Draft Preview: Offensive Tackles

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Dave

March 5, 2025

by David Earl

Tier 1: Projected First Round Selections

Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, 6’5″ 315lbs

Strengths: Exceptional first step from his stance and maintains great footwork while squaring up against rushers. Uses multiple blocking techniques when engaged and works exceptionally well in space. He does a great job using his strength and gaining great leverage, and his footwork is excellent against elite edge rushers.
Weaknesses: He has less than ideal arm length, so he will sometimes lose on point of attack in initial engagement. Will shift leverage into his hips at times, making him vulnerable on the outside rush and will also overextend his reach, thus can struggle against the inside rush at those moments.
Projected Round: Top 10 pick

Will Campbell, LSU, 6’6″ 319lbs

Strengths: Can redirect very well to pocket integrity when beaten initially off the line. His initial engagement does an excellent job of neutralizing the rusher especially when combined with his footwork and kick-slide technique. His leg drive and overall core strength make him an excellent run blocker.
Weaknesses: Has a tendency to overset against elite edge rushers and the occasional narrowing of his base when engaged risks pocket integrity in pass protection. Will occasionally have his pad level too high and will become predictable at times.
Projected Round: Top 15 pick

Josh Simmon, OSU, 6’5″ 317lbs

Strengths: Great lateral movement plus exceptional footwork and quick first step allows him to mirror speed rushers. Very strong initial engagement with hands with a variety of strike patterns and great awareness in space makes him very effective against elite edge rushers. Brings a perfect combination of athleticism and power that allows him to excel in the screen game.
Weaknesses: A major concern is a torn patellar tendon during the 2024 season. Can struggle with hand placement against a wide-9 alignment and drew too many penalties over the past 2 seasons (25). Can be overly aggressive at times, which can result in loss of balance within his footwork.
Projected Round: Mid first round pick

Tier 1 Thoughts:

Josh Simmons is the guy to watch here for Washington at pick 29 if his medicals come back clean. His athleticism off the ball in the screen game makes him ideal in this offense but he will have to work on these penalties. So if they pass on an impact skill position player and no top end edge rusher is available, this selection becomes the next logical choice is they don’t trade back.

Tier 2: Projected Round Two Selections

Armand Membou, Missouri, 6’4″ 332lbs

Strengths: Exceptionally athletic lineman with great body control and maintains balance through his blocks. Anchors very well against the bull rush and is a very strong finisher. Processes complex pressure schemes (stunts and blitzes) very well and his athletic make up allows him to work very well in space.
Weaknesses: Although his technique is exceptional, the 6’3″ height is less than ideal. Tends to be over aggressive against more athletic edge rushers and needs work on drive blocking.
Projected Round: Early second round pick

Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, 6’6″ 313lbs

Strengths: Strong first engagement off the snap and picks up delayed rushers very well. Elite anchor against power rushers and brings his feet through the blockers making for an excellent run blocker.
Weaknesses: A short arm reach creates issues against the quicker edge rushers and will find himself flatfooted at times when redirecting blockers. Needs refinement while working in space as he will overextend against elite edge rushers.
Projected Round: Early to mid second round pick

Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, 6’6″ 312lbs

Strengths: Gains great leverage into first contact while showing proper foot technique and taking good angles. Shows great recovery to counter moves in pass protection and finishes blocks very well while drive blocking. Has good balance and control when pulling into space.
Weaknesses: His short arm length will result in maintaining his initial blocks at times and will narrow his base at times during pass blocking. Will get pad level too high at times and will be inconsistent against elite edge rushers. Might ultimately be a more productive guard than tackle.
Projected Round: Early second round pick

Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon, 6’5″ 311lbs

Strengths: Outstanding athleticism and strong technique, plus excellent transition, makes him a very good pass blocker. Reacts to stunts and twists smoothly while processing complex defensive schemes well. Recovers well when initially beaten and has good foot work in pass protection.
Weaknesses: Will get hesitant at times putting himself into an unbalanced position and resulting in overextending his arms. Needs work on hand technique and his anchor strength still needs improvement.
Projected Round: Early to mid second round pick

Cameron Williams, Texas, 6’6″ 317lbs

Strengths: Great initial power after the snap with very good hand technique when engaged. Very good down blocker and will move defenders with relative ease in the run game. Maintains a strong frame while moving laterally, combined with quick feet, he is especially strong in pass protection. At age 21, he brings a very high intellect for the game as he improved throughout the year, picking up complex defensive schemes easier each week. He could start his career as a right tackle while developing into a top left tackle after a few years.
Weaknesses: Still needs work on his kick technique and hand placement is inconsistent. Will tend to shift leverage from his knees to the waist resulting in defenders moving him around relatively easy. Again, at age 21, he has plenty of room to grow.
Projected Round: Mid second round pick

Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona, 6’4″ 324lbs

Strengths: Very strong core and demonstrates great natural power. Has an excellent first and powerful first contact after the snap plus great hand technique to neutralize longer armed edge rushers. Works great in space picking up stunts quickly and maintains strong gap integrity.
Weaknesses: Limited athleticism will show against more athletic edge rushers and affects his recovery while moving laterally. Will struggle at times against bull rushers and is very inconsistent in maintaining proper pad level.
Projected Round: Mid second round pick

Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota, 6’6″ 331lbs

Strengths: Excellent length and power through initial contact of his hands making him a dominant run blocker. Strong natural anchor and processes the defenses quickly, passing off one defender and transitioning into another block efficiently. Extremely good finisher and has been a very durable player.
Weaknesses: Will play too upright far too many times, allowing more explosive edge rushers leverage. Complex blitz packages and delayed stunts can give him trouble. He does lack a natural fluid motion and does not mirror the defender especially well at times.
Projected Round: Mid second round pick

Marcus Mbow, Arizona State, 6’4″ 303lbs

Strengths: Has exceptional lateral movement and drives through blocks very well. Shows great hand technique and great awareness in space in pass protection. Very good first kick step allowing him to mirror edge rushers well and works combo blocks very well. While he could be a staple right tackle at the next level, he will most likely be a much better guard.
Weaknesses: Will tend to drop his head when first engaged and will struggle against most power rushers. Pass protection technique will need much improvement, and his hand placement will be ugly at times.
Projected Round: Mid to late second round pick

Tier 2 thoughts:

Cameron Williams is a guy Washington could slide back a few spots out of the first round, gaining assets and a potential left tackle of the future. Between his tape and age, Williams could very well rise up draft boards real quick and at pick 29 they are still in a good position to select him too. Cameron Williams is the one guy I feel the strongest for and a guy Washington should make a top priority.

Marcus Mbow is another guy to watch if Washington looks to him as a guard. Samuel Cosmi is probably Washington’s only true franchise interior offensive lineman. If they are adamant on keeping Brandon Coleman as a tackle, Mbow would be a great fit for them going forward.

Tier 3: Projected Third Round Selections

Donovan Jackson, OSU, 6’4″ 315lbs

Strengths: Core and anchor strength produces excellent leverage. Additionally, his arm length provides a very strong base for this position. He diagnoses and neutralizes complex defensive line stunts and twists. Has great coordination between upper and lower body while his initial contact is quick and strong during initial engagement.
Weaknesses: Plays too high in pass protection and poor hand positioning at times, which will expose his chest. Has somewhat a stiff movement and struggles moving off his blocks to get into the second level of the defense.
Projected Round: Early to mid third round pick

Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College, 6’8″ 316lbs

Strengths: Takes excellent angles in pass protection and rarely out of position allowing full utilization of his weight and size. Very strong hands and an effective kick slide. Very consistent against bull rushers with a strong anchor and creates good movement in the run game.
Weaknesses: Does not maintain consistent pad level and struggles in the second level of the defense. will overset against speed rushers leaving him vulnerable to counter moves and hand technique needs refinement.
Projected Round: Mid third round pick

Charles Grant, William & Mary, 6’5″ 311lbs

Strengths: Great lateral quickness and does well mirroring defenders off the edge. Disciplined in his leverage and hand placement plus does well recovering when beaten off the first step. Shows great processing ability to stunts and blitzes plus works very comfortably in the second level of the defense.
Weaknesses: Does have a slight frame, which can make him susceptible to the power rush. Fottwork is inconsistent and does not always show great anchor strength. There are small school competition concerns as he may not adjust well at the next level as a tackle, so interior line play might be his best path in the league.
Projected Round: Late third round pick

Tier 4: Projected Day Three Selections or Undrafted Free Agents

Ajani Cornelius, Oregon, 6’5″ 310lbs

Strengths: Has a strong base making him effective against power rushers and runs his feet through initial contact very well. Very good drive blocker and maintains balance very well at the second level of the defense.
Weaknesses: Consistently gives away level with his high pad level and does not change direction very well. Although he keeps good balance into the second level, he sometimes loses footing when fully engaged in his blocks.
Projected Round: Fourth round pick

Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M, 6’7″ 314lbs

Strengths: Above average mirror blocking edge rushers with solid foot technique in pass protection. Uses his frame effectively in run blocking and maintains a good lower foundation that shows plenty room for growth and development. Does well in transition blocks against stunts and blitzes.
Weaknesses: Will overset at times in protection resulting in loss of leverage. Often caught overextending, resulting in loss of balance, and hand placement needs a lot of refinement.
Projected Round: Sixth round pick

Amari Kight, UCF, 6’6″ 314lbs

Strengths: Exceptional arm length and creates natural leverage advantages against edge rushers. Excellent lateral ability and good hand technique in pass protection. Very good anchor against bull rushers and takes proper angles when climbing into the second level of the defense.
Weaknesses: Not a great first explosive step and high pad level during run blocking prevents him from maintaining his blocks. Very stiff against counter moves especially from elite edge rushers.
Projected Round: Mid seventh round pick or undrafted free agent

Xavier Truss, Florida, 6’7″ 309lbs

Strengths: Strong imposing frame and ideal length for the tackle position. Above average run blocking and creates movement when engaged on the defender. Has a good first step off the line and maintains a strong anchor in pass protection. Has versatile experience between the guard and tackle position.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite level lateral movement and will struggle against elite level edge rushers. Inconsistent hand placement and tends to keep a high pad level when first engaging in his blocks.
Projected Round: Mid seventh round pick or undrafted free agent

Tier 3 and 4 thoughts:

Many players in this group are developmental players who might be better served as interior offensive linemen. Of this group, Carson Vinson stands out the most as a potential swing tackle. His hand positioning and overly aggressive approach at times lead to leverage issues, but that can be coached up. His above average athletic profile and good core strength, along with a solid fundamental base, is a good foundation for potential becoming a lower level starting tackle down the road.

Amari Kight is another player to watch in the later rounds or as a priority undrafted free agent. He may lack a quick first step after the snap and tends to be too stiff against the more athletic edge rusher, but a transition to a developmental guard could be his path forward. His ability to anchor well against bull rushers and excellent lateral movement, once his base is set post snap, could develop nicely into the interior line especially at his size.

Note: All strength and weakness evaluations plus draft projections taken from Draft Buzz. It is a good alternate site with some varying perspectives of prospects.