2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Offensive Tackle

4/22/23: Sources with NFL teams who traveled through Evansville during Wildcats training camp said the Northwestern staff was hyping up tackle Peter Skoronski as a better player than Rashawn Slater. Skoronski then played very well across the 2022 season, shutting down the pass rush and showing improved strength.

“[Skoronski is] athletic, moves well, and is smooth,” said an AFC Director of player personnel. “He has very short arms, like 32 inches – he plays with better length than he has – but he doesn’t have a tackle body and looks more like a guard. Some guys I have spoken with compare him to Jonah Williams and some others have said Jonah Jackson.”

Pro sources said Skoronski looked heavier and stronger in fall camp than he did in 2021, and he showed more strength in 2022. They say adding power has given him the flexibility to also play right tackle in the NFL. They note that like Slater, Skoronski can bend and move. Not all pro teams are sold on Skoronski being as good as Slater, and the debate about Skoronski staying at tackle or moving to guard will probably extend through the 2023 NFL Draft until his franchise decides where to start him out.

6/28/22: Skoronski is slated to play left tackle for the Wildcats in 2022, but NFL teams have him as a guard on their preseason watch list. That is easy to understand because he is short and lacks length for tackle as a pro. Skoronski broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and played well over the past few seasons. Skoronski is a tough, polished technician who could be a good NFL guard.

4/22/23: Johnson started at left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2022 and played well. He was rock solid for Ohio State, providing steady blind-side protection for C.J. Stroud. Johnson is a good athlete with size and quickness. With his skill set and upside, Johnson could be a good starting left tackle early in his NFL career.

6/27/22: Johnson has a quality skill set with size, quickness and athleticism, and that made him a top recruit in the nation. Johnson started at guard in 2021 and was a solid blocker for the Buckeyes. With Nick Petit-Frere moving on to the NFL, Johnson is expected to be the starting left tackle in 2022. He has lot of upside to break out for the Buckeyes, and he could be a high riser if he performs well as the blind-side protector for C.J. Stroud.

4/22/23: Wright was Tennessee’s starting right tackle in 2022, and he had an excellent season, not allowing a sack of quarterback Hendon Hooker. Wright has good size to him and has some strength as a run blocker. At the Senior Bowl, he did well in the pass-rushing one-on-ones and looked pro-ready. He has been riser during the draft process and has the potential to go in the top half of the first round during the 2023 NFL Draft.

4/22/23: Jones started at left tackle for the Bulldogs and had a productive 2022 season. He was a solid tackle for Georgia, but he might be a better fit at guard in the NFL. Team sources say Jones is short, but athletic. They feel he has upside, but is raw and they do not see him as a first-rounder despite the media hype. In a survey of seven teams at the combine, none of them had a first-round grade on Jones. However, he does play a premium position and there are not 31 players with first-round grades, so some second-round graded players will end up going on the opening night of the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones is a candidate to be one of them. Given his youth and immense upside, Jones could go just outside the top 10.

6/28/22: Jones was a backup in 2020 and 2021, but injuries forced him onto the field in crunch time. Jones became the Bulldogs starting left tackle for the final four games of the 2021 season and helped Georgia to finish off its National Championship. Jones has quality size, but might fit better at guard in the NFL similar to the player he is replacing in 2022, Jamaree Salyer.

4/22/23: Team sources say Harrison has potential because he is quick, athletic, and has good size. However, they say he is too finesse, not tough and not physical. They wanted to see him improve in those areas in 2022, but that did not happen. However, his ability is good enough for him to go on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft – at the lowest. In following up with some team sources at the Senior Bowl, they said they would not take Harrison in the first round, but they would consider him on Day 2.

6/27/22: Over the past two seasons, Harrison was impressive as the left tackle for the Sooners. Harrison has quality size with good athleticism and quickness. He broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and held down the left tackle spot as a sophomore. With a good skill set, Harrison could rise into being a sought-after early-rounder.

4/22/23: Duncan has a good skill set and improved throughout his college career. For the NFL, he looks like he has starting left tackle potential. Duncan is quick out of his stance and does a nice job of moving his feet to glide with edge rushers. To maintain proper leverage, Duncan bends at the knee and shows the agility to move. Duncan could stand to improve his hand placement, but he has starting skill set of size, athleticism and strength.

Duncan had some issues against Ohio State late in the 2022 season, illustrating that he is raw and needs some development, but Duncan is talented with the physical skills to be a starter. At the Senior Bowl, Duncan was uneven in his performance, but he displayed he has a good skill set to work with.

6/27/22: Duncan has been solid for Maryland and received a quality grade from NFL advance scouts. Duncan is a team leader and captain with good size and athleticism. If Duncan does well against top opponents, he could be a riser. Duncan broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and has been a mainstay at left tackle for the Terrapins.

4/22/23: Jones started at right tackle for the Buckeyes. He got off to a solid start on the season and played well in 2022. Jones is only a right tackle for the NFL. As a pro, he should drop some weight to improve his movement and stamina. At the Senior Bowl, Jones showed that he can overwhelm some defenders at the point of attack, but he also illustrated he could have issues with pro speed rushers. Jones might sneak into late in the first round and should not slide out of Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

6/27/22: Jones is a massive edge blocker with huge length and girth. His size makes him a fit for right tackle in the NFL. Jones will need to show the ability to handle speed rushers to rise as a senior.

4/22/23: Steen was a 3-year starter at Vanderbilt before transferring to Alabama for his final season. Steen possesses excellent size for left tackle in the NFL and has developed strength. He was a rock-solid protector for Bryce Young while being a steady run blocker. Steen will enter the next level with a ton of experience, having started 45 straight games while playing in the best competition in college football. Steen did well overall at the Senior Bowl as well, showing the flexibility to play guard or tackle.

Steen has the flexibility to start out his NFL career at guard before moving to tackle. He is very physical and really gets after defensive linemen.

4/22/23: Bergeron started at tackle for the past three years after getting five starts at right tackle in 2019. He stayed a starter at right tackle before moving to left tackle in 2021. Bergeron has quality size to him, but he might be a better at guard in the NFL because Bergeron is inconsistent as a pass blocker on the edge. In the ground game, Bergeron is an absolute beast who will push defenders around the the field, open holes for his back, and provide attitude up front. He has a serious mean streak and blocks with violence. Bergeron could be a special right guard.

4/22/23: Morris was a multi-year starter at Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2022 season. Team sources say Morris is a good athlete with quickness and agility, but he lacks strength and physicality. Morris has the skill set to rise into being a starter if he is committed and develops well. Morris had a so-so week at the Senior Bowl.

4/22/23: Broeker started at left guard in 2022, which could be his best fit for the NFL. He was a solid blocker there for Ole Miss. Broeker had a decent week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

6/28/22: Broeker had an impressive debut as a freshman in 2019, starting 12 games at left tackle. He remained at left tackle in 2020 and 2021 and did a solid job of protecting quarterback Matt Corral. Broeker’s size and length might make him a better fit at guard as a pro, but he is a tough blocker who should enter the NFL with good development and experience as a 4-year starter.

4/22/23: Kirkland played well for Washington in 2022. He looks like a flexible blocker who could be a starting guard or tackle at the next level. For the NFL, his best fit could come at right tackle or right guard.

6/27/22: Kirkland played left tackle for Washington in 2021, but for the NFL, he looks like a better fit at guard or right tackle. In Week 2, he had some struggles with Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, but Kirkland made some nice plays as well. In November, he had a mixed showing against Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, but Washington sent a lot of double teams and extra attention to Thibodeaux. Kirkland was the Huskies’ starting right guard as a redshirt freshman and sophomore before moving to left tackle as a junior in 2020.

Kirkland has good size, but quickness and athleticism issues could make him a better fit on the right side or inside at the next level. Guard could be his best fit, but he looks like he could have enough ability to play right tackle. To start out his pro career, Kirkland might be a valuable sixth offensive lineman who can serve as a swing backup at guard and tackle while he develops. He could have a shot to turn into a decent starter in time, and left guard might be the best position for him as a pro.

4/22/23: Gouraige was a solid left tackle for the Gators in 2022. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection. He could start out his career as a swing-tackle backup with the upside to grow into a bigger roles. Gouraige has versatile size for him to be cross-trained at guard and tackle as well.

4/22/23: Hayes had a solid 2022 season as the starting left tackle for the Wolverines. He could use development in pass protection for the NFL. Hayes also could stand to add some weight to his frame and get stronger.

6/28/22: Hayes broke into the starting lineup in 2020 at left tackle for the Wolverines. He locked down the starting blind-side spot in 2021 and had a good season. Hayes and the Michigan line, however, really struggled with the Georgia defensive line in the football semifinal. That performance suggested that Hayes might be a better fit at right tackle or guard in the NFL.

4/22/23: Freeland started at left tackle for the Cougars. He put together a decent performance against Baylor in Week 2, but had some issues against Oregon and Notre Dame. He looks more like a developmental backup. Freeland could fit best as a right tackle after starting out his career as a swing tackle backup.

6/27/22: Freeland plays left tackle for BYU, but he could be a better fit as a right tackle in the NFL. To start out his pro career, Freeland could be a swing tackle backup. There will be a lot of NFL eyes on quarterback Jaren Hall, and Freeland could benefit from that attention.

4/22/23: The NFL world was shocked when the Patriots selected Cole Strange in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft because some teams had Strange graded on Day 2 and others had him in the mid-rounds. Curtis may not go in Round 1 like Strange, but he will keep the Mocs tradition of generating a drafted player alive. The 6-foot-6, 328-pounder is a big lineman who could profile to guard as a pro. Curtis earned a Senior Bowl invitation, which signals he has mid-round potential.

4/22/23: Rouse put together a solid 2022 season for Stanford despite being banged up. He might fit best as a right tackle in the NFL.

6/27/22: Rouse broke into the starting lineup at left tackle for the Cardinal in 2019. He has been a mainstay there since. Over the previous three seasons, Rouse has improved as a pass protector and run blocker. He possesses versatile size, so he could get consideration at a few positions on the offensive line in the NFL.

4/22/23: McFadden started at left tackle for Clemson. He does not have the height or length for tackle in the NFL and will have to move inside.

6/28/22: McFadden is the starting left tackle for Clemson and is coming off a solid 2021 season. He has played left tackle and right tackle for the Tigers, but moving to guard could be his best fit for the NFL due to his lack of height and length. Perhaps McFadden can prove to be an undersized, shorter left tackle prospect like Rashawn Slater or Isaiah Wynn.

4/22/23: Vorhees was a versatile blocker for the Trojans over the past three seasons, starting at right guard, left guard and left tackle. He spent the majority of his starts at right guard. Vorhees has good size to him, and he is intelligent and tough. Playing guard looks like his best fit for the NFL.

4/22/23: Morgan started at left tackle for Arizona. He had a decent 2022 season.

6/27/22: Morgan became the Wildcats’ starting left tackle during his junior season and put together a respectable debut. Morgan has size to block on the edge but doing well against speed rushers will be critical for him to rise.

4/22/23: McClendon started at right tackle for Georgia. For the NFL, his best fit could come moving inside to guard.

6/27/22: McClendon was Georgia’s starter at right tackle in 2021 and had a strong season that helped the program to win the National Championship. At his size, he might be a better fit at guard in the NFL.

4/22/23: Jones spent 2022 starting at right tackle for the Longhorns. He had some good plays and some ugly ones against Alabama. Jones could be a late-round backup candidate for the 2023 NFL Draft.

6/27/22: Jones was the starting left tackle for Texas in 2021 after starting at right tackle for the majority of the 2020 season. He was a quality run blocker for Bijan Robinson in 2021, but his pass blocking needs to improve for the NFL. To open his pro career, Jones could be a swing tackle backup.

4/22/23: In 2022, Glaze started at right tackle for Maryland. He could stand to get stronger for the NFL.

6/27/22: Glaze started at right tackle and left tackle for Maryland in 2021. While he showed some versatility on the outside, he could kick inside to guard in the NFL.

4/22/23: Barrow needed a strong season to help him rise.

6/27/22: Barrow was the starting left tackle for the Lakers in 2021, and he played well enough to earn a spot on NFL teams’ preseason watch list. Given his lower level of competition, it would help Barrow to play well at an all-star game in early 2023.