Expert Analysis

4/1/22

8 min read

Top 10 Offensive Tackles of the 2022 NFL Draft

Top 10 Offensive Tackles of the 2022 NFL Draft

1) Evan Neal

Key measurables: 6071, 337lbs, 34” arms

Notable 2021 stats: 2 sacks, 5 hits allowed 

Best Trait: Pass Blocking 

Player Comp: Laremy Tunsil

Background:

Started all 37 games of his college career. Five-star prospect out of the state of Florida. Freshman All-American for the 2019 season. Consensus First Team All-American for the 2021 season along with being a semifinalist for the Outland trophy. Anchor on a dominant offensive line that helped win the 2020 National Championship. 

Projection:

Neal projects as starting left tackle in his rookie year with the potential to become a pro bowl caliber player. His unique combination of size, length and athleticism give him the tools to develop into a bookend left tackle in the NFL. His skill set would best work in a zone blocking run scheme which would allow him to use his play strength more effectively. Neal is an outstanding pass blocker who needs to work on his run blocking technique and leverage in order to get the most out of his physical traits.

Full Scouting Report

2) Ikem Ekwonu

Key measurables: 6040, 310lbs, 34” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 3 sacks, 0 hits allowed

Best Trait: Run Blocking 

Player Comp: Rashawn Slater 

Background: 

PFF All-Freshman team in 2019, 2nd Team All-ACC in 2020, First Team All-ACC 2021. Parents were both excellent athletes. Twin brother is a LB at Notre Dame. 

Projection:

Ekwonu projects as a starting left tackle at the next level with position flexibility to play guard. He has high end athletic traits that are present in his agile feet and overall mobility. He is a tone setter for an offensive line in the run game with devastating finish on his blocks. Strong hand fighting, mobile feet and sturdy core strength are the bedrock of his pass blocking ability. Overall, Ekwonu is a slightly shorter, highly athletic OT who has the traits to excel in a zone blocking run scheme.

Full Scouting Report

3) Charles Cross

Key Measurables: 6050, 310lbs, 34 ½” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 2 sacks, 0 hits allowed

Best trait: Pass Blocking 

Player Comp: Taylor Moton 

Background:

2-year starter at Mississippi State. First team All-SEC selection for 2021. Five-star prospect out of Mississippi. 

Projection:

Cross initially projects as a starting left tackle at the next level in primarily a zone blocking run scheme. His combination of length and athleticism on the edge gives him the tools to develop into a pro bowl caliber player. He will need to develop his anchor/core strength in order to become stouter against stronger defenders. Cross is overall an above the line athlete for the position and shows a lot of promising tools as a prospect.

Full Scouting Report

4) Trevor Penning

Key Measurables: 6071, 325lbs, 34 ¼” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 1 sack, 4 hits allowed

Best Trait: Disposition

Player Comp: Nate Solder

Background: 

3-year starter at FCS Northern Iowa. Honorable Mention All-MVFC for the delayed 2020 season. Named to multiple All-American teams for the Fall of 2021. Only offensive lineman to be a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Physical, bruising offensive tackle who stood out at Reese’s Senior Bowl. 

Projection:

Penning projects as a 1st year starter at left tackle in his rookie year. He would excel in an offense that would optimize his agility in a zone blocking scheme and use him on vertical sets on deep pass concepts. Overall, Penning is a taller tackle with nimble feet for his height who needs to work on his knee bend and drive in the run game.

Full Scouting Report

More Top 10 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Lists:

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Tackles |Interior Offensive Line | Edge Rushers | Interior Defensive Line | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties

5) Thayer Munford

Key measurables: 6056, 328lbs, 35 1/8” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 1 sack, 1 hit allowed

Best Trait: Size and ability to play both G/T

Player Comp: Daryl Williams

Background:

Four-year starter for the Buckeyes. Honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2018, Second Team in 2019, First Team in 2020, and First Team in 2021. Four-star prospect coming out of high school. Part of an Ohio State offensive line that broke numerous big ten records, including 535 yds per game. 

Projection: 

Thayer Munford has outstanding size which makes him a project prospect. His experience at Left tackle (38 games), Left guard (11 games), and Right tackle (8 games) gives him value as a prospect. His film shows a better understanding of defenses from the tackle position rather than the guard position. At tackle all his mental and technical traits improve. He plays quicker and anchors better from the tackle position. Whether playing tackle or guard he lacks power and movement at the point of attack in the run game.

Full Scouting Report

6) Nicholas Petit-Frere

Key Measurables: 6051, 316lbs, 33 5/8” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 2 sacks, 2 Hits allowed

Best Trait: Effort 

Player Comp: Laremy Tunsil

Background:

Second team All-Big Ten selection in 2020 and First Team in 2021. Outland trophy watch list for 2021. Excellent student as he earned OSU Scholar Athlete Award in 2018 and 2019. Consensus 5-star Tackle prospect coming out of high school. One of only three tackles to earn such designation. Part of an offensive line at Ohio State that broke numerous school and Big Ten records. 

Projection:

Nicholas Petit-Frere is a versatile lineman that has all the traits to be able to make a roster and be productive. He has an outstanding disposition that will allow him to be a swing player between the two tackle positions. Petit-Frere has elite effort that will allow him to improve throughout his career.

Full Scouting Report

7) Daniel Faalele

Key Measurables: 6080, 384lbs, 35 1/8” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 1 Sack, 2 Hits allowed

Best Trait: Size

Player Comp: Trent Brown

Background:

All-Big Ten First Team in 2021, Honorable mention in 2018, 2019. Outstanding Offensive Freshman award for Minnesota in 2018. Reese’s Senior Bowl Invite. Came to America from Australia and attended a prestigious football powerhouse at IMG Academy. 

Projection:

Faalele projects as a low-end starting tackle in his rookie year. His length, size and athleticism fit better on the right side of the line. He needs to improve his pad level when run blocking and become more fit to move better all around. Faalele is a huge bodied offensive tackle who would fit into a gap run scheme offense at the next level.

Full Scouting Report

8) Luke Goedeke

Key Measurables: 6050, 312lbs, 32 ¼” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 0 sacks, 3 hits allowed

Best Trait: Strength

Player Comp: Daryl Williams

Background:

First Team All-Mac selection in 2021. Academic All-Mac in 2019. Two-year starter for the Chippewas and bookended an offensive line with Bernhard Raimann, another top tackle prospect. 

Projection:

Goedeke projects as a late day two pick with the ability to play right tackle or guard his rookie year. He would benefit from sitting and developing his technique to get the most out of his initial start. He has the athleticism and strength to be effective at this level but needs to refine his footwork and vertical sets to be prepared for intricate NFL passing attacks. Goedeke has a moderately high athletic ceiling but will need to work on his footwork to take his game to the next level.

Full Scouting Report

9) Bernhard Raimann

Key Measurables: 6061, 307lbs, 32 7/8” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 1 sack, 3 hits allowed

Best Trait: Pass Blocking 

Player Comp: Jack Conklin 

Background: 

Foreign exchange student from Austria. Started his career at tight end and converted to tackle. Honorable Mention All-Mac in 2020, First Team in 2021. Anchored an offensive line with another top tackle prospect, Luke Goedeke

Projection:

Raimann projects as a moderate level back-up left tackle in his rookie year for a team that would utilize him in a pass heavy, zone blocking offense. During his career he started 11 games at TE before making the switch to OT in 2020. He ended up starting 18 games at LT between the 2020 and 2021. At the next level, Raimann will have to develop his play strength and core stability to become more effective. He will need to improve his run blocking technique/leverage in order to make the transition to the NFL. He is a player who will need time to develop to a relatively new position but has some athletic traits that make him a prospect with upside.

Full Scouting Report

10) Darian Kinnard 

Key Measurables: 6053, 322lbs, 35” arms

Notable 2021 Stats: 1 sack, 2 hits allowed

Best Trait: Size

Player Comp: Christian Darrisaw

Background: 

First Team All-American from multiple sources in 2021, First Team All-ACC in 2021,2020. 2021 Jacobs Blocking trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award semifinalist. 2021 Outland Trophy semifinalist. Four-star recruit coming out of high school from prestigious football powerhouse of Cleveland, St. Ignatius. 

Projection:

An OT that you can win with, he has the measurables and enough fundamentals established to step in as a potential starter in year one and has the potential to be a starting OL for many years in the NFL be that at OT or OG. Starting in 39 of 46 games at both tackle positions for Kentucky he came into his element as a true senior allowing his least number of sacks and pressures since his freshman season where he only had 2 starts. Overall concerns about athletic ability and if that will translate against the more physically gifted EDGE players in the league, might be suited to slide inside to OG (has the measurables to do so).

Full Scouting Report

 

More Top 10 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Lists:

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Tackles |Interior Offensive Line | Edge Rushers | Interior Defensive Line | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties


RELATED