By Charlie Campbell.
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This page was last updated April 13, 2018. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Position Review: Offensive Tackles
Offensive Tackle Class
Early-round talent: C-
Mid-round: C
Late-round: C-
Overall grade: C-
2018 prospects vs 2017
Mike McGlinchey
Garett Bolles
Ryan Ramczyk
Cam Robinson
Isaiah Wynn
Kolton Miller
Orlando Brown
Brian O’Neill
Martinas Rankin
Antonio Garcia
Geron Christian
Connor Williams
David Sharpe
Julien Davenport
Will Holden
Jermaine Eluemunor
Offensive tackle was the worst position in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it was a class that severely lacked talent. The position is not as bad for the 2018 NFL Draft, but it definitely is not a strong class with abundance of good prospects. Overall, this year’s class of offensive tackles is pretty weak.
If you were to merge the two classes, McGlinchey would be the best prospect. He would have been the top offensive tackle in the 2017 NFL Draft if he had decided to skip his senior year. As an offensive tackle, Wynn would go behind Bolles, Ramczyk and Robinson, but Wynn could get selected higher than Ramczyk or Robinson if chosen as a guard. Miller, Brown, O’Neill and Rankin are all better prospects than Antonio Garcia. Christian is on a par with Garcia. Williams could go higher than Garcia if there is a run on tackles in the early rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. Williams should go higher than last year’s third-day group of Sharpe, Davenport, Holden and Eluemunor.
Safest Pick: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
Over the past few years, McGlinchey was a steady pass protector and an above-average run blocker at left tackle. A few plays got away from him going against speed rushers, but overall he was a reliable pass blocker with a good skill set of size, strength, quickness, athleticism and technique.
McGlinchey’s career performance has given evidence that he is a future starting left tackle in the NFL and a first-round pick. I think McGlinchey could be a quality starting left tackle with some Pro Bowl appearances during his career. I don’t think McGlinchey will be an elite shut-down left tackle like a Joe Thomas, who could go against the best edge rushers in the league and erase them. Still, McGlinchey could be a solid starting left tackle.
My track record here is mixed. Bolles had a mixed rookie year, and obviously, this is far too early to make any judgments on him. Tunsil has had two good seasons to start his career. Flowers had a nice start in 2015, but had highly criticized 2016 and 2017 seasons at left tackle. He’s a fit at right tackle in the NFL. Matthews has turned into a good left tackle for Atlanta, and I was wise to pick him over Greg Robinson, who went second-overall and became a huge bust for the Rams. I was wrong about Joeckel, who was a giant bust for the Jaguars.
2017: Garett Bolles
2016: Laremy Tunsil
2015: Ereck Flowers
2014: Jake Matthews
2013: Luke Joeckel
Biggest Bust Potential: Connor Williams, Texas
Williams is expected to be an early-round pick, but I know teams that have graded him as low as the fourth or fifth round, and I share their opinion. There are a lot of problems for Williams in the NFL. The biggest issue is that he is not strong at all. He plays soft and gets pushed around. He lacks strength in his base and speed rushers can give him problems. Williams has an issue with sustaining blocks as defenders can break away from his blocks. Williams is also a tweener guard/tackle. His height and lack of length would fit better at guard. However, his lack of strength would be very problematic on the inside as strong or heavy nose tackles will give him problems. His feet and athleticism would fit better at tackle, but he lacks strength there and speed rushers can give him problems. I think Williams is a smaller and weaker version of Luke Joeckel. Thus, I think Williams has a real shot at being a bust.
My track record here is pretty good. Johnson went in the fifth round last year, so if he doesn’t pan out, he isn’t much of a bust. Fluker didn’t work out for the Chargers and was cut before his rookie contract expired. Kouandjio was a disappointment for the Bills, and they need to upgrade his position. Collins hasn’t been a bust, but he hasn’t been as good as expected. It is too early to pass any judgement on Coleman, but Cleveland has been looking to upgrade him this offseason.
2017: Roderick Johnson
2016: Shon Coleman
2015: La’el Collins
2014: Cyrus Kouandjio
2013: D.J. Fluker
Offensive Tackles Rankings by Attributes
Pass Protection:
NFL prototype: Joe Thomas, Browns
- Mike McGlinchey
- Isaiah Wynn
- Kolton Miller
- Martinas Rankin
- Orlando Brown
- Brian O’Neill
- Geron Christian
- Connor Williams
Recap: Franchise left tackles have to be rock solid in pass protection. Most teams feature a right-handed quarterback, so the left tackle has to be trusted to shut down pass-rushers coming from the blind side. Joe Thomas is the top offensive tackle in the NFL and is the current gold standard for a franchise left tackle.
Even though he wasn’t a dominating player, McGlinchey is the most balanced pass protector at tackle in this draft class. He has solid feet and quickness to get depth in his kick slide and cut off edge rushers. McGlinchey also displays a nice ability to bend at the knee, and that in combination with his feet, keeps him from having to reach after edge rushers very often. McGlinchey has nice recoverability and is able to keep pressures from becoming sacks.
In pass protection, Wynn has the quickness and agility to mirror speed rushers. He also has a strong base to hold up against bull rushes. While Wynn has talent and technique, he lacks length, which could be problematic for him in the NFL. Longer defensive ends and rush linebackers could give him problems with being able to shed his blocks.
Miller has good length with quick feet and agility. When he plays with good leverage, Miller uses his feet to get depth in his drop to cut off speed rushers. His length makes him difficult to run around, and he is able to adjust to fight off defenders to give his quarterback enough time to get rid of the ball. Miller can hold up against bull rushers, but could use more strength in his base for the NFL. The inconsistent parts of Miller’s game can come in pass protection when he plays too high and bends at the waist. When Miller is bent over in his midsection and reaching after pass-rushers, he gets in real trouble. That leads to pressures and hits on his quarterback that shouldn’t happen. Miller has to work on bending at the knee in the NFL. His inconsistent and sloppy technique could easily be exploited as a pro, especially early in his career.
Rankin is good at sustaining blocks. While he needs to get stronger in the upper body and his base, he does have strong hands that help him to keep pass-rushers engaged and not let them break free. He is a good athlete with quick feet, and he has the ability to kick slide with speed rushers. Rankin is very good at defending the edge from fast pass rushers. He is agile in space and shows a nice ability to adjust. Rankin is a smart blocker who quickly picks up blitzers or stunts. Rankin should become an asset as a pass protector early in his NFL career.
Brown is a giant with surprising feet and agility for such a big blocker. He had a lot of good stretches for the Sooners at left tackle last year, but he can be prone to hiccups along with playing down to competition. There are pressures that Brown should not have given up. He would be better off at right tackle in the NFL.
O’Neill has quick feet with athleticism, but he lacks weight in his base and can get pushed around. O’Neill is a project, but he has a ton of upside to develop into a quality starter at left tackle.
From a skill-set perspective, Christian has good tools. He is quick, long and agile plus has good feet. He definitely possesses the athletic ability to be a blind-side protector. However, Christian is extremely raw and needs a lot of development for the NFL. He has terrible technique and gives up some bad pressures. He is also slow to redirect back to the inside, and countering moves give him a lot of problems because he oversets far too often. While Christian needs a ton of work on his technique, his athletic ability is his redeeming trait, and if he works hard and receives good coaching, he could end up surpassing a lot of the others in this group as a pass protector.
Williams has athleticism with quickness and feet, but he got taken advantage of last year. Defenders pushed him around bull rushed him into the pocket. He lacks the length and strength to match up against NFL defensive linemen.
Run Blocking:
NFL prototype: Joe Staley, 49ers
- Orlando Brown
- Isaiah Wynn
- Mike McGlinchey
- Kolton Miller
- Martinas Rankin
- Geron Christian
- Connor Williams
- Brian O’Neill
Recap: Brown can be a nasty run blocker when he wants to be. In games where Brown was really motivated, like Ohio State last year, he was a beast in the ground game, pushing defenders around at the point of attack. Brown has length and functional strength to control defensive linemen. Of all the offensive tackles prospects, Brown definitely leads the way as the blocker who tosses the most defenders to the ground.
Wynn has aggression and blocks with a mean streak. Finding nasty bullies up front is getting more difficult as the uptempo and spread offense has changed the game. Wynn is a throwback who blocks through the whistle, pushes defenders around, buries them into the ground, and finishes them off with violence. Wynn has developed strength to push defenders out of their gaps and open holes in the ground game. With his heavy hands, Wynn is able to sustain his blocks after shocking defenders back. He also has the quickness and athleticism to get to the second level. He can pull and would be a fit in a zone-blocking or power-man scheme.
McGlinchey is strong and can create movement at the point of attack. He flashes heavy hands to push defenders out of their gaps and open holes for his back. McGlinchey has the strength to start out his NFL career at right tackle and be a plus run blocker. Many NFL teams have right-handed rushing attacks, so putting a finesse tap-dancing college left tackle on the right side can be a detriment to the ground game. However, McGlinchey has the flexibility to play the right side and be a contributor in the rushing offense. Many franchise left tackles can be weak in the ground game, but McGlinchey will be an above-average run blocker at left tackle.
Miller has a mean streak and blocks through the whistle. When he playing low, he flashes the ability to drive block somewhat in the ground game. Miller needs to get stronger to knock defenders off the ball and do a better job of sustaining his blocks. With his agility and athleticism, Miller is quick to get to blocks in space and at the second level. He would be a great fit in a zone-blocking system as part of a moving wall.
In the ground game, Rankin is good to hit blocks in space and fire to the second level. He can occupy his defensive ends, but he isn’t a true bulldozer who blasts defenders off the line. Rankin would be a good fit in a zone-blocking system.
Christian is fast to the second level. He can fire out of his stance and get to defenders before they expect. He is able to beat tacklers to the spot and hit blocks in space. Christian is not a road grader in the ground game who can knock defenders off the ball or rag doll them around the field. He needs to grow stronger to pack more of a punch in the NFL.
Because Williams lacks strength, he will struggle at the point of attack as a run blocker in the NFL. He is going to have a hard time sustaining blocks or knocking defenders off the line of scrimmage. As a run blocker, Williams is at his best when he fires to the second level. He is an above-average athlete, so he is quick and agile in space. Williams can get to blocks on linebackers and defensive backs. His lack of size and strength is not masked when he takes on small defenders. Williams would be a nice fit for a zone-blocking scheme.
O’Neill does not generate movement in the run game, lacks heavy hands, doesn’t pack a punch, and gets pushed back in bull rushes. He needs a year of development as a backup getting stronger in a pro training program before he will be ready to take on NFL defensive linemen and have the ability to contribute as a run blocker.
Feet:
NFL prototype: Tyron Smith, Cowboys
- Brian O’Neill
- Isaiah Wynn
- Geron Christian
- Martinas Rankin
- Connor Williams
- Kolton Miller
- Mike McGlinchey
- Orlando Brown
Recap: The best feet in the 2018 NFL Draft might belong to Oregon’s Tyrell Crosby. Of this group, the former tight end O’Neill could have the best feet. He is very light on his toes and is very fast at shuffling his feet to get in position to head off speed rushers. O’Neill is a very good athlete from the feet up.
Wynn is very close. He has quick feet and can pick them up and put them down in his backpedal or when firing out of his stance. Christian struggles with consistency, as there are times when he has good feet and other plays on which he struggles to redirect back to the inside.
Rankin is a good athlete with quick feet and the ability to kick slide with speed rushers. He is very good at defending the edge from fast pass-rushers. Williams has quick feet and balance, and gets depth in his kick slide. His quick feet are one of his best traits.
Miller has quick feet, but he’s inconsistent, which led to some rough performances in his final season. McGlinchey’s feet are solid. They don’t blow you away, but they aren’t bad either. Brown’s feet aren’t bad considering how big he is at 6-foot-8, 345 pounds, but he can’t pick them up and put them down as well as some of the other tackle prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Zone-Blocking Scheme:
NFL prototype: Tyron Smith, Cowboys
- Brian O’Neill
- Isaiah Wynn
- Connor Williams
- Martinas Rankin
- Geron Christian
- Kolton Miller
- Mike McGlinchey
- Orlando Brown
Recap: All of these tackle prospects could execute in a zone-blocking system. They all have enough athletic ability and the speed to play it. O’Neill, Wynn, Williams and Rankin are the best fits because they are fast while being extremely mobile. Each one has shown the ability to block on the move in their offenses.
Miller and McGlinchey are also good athletes who could be good fits in a zone-blocking system. After them, there’s a dropoff. Brown could execute a zone scheme, but is probably better in a man-power scheme.
Man Scheme:
NFL prototype: Trent Williams, Redskins
- Mike McGlinchey
- Orlando Brown
- Isaiah Wynn
- Kolton Miller
- Geron Christian
- Martinas Rankin
- Brian O’Neill
- Connor Williams
Recap: The top two, McGlinchey and Brown, are great fits for a man-blocking scheme. They sustain their blocks well in the ground game. McGlinchey was more consistent to manipulate defensive linemen and turn them out of their gaps. Each has the potential to get movement at the point of attack as NFL left tackles.
Wynn and Miller are good fits in a power-man scheme. Wynn can be a forceful run blocker and take his lineman out of his gap. Miller (6-9, 309) is a good fit for a man scheme and has a mean streak to him. He will have to watch his pad level and knee bend in the NFL as tall players get in trouble when they stand up too high.
Christian needs to get stronger to pack more of a punch in the NFL, but he is not that far off and could end up fitting a man-blocking scheme. Rankin, O’Neill and Williams all have a crippling lack of strength for the NFL. That trio must get stronger for taking on NFL defensive linemen. Until they get stronger, they would not be a good fit in a man scheme.
Guard/Right Tackle Potential:
NFL prototype: Lane Johnson, Eagles
- Isaiah Wynn
- Mike McGlinchey
- Kolton Miller
- Orlando Brown
- Geron Christian
- Martinas Rankin
- Connor Williams
- Brian O’Neill
Recap: Some teams like to move college tackles inside to guard or to right tackle. Other roster considerations also cause some tackles to start their careers on the right side or moving in to guard. Having the versatility to be moved around and play a variety of positions adds a lot of value to an offensive lineman.
Wynn is the most versatile of these prospects. Many are projecting him to guard, but sources have told me he also snapped the ball in practice and could play center. Wynn could play tackle, guard or center in the NFL with his rare versatility.
McGlinchey, Miller and Brown have the ability to move to right tackle. That could end up being the best positions for Miller and Brown as pros.
Christian could play tackle or guard, and he also did some snapping of the ball. He is a good athlete with the versatility to be moved around.
Some team sources feel that Rankin could be a good guard. He would need to get stronger, but he has the ability to kick inside. There area also teams that feel Williams should move to guard in the NFL. His lack of strength, however, will be a problem on the inside. That would be the case for O’Neill as well.
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