2018 NFL Draft: Tackles

Very light tackle class with only one guy I view as a good left tackle prospect. Offensive line is a need for most teams so we could see a few reaches on draft day.

Mike McGlinchey-T-Notre Dame-6’8”-312-1st-94

Four year player for the fighting Irish playing 2 years at right tackle before sliding to the left side in 2016 to replace the standout Ronnie Stanley. McGlinchey is this years top tackle by a long stretch in my book. All tackle prospects entering the pros have the same areas for improvement: technique, hand placement, and strength. Mostly strength. Nothing different for this kid. Now Mike isn’t quite a top tackle prospect because he is not an exceptional athlete and he has trouble staying on blocks. However, he has experience against the best college football has to offer and he checks all the boxes. Plenty of size and good length at 34” arms. His pass protection features lateral movement as well as a solid kick step, plus he can anchor, although there is certainly room for strength gains. This guy is a starting tackle in the NFL, the real question is will he be above average at left tackle? I’m not positive he will be which pushes him into the 20’s for me, but for the second straight year it’s a light tackle class so don’t be surprised if he goes in the early teens. Reminds me of Taylor Decker of the Lions.

Connor Williams-T-Texas-6’5”-320-2nd-79

Three year starter at left tackle despite not being highly recruited. He played in only 5 games this fall due to injury. Williams has nice size and athleticism displayed by the 5.05 second 40 yard dash. You just wish his 33” arms were a tad longer. That’s my biggest concern. You can see everyone getting into his body on the pass rush, really makes you think he’s better suited as a guard. It’s a nice back-up plan, but a projection to guard puts him in the mid-rounds. That being said he has some pieces that can work on the outside, namely his above average feet and the determination and mean streak he plays with. This puts him ahead of Kolton Miller for me. I believe Connor Williams is an NFL caliber lineman, and I think given the right coach and situation he can make it at tackle, but if not he will make it at guard given time. I don’t have the same belief in Miller, although he has a better shot hanging at left tackle. Williams is only 20 years old, the biggest knock on his game is lack of strength which should come as he matures.

Kolton Miller-T-UCLA-6’9”-309-1st-78

Great size for the position and he has the athleticism to match running a sizzling 4.95 second 40 yard dash. Miller has enough length featuring 34” arms and mammoth 10.75” hands. He started 5 games at right tackle each of his first two years before manning the blind size for the Bruins in 2017. Who did he take over for at left tackle? Conor McDermott, Patriots 6th round pick that was cut in training camp only to wind up with the Bills. McDermott started 30 games at LT, Miller only started 13. Is he really worth a first round pick after he couldn’t beat out a 6th rounder? I don’t see his athleticism show up in his play. He especially has trouble kick stepping and moving laterally, you know, the most important parts of a left tackle’s game. He can play well in the run game and be a plus player there, although his pad level could improve. I get that he has tools that can be crafted into a left tackle, but he’s going to need great coaching to get there and even then I view him as a serviceable tackle, not an above average one. But it’s a hard position to fill so anyone who has a chance belongs in the top 3 rounds.