.9, Rd 4)
- Myles Hinton (70.5, Rd 4)
- Chase Lundt (68.9, Rd 5)
- Cameron Williams (67.1, Rd 5)
- Branson Taylor (65.1, Rd 5)
- Hollin Pierce (63.1, Rd 6)
- Carson Vinson (60.3, Rd 6)
- Jack Nelson (58.8, Rd 7)
- Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (57.8, Rd 7)
- Jalen Travis (55.4, Rd 7)
- Ajani Cornelius (52.8, UDFA)
See also: G & C Rankings
Featured Image Via: Tammy Anthony Baker (CC)