2015 NFL Draft: Tackle

I kinda like this group. It’s a smorgasbord of tackle types. You have the standard tall left tackle prospect with Peat, the mauler in Flowers, the mean streak in Humphries, and the athletes with Ogbuehi and Clemmings. It will be very interesting to see how these prospects develop over the next few years. In terms of my tackle criteria: I like good tape over athletic projections, and I think you have to be an unreal prospect to be a first round right tackle.

Andrus Peat*-OT-Stanford-6’7”-313-1st-95

Quick feet to make angle blocks in the run game. Has the dimensions you want to see and has enough athleticism to make it at LT. Strong enough to get the job done. Shows quick first step in pass protection and balance catching the rusher. Will need to work on sinking into his pass protection and get a bit stronger leg drive but I see no reason he shouldn’t be a solid LT at the next level. He should be equivalent to Anthony Costanzo after a year of good coaching.

D.J. Humphries*-OT-Florida-6’5”-307-1st-2nd-94

Kid was the #2 recruit coming outta high school 3 years ago. Has some injury concerns after missing 8 games the last 2 seasons. He has terrific feet, and even though he’s not enormous, he can withstand a bull rush and then push the defender back. He reminds me of a leaner Trent Williams, with strength, feet and anger. His 33.5” arms are a bit short and appear shorter on film with pass rushers getting to his body. If he had better arm extension and no injury history he’s a top 5 pick. Probably should’ve stayed in school for his Senior year to display durability and improved technique. Has the potential to be the best left tackle in his draft, but the above concerns cause me to rate him 2nd best.

Ereck Flowers*-OT-Miami-6’6”-329-1st-93

Gotta love the on-field anger. This guy is big, strong, and mean. He’s got a solid slide step in pass protection though he needs better knee bend technique. Gets his weight into run blocking then extends his 34.5” arms with authority (37 reps of 225) and then finds another victim. Love his playing style. He reminds me of Anthony Davis who I had rated above Trent Williams in the 2010 draft. That was a mistake and that’s why Flowers is not the top OT prospect here. Given the right opportunity I think he could be a force at LT, but if he doesn’t show the feet he’ll move to the right side and be among the league’s best.

Cedric Ogbuehi-G-Texas A&M-6’5”-306-Day 2-88

Slated to be a mid first rounder until he blew out his knee in the bowl game. That will likely push him to day 2. Played all over the line at College Station moving from guard to right tackle before settling on the left side this past fall as a 5th year senior. He’s a very interesting prospect because he has the tools to be a good left tackle, but some holes in his game and the injury may make him available on day 2. Let’s start with the bad news. He doesn’t play very strong. Put up 23 reps of 225 at the combine which is serviceable, but on film he can get bull rushed. Also his hand placement tends to be high and outside. That can be coached, and if he’s able to correct it his strength disadvantage will become less pronounced. Now for the positives. He’s tall, has some of the longest arms at the combine (35.875”), and has great feet. Those are attributes usually reserved for Top 10 draft picks. If he lands with a good coaching staff and is able to improve his strength his ceiling is Eugene Monroe. But that might not happen. I would compare him to Charles Brown from USC who went in the 2nd round in 2010 but unfortunately never made it as a LT.

T.J. Clemmings*-OT-Pitt-6’5”-309-Day 2-80

Played 2 years at right tackle and two years at defensive end for Pitt. Covers good ground in pass protection and can push speed rushers past the QB. Shows a mean streak in the run game, but he plays a bit high. Has reediculously long arms (over 35”) and shows the strength to extend them in the running game and control defenders. I think he’s a right tackle at the next level and will need some coaching as he sometimes doesn’t seem to know his assignment. Given his frame and athleticism I wouldn’t be surprised if someone takes him in the top 40 to be their left tackle of the future.