The 2014 NFL Draft offensive tackle class features as much talent as last year but with even more depth. Michigan’s Taylor Lewan and Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews have a chance to both come off the board in the top five.
Keep an eye on intringing prospects like Tennessee’s Ja’Wuan James and Syracuse’s Sean Hickey who have the talent to really move up draft boards.
1. Taylor Lewan, Michigan (Top 5)
Michigan’s Taylor Lewan is a well rounded offensive tackle who will be able to make an immediate impact. He features good athleticism, strength and a real nasty streak. Lewan plays with sound technique including a commitment to gain inside hand placement.
The effectiveness of Lewan’s hand placement is enhanced because he features the heavy hands needed to Velcro to the defender. This allows him to accomplish a lot like sealing the defender from the play, keeping his body clean and controlling the line of scrimmage.
I really love Lewan’s nasty streak and overall effort. This is a player who will work to put his opponent on his back.
2. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (Top 5)
This past year most evaluators focused on Luke Joeckel, but Jake Matthews played at an equally high level. Matthews utilizes a combination of great technique and solid athleticism to impact the game.
His use of angles makes it tough for speed rushers to get the edge, while his inside hands and anchor protect against a bull rush. Overall, this is a player who’ll immediate help his new team in all aspects of the game.
I have Matthews rated slightly below Taylor Lewan based on the fact that Lewan is a better overall athlete. This gives him more upside, but both players have the potential to develop into elite left tackles at the next level.
3. Ja’Wuan James, Tennessee (Top 20)
At this point in the process, Tennessee’s Ja’Wuan James is flying under the radar and is very underrated. He’s a massive offensive tackle who features long arms, good athleticism and fluid movements.
James currently lines up at right tackle for Tennessee, but has the skill set needed to play left tackle. In fact, he should be Tennessee’s starting left tackle over Antonio Richardson who is also considered a first-round prospect.
He has as much upside as any offensive lineman available for the 2014 draft.
4. Antonio Richardson, Tennessee (Top 25)
Antonio Richardson is a fluid athlete who features solid change of direction ability and quick feet. He uses these skills keep the quarterback clean and mirror the pass rush. Richardson’s ability to protect the passer is also assisted by his balance which comes from his commitment to keeping his pads low.
This season he needs to show improved strength, as defenders have an easy time disengaging from his blocks. I’m also interested to see what his arm length measures in at because defenders routinely get into his frame.
5. Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama (Top 25)
Cyrus Kouandjio is a big-bodied offensive tackle who has long arms. He uses his size, arm length and angles to protect the quarterback. Kouandjio is a smart player who quickly reads the rush and puts himself in proper position.
The concerns I have surrounding Kounandjio involve his overall athleticism. He doesn’t show good movement skills and struggles changing direction. His kick slide has a lot of wasted movements and can be jerky.
6. Sean Hickey, Syracuse (Early 2nd Round)
Sean Hickey is a long and lean offensive tackle who possesses a ton of upside. He properly uses his length to his advantage by keeping his hands out in front and defenders off his frame. His commitment to keeping his pads low is important because it helps him maintain leverage despite his height.
Hickey needs to add some bulk and improve his overall strength. However, he has the potential to really shoot up draft boards. His build and athleticism reminds me a lot of Lane Johnson.
7. Ryan Groy, Wisconsin (2nd Round)
Ryan Groy is an athletic offensive tackle who has room to grow as a player. He features the ideal size, long arms and thickness to play either tackle spot at the next level. Groy quickly gets out of his stance and into either his kick slide or engaging the defender.
His overall athleticism helps him protect the edge against quicker players and react to counter moves. In the run game, he can get across the face of the defensive line and also work his way to the second level. Groy also shows some nastiness by working to the whistle.
In order to improve his draft stock, Groy needs to get stronger and improve his anchor. However, he’s someone with the upside to really move up draft boards.
8. James Hurst, North Carolina (Late 2nd Round)
James Hurst is a solid prospect who doesn’t offer as much upside as the other prospects in this draft. He uses sound technique, balance and average athleticism to protect the quarterback. Hurst is a hard worker who routinely works to the whistle.
The issue surrounding Hurst is that he just doesn’t have any skill that really stands out. He also appears to have peeked physically, which is why there’s little room for him to improve.
9. Seantrel Henderson, Miami (3rd Round)
Seantrel Henderson entered college as a highly touted prospect, but has yet to live up to the hype. Henderson shows plenty of promise and has another year to help his draft stock. Evaluators will instantly love his size, length and natural athleticism.
Henderson uses his long arms to keep himself clean and lock onto the defender. This allows him to control the defenders movements and generate a push in the running game.
The issues surrounding his game arise in pass protection. Henderson plays with heavy feet which limit his change of direction and movement ability. He also struggles adjusting to countermoves because he is a little show to identify and react.
10. Austin Wentworth, Fresno State (Late 4th Round)
Austin Wentworth is a solid prospect who has good bulk and a thick lower half. He’s a patient pass blocker using proper angles and keeping his hands out in front. His heavy hands help him Velcro to the defender and control his movements.
Wentworth’s upside is limited because he doesn’t show great athleticism. He lacks the foot speed and change of direction ability to mirror the pass rush. I also have some concerns about his arm length.
11. Cameron Erving, Florida State (Early 5th Round)
Cameron Erving is a fluid and explosive athlete. He does a good job quickly firing off the ball and making sure he’s in proper position. However, he lacks the size and bulk most target for an NFL offensive tackle.
Defenders have a tendency to get into his frame and Erving lacks the bulk needed to anchor after this contact. It’ll be hard for Erving to overcome his size issues and make a difference at the next level.
12. Morgan Moses, Virginia (Early 5th Round)
Morgan Moses possesses the size and bulk evaluators look for in an offensive tackle prospect. The issue is he lacks good explosiveness and has a tendency to raise his pad level. He’ll have a hard time keeping quicker pass-rushers out of the backfield.
13. Cornelius Lucas, Kansas State (Early 5th Round)
Cornelius Lucas is a big-bodied offensive tackle who possesses long arms. However, he’s a limited athlete who’ll struggle to protect the passer at the next level. Think a less athletic version of DJ Fluker.
14. Zack Martin, Notre Dame (6th Round)
Zack Martin doesn’t have the height or arm length most evaluators look for in a left tackle prospect. He also lacks great overall athleticism and strength.
15. Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt (6th Round)
Most of Wesley Johnson’s experience has come at right tackle, and that’s where he projects at the next level. He’s a limited athlete who has yet to show anything more than the talent of a later-round prospect.