- Thread starter dbair1967
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With really great coaching you don't need to use high draft picks to build an o-line.
View attachment AQMyzzbULEFjKHKO1e9ID-RAPjL6Y2Nc2emC2udRSLZvfDqdqtaS2e2DBCcF5UdDsTGKAIQE1U3yqrmKMNJi8f6G.mp4
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Tony Wise was indeed a great OL coach.
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Sorry buddy. But most of those ducks wouldn't make it in the NFL. If it's a late round pick, I could probably live with it. But nothing on the video you posted screams NFL arm talent.
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Duck...quack...quack....
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His arm is far better than Cooper Rush's is.
I don't think he's making it to the late rounds Amigo.
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Bob McGinn on TE's
NFL teams have been gobbling up wide receivers in the first round at a record pace in the past five drafts. Given the shortage of wideouts this year, look for clubs to dip early into what could be one of the finest collections of tight ends ever.
“I think this group has risen because the (wide) receivers are just mediocre,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said.
Tight ends have been a first-round irregularity almost since the position gained its identity around 1960. The record for most first-round tight ends is three: in 1970, 1973, 1978, 2002 and 2017.
Since O.J. Howard went 19th, Evan Engram went 23rd and David Njoku went 29th in 2017, only five tight ends have been first-round selections.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are first-round locks. Miami’s Elijah Arroyo and LSU’s Mason Taylor figure to fall next, possibly in the first round but almost certainly by No. 40. A month before the draft, one personnel man has all four with first-round grades.
“Loveland and Warren are 1-2, in either order,” another AFC personnel man said. “The next three are interchangeable depending on your flavor. You could even throw three more in there as starting dudes. The top five could all make an impact right away. There’s a lot of talent.”
TIGHT ENDS
1. TYLER WARREN, Penn State (6-5 ½, 256, no 40, 1): Seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, highest finish by a tight end since Notre Dame’s Ken MacAfee was third in 1977. “I don’t think I’ve seen a big ol’ guy like this,” one scout said.
“They use him all over the place. The USC game was the most bizarre game I think I’ve ever seen. The guy had 17 catches. For a really big guy he is a good athlete. His feel for the game is rare. He’s nifty for being so big, his hands are excellent and he plays big. His run after the catch — he’s nasty. He tries to run over people. As a blocker, he’ll get in the way. He’s got some grit and toughness. He’s not dynamic by any stretch but the guy is really good. Better than (Brock) Bowers. I don’t think he’ll run great. He’ll be 4.8ish.” After starting just 15 of 40 games from 2020-’23 he broke out with a 104-catch season in 2024. “He continued to get better as the year went on,” a second scout said. “That’s why he really stood out. He just got better and better. It’s a really big man who is sneaky fast. Excellent hands. He can block. All-around player.” Finished with 153 receptions for 1,839 yards (12-yard average) and 19 touchdowns. Often employed as a wildcat quarterback, he rushed 32 times for 224 (7.0) and six scores. “When people say he’s going in the Top 10, I think Kellen Winslow Jr., Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez,” said a third scout. “I don’t see him that way. I see him more as a Dallas Clark, a Mark Bruener, a Heath Miller, a really solid player. He’s not flawless. He’s (big) but has less than 32 arms (31 ¾ inches). He blocks OK. He’s a get-in-the-way guy. He can do all the motion things. You know exactly what you’re going to get.” A four-star quarterback as a prep in Mechanicsville, Va., he made all-state in baseball and was a four-time all-region player in basketball. “If you want to nitpick, he is not a wow matchup athlete,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not Travis Kelce that’s fast and quick in his routes. But you kind of forget how big he is. He’s got (Rob) Gronkowski size, and for that size he’s a good athlete. He’s a Y (conventional) tight end that’s really talented. Y’s are hard to find; most of them run 5.0. He can play F (split receiver), too. You could put him in a wildcat and make him a goal-line runner. He has can’t-miss character. He’s going to be an outstanding pro.” Comes from a very athletic family. “I don’t see him being a top-10 pick,” said a fifth scout. “He’s a little tight. That’s what bothers me. Just a little stiff to be playing in the offenses we’re playing in right now. He’s nowhere near as good as Bowers. I see him as not being flexible enough. I could be wrong. He can beat the ‘backers. I don’t know if he can beat the safeties in the NFL.”
2. COLSTON LOVELAND, Michigan (6-5 ½, 248, no 40, 1): Third-year junior turns 21 on April 9. “I think Loveland has a bigger upside as a true Y than Warren but it may not emerge for two, three years,” one scout said. “I thought he could take the seam or go do a corner better than Warren because he was just a better strider and maybe more fluid. He has a bigger catch radius because of the length of his arms (32 ¾). His blocking is nothing to write home about. You see him getting knocked back. At the combine, he had a big, bulky shoulder harness sling thing on his arm.” Missed the last six quarters of the season with a right A/C joint injury that required surgery Jan. 29. “He’s a real fine football player,” said a second scout. “Just a dynamic athlete. He can get open on his own. Sudden, route runner, savvy, run after the catch, confident catcher. Not quite as big as Warren so his impact at the point of attack won’t be quite the same but he’ll fight his *** off. Really liked his football temperament. He’s a high-energy player. Really an excellent contested catcher. Likes to post up and take contact and finish the catch.” His 56 receptions in 2024 established a Michigan record for tight ends. “I wish he had a better quarterback throwing to him,” a third scout said. “Gets excellent separation and can adjust around his frame. More of a weapon in the pass game but can contribute in the run game.” Finished with 117 catches for 1,466 (12.5) and 11 TDs. Started 24 of 39 games. “If they just had to run a race he’d probably be the fastest one (of the top tight ends),” a fourth scout said. “I don’t think he’s a real nifty route runner. He gets jammed up. What he does best is run through zones. Really good hands. Not a blocker at all. The others were better blockers than him. If you play to his skill set he’ll make plays. If you don’t, then you’ll be disappointed.” Four-star recruit from Gooding, Idaho, where he was an all-state basketball player.
3. ELIJAH ARROYO, Miami (6-5, 250, no 40, 1-2): Suffered a torn ACL in mid-2022 and then battled injuries in 2023, playing in just six games. Started 13 times in 2024. “He exploded on the scene this year,” said one scout. “One of the most impressive interviews I had. Really good kid who will be a really good pro. He can align in any position and contribute in the pass game, and you do not have any type of decline as a run blocker. He can line up in the backfield, next to the tackle, in the slot, outside. You can do all your run-game stuff. He is a good enough athlete to catch and create after the catch.” Thirty-five of his career 46 catches came last season. Finished with 753 yards (16.4) and eight TDs. “Warren’s a better blocker, Arroyo’s a better athlete,” another scout said. “Arroyo’s in the Kelce camp, Warren’s in the Gronkowski camp.” Hurt his knee in the Senior Bowl game after a tremendous week of practice and couldn’t work at the combine. “I had never heard of him (before 2024),” a third scout said. “He was a pleasant surprise. This guy can run. He’s got a proportioned body. He’ll fight as a blocker. He’s going to be a good pro if he can stay healthy. You could get him probably in the top of the second round and be pretty happy. Maybe first round.” Four-year recruit from Frisco, Texas. “Not very productive in their offense but he can run routes, he’s athletic as can be, he’s fast, has really good hands,” said a third scout. “He does have some issues adjusting to tough catches. Surprisingly, he’s a really good blocker in space stuff and edges. In-line, you don’t want him in there that much. He’s got play-maker talent. He’s worth a late first-round pick.”
4. MASON TAYLOR, Louisiana State (6-5, 252, no 40, 1-2): Rewrote the LSU record book for tight ends as a three-year starter. “He’s a smooth-moving athlete,” one scout said. “He’s quick in his routes. Excellent feel. He’s a big guy that uses his size. Natural hands catcher. Run after the catch, he’s pretty tough. He’ll work as a blocker. He’ll keep getting better. I don’t think they (the Tigers) used him (enough). He should have been more productive but their offense was kind of a mess. He’s going to be really good.” Starting 37 of 38 games, he finished with 129 receptions for 1,308 (10.1) and a mere six TDs. “He’s a real good player, a starting player in the league,” said a second scout. “I just don’t see the blocker. He probably doesn’t play a gritty, tough, physical game. I think he sees himself as a little bit more of a finesse player. He is smooth. He gets open. He’s good after the catch. He’s an athlete.” His father, Jason, made the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 15-year career as a defensive end in which he registered 139 ½ sacks. At the 1997 combine, Jason (6-6, 243) ran 4.67 and scored 32 on the Wonderlic test. The Dolphins drafted him in the third round out of Akron. “I scouted his daddy,” said a third scout. “He was a tall, lanky, skinny kid. Never thought he’d turn out to be as good as he was. This kid is built like his dad. Long, lean. Great kid. No problems with him. I’m sure the dad has been teaching him how to do it. He’s followed his dad’s footsteps.” Jason married the sister of Zach Thomas, the Dolphins’ 5-11 Hall of Fame inside linebacker. “He’s got Jason Taylor’s frame but Zach’s length,” said a fourth scout. “He’s got 32-inch arms but he will compete as a blocker. He’s a very good, dependable receiver. You’ll scheme him open and he’ll catch a ball in the flat and get 15 yards. He’s trustworthy. During the season, you’d have thought he was a third-rounder. But now, after you squeeze the draft, he’s probably a solid second-rounder.” From Plantation, Fla.
5. HAROLD FANNIN, Bowling Green (6-3, 241, 4.76, 2-3): Led the NCAA in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in 2024. Both were FBS records for a tight end. “I would say that the staff at Bowling Green has done a better job with that football player making him the center of the offense and finding ways to get him the ball than anybody in the country,” one scout said. “That guy will be a lightning rod to talk about because he’s not fast. Most of his catches were within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. He catches the snot out of the ball. More than anybody in the class he’s got natural run-after-the-catch instincts. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s like a running back in the open field. What’s difficult about him from a draft perspective is he’s not a vertical receiver. For a guy that small, normally those dudes people get excited about run 4.5. It makes you pause a little bit how (high) you’re going to take him. He is not going to get open on his own. He separates by pushing off on guys. A safety will be riding him but all of a sudden Harold will reach up, push off and now he’s got as much separation as anybody.” Started one of 12 games in 2022 as a true freshman, then eight of 11 as a sophomore before breaking out. “I wanted not to like him but, man, this guy, he just gets open and catches everything,” said a second scout. “He’s got a stiff lower body and looks kind of odd when he runs. He’s not the quickest but he just finds a way. You can put it anywhere near him and he’s gonna catch it. Somebody’s on him? Doesn’t matter. As a blocker, I don’t even know if you need a great blocker anymore the way tight ends are used now. He’ll give some effort but you’ve got to use him for his strengths.” Was Bowling Green’s first consensus All-America pick. “My God, they threw 900 passes and he caught 117 of ‘em for 86 yards,” said a third scout. “He made a few plays; I shouldn’t discount him. He’s duck-footed. He competed some as a run-after-catch guy. But, wow, I was disappointed.” His team and another graded Fannin in the fourth-to-fifth round range. “He’s so stiff but he’s physically self-aware and has figured out a way to overcome it,” a fourth scout said. “For a stiff guy he is a dynamic route runner and has great ball skills and tremendous instincts. He’ll play.” Finished with 180 receptions for 2,396 (13.3) and 17 TDs. Also rushed 33 times for 159 (4.8) and five scores. Played safety, wide receiver and returned kicks in high school at Canton (Ohio) McKinley.
6. TERRANCE FERGUSON, Oregon (6-5 ½, 247, 4.63, 3): Started more games than not during a four-year career. “He’s played there for a really long time,” one scout said. “You know exactly what you’re getting with him. He did really well in Indianapolis (at the combine). He’s fluid and smooth. Faster than he looks. Got natural hands. He’s tall, long, athletic fast — and that’s what guys are looking for at the position. I think the scouting community is higher on him than the coaching community because of his issue as a blocker. He’s a pass catcher only. He does not have the ability to block. He’ll be able to start if you deploy ‘12’ personnel and one guy is your pass catcher and one is your blocker.” His combine results included the fastest 40 at the position and the best vertical jump (39 inches). “His blocking was more consistent in 2023,” a second scout said. “He’s a starting NFL tight end. He’s a better overall player than Taylor but they’re graded the same. He’s a little bit better blocker and Mason’s a little smoother as a route runner.” Finished with 134 receptions for 1,537 (11.5) and 16 TDs. “He’s proved he can get down the field,” a third scout said. “Is he tough enough and strong enough to block? He’s a starter.” From Littleton, Colo.
7. JAKE BRININGSTOOL, Clemson (6-5 ½, 240, 4.77, 3-4): Backed up in 2021-’22 before starting 25 games the past two seasons. “Outstanding athlete,” said one scout. “Got good grit and toughness. He will give good effort in his blocking. Holds his own as a blocker. You’re not going to rely on him to capture the edge in a zone scheme. He’s a receiving tight end. You can line him up just about anywhere. He can make plays. You can put him at wide receiver and that puts stress on the defense. If he fit the offense I was running I’d take him in the third round.” His 127 receptions set the record for a tight end at Clemson. Finished with 1,380 yards (10.9) and 17 TDs. Short arms (31 ½), tiny hands (8 5/8). From Brentwood, Tenn.
8. GUNNAR HELM, Texas (6-5, 241, 4.92, 4): Made 10 starts in 39 games from 2021-’23, catching just 19 passes. Started 15 games for a prolific offense last year and had 60 receptions. “He’s a production catcher,” said one scout. “He’s smart and has good hands. As far as having dynamic speed, quickness, run after the catch or blocking as a Y, I don’t see it. He’s a Y stick guy, a possession Y. He really can’t block anybody without help. Areas to be worked on are his blocking and escaping press coverage.” Finished with 79 receptions for 1,022 (12.9) and nine TDs. “He’s my No. 6 tight end but I think he’ll be a solid player,” a second scout said. “He won’t be a star or anything. Kind of does everything OK. Not the most gifted athlete but good enough. As a blocker, he’ll get in the way and put his face in stuff. He can position and work. The hands are good. Not a playmaker by any stretch running after the catch. He’ll start. Cole Kmet had a little more to him, a little more talent than this guy but that’s a good comparison.” From Englewood, Colo.
Said one scout: “His dad, Jim, played at Ohio State (and 11 years in the NFL as a Pro Bowl left tackle). He wasn’t good enough for Ohio State so Iowa took him as a developmental kind of guy. He’s not (Sam) LaPorta, he’s not Dallas Clark, he’s not there yet. He is a skilled, big athlete. He was derailed by injury (ankle surgery) a year ago and then poor quarterback play. He can be an NFL starter with two or three more years of development.”
Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh (6-4 ½, 246, 4.71)
Said one scout: “When (Kenny) Pickett was the quarterback (in 2022) this was his guy and he showed a lot of run and catch. He’s going to be a really good No. 2. Very high character kid. Do whatever you ask.”
Oronde Gadsden, Syracuse (6-4 ½, 241, 4.67)
Said one scout: “If someone has a vision of how to use him he could be a real weapon. Like an oversized wideout or an undersized tight end. Very talented, very athletic. I’d rather have him than Fannin.”
Moliki Motavao, UCLA (6-5 ½, 260, 4.80)
Said one scout: “He’s actually pretty smooth for that big a player. They just don’t build people that big at that position anymore. He’ll make a team as a No. 2 and eventually develop into a starter.”
Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame (6-5 ½, 258, 4.80)
Said one scout: “I admire him. He’s really fought through injuries. He is tough. He struggles to bend his knees and get in a leverage position (as a blocker) – not because of effort but the injuries. This year, early, he was having a hard time, but when you watch the playoff games he’s a good route runner and has really good hands.”
NFL teams have been gobbling up wide receivers in the first round at a record pace in the past five drafts. Given the shortage of wideouts this year, look for clubs to dip early into what could be one of the finest collections of tight ends ever.
“I think this group has risen because the (wide) receivers are just mediocre,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said.
Tight ends have been a first-round irregularity almost since the position gained its identity around 1960. The record for most first-round tight ends is three: in 1970, 1973, 1978, 2002 and 2017.
Since O.J. Howard went 19th, Evan Engram went 23rd and David Njoku went 29th in 2017, only five tight ends have been first-round selections.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are first-round locks. Miami’s Elijah Arroyo and LSU’s Mason Taylor figure to fall next, possibly in the first round but almost certainly by No. 40. A month before the draft, one personnel man has all four with first-round grades.
“Loveland and Warren are 1-2, in either order,” another AFC personnel man said. “The next three are interchangeable depending on your flavor. You could even throw three more in there as starting dudes. The top five could all make an impact right away. There’s a lot of talent.”
TIGHT ENDS
1. TYLER WARREN, Penn State (6-5 ½, 256, no 40, 1): Seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, highest finish by a tight end since Notre Dame’s Ken MacAfee was third in 1977. “I don’t think I’ve seen a big ol’ guy like this,” one scout said.
“They use him all over the place. The USC game was the most bizarre game I think I’ve ever seen. The guy had 17 catches. For a really big guy he is a good athlete. His feel for the game is rare. He’s nifty for being so big, his hands are excellent and he plays big. His run after the catch — he’s nasty. He tries to run over people. As a blocker, he’ll get in the way. He’s got some grit and toughness. He’s not dynamic by any stretch but the guy is really good. Better than (Brock) Bowers. I don’t think he’ll run great. He’ll be 4.8ish.” After starting just 15 of 40 games from 2020-’23 he broke out with a 104-catch season in 2024. “He continued to get better as the year went on,” a second scout said. “That’s why he really stood out. He just got better and better. It’s a really big man who is sneaky fast. Excellent hands. He can block. All-around player.” Finished with 153 receptions for 1,839 yards (12-yard average) and 19 touchdowns. Often employed as a wildcat quarterback, he rushed 32 times for 224 (7.0) and six scores. “When people say he’s going in the Top 10, I think Kellen Winslow Jr., Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez,” said a third scout. “I don’t see him that way. I see him more as a Dallas Clark, a Mark Bruener, a Heath Miller, a really solid player. He’s not flawless. He’s (big) but has less than 32 arms (31 ¾ inches). He blocks OK. He’s a get-in-the-way guy. He can do all the motion things. You know exactly what you’re going to get.” A four-star quarterback as a prep in Mechanicsville, Va., he made all-state in baseball and was a four-time all-region player in basketball. “If you want to nitpick, he is not a wow matchup athlete,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not Travis Kelce that’s fast and quick in his routes. But you kind of forget how big he is. He’s got (Rob) Gronkowski size, and for that size he’s a good athlete. He’s a Y (conventional) tight end that’s really talented. Y’s are hard to find; most of them run 5.0. He can play F (split receiver), too. You could put him in a wildcat and make him a goal-line runner. He has can’t-miss character. He’s going to be an outstanding pro.” Comes from a very athletic family. “I don’t see him being a top-10 pick,” said a fifth scout. “He’s a little tight. That’s what bothers me. Just a little stiff to be playing in the offenses we’re playing in right now. He’s nowhere near as good as Bowers. I see him as not being flexible enough. I could be wrong. He can beat the ‘backers. I don’t know if he can beat the safeties in the NFL.”
2. COLSTON LOVELAND, Michigan (6-5 ½, 248, no 40, 1): Third-year junior turns 21 on April 9. “I think Loveland has a bigger upside as a true Y than Warren but it may not emerge for two, three years,” one scout said. “I thought he could take the seam or go do a corner better than Warren because he was just a better strider and maybe more fluid. He has a bigger catch radius because of the length of his arms (32 ¾). His blocking is nothing to write home about. You see him getting knocked back. At the combine, he had a big, bulky shoulder harness sling thing on his arm.” Missed the last six quarters of the season with a right A/C joint injury that required surgery Jan. 29. “He’s a real fine football player,” said a second scout. “Just a dynamic athlete. He can get open on his own. Sudden, route runner, savvy, run after the catch, confident catcher. Not quite as big as Warren so his impact at the point of attack won’t be quite the same but he’ll fight his *** off. Really liked his football temperament. He’s a high-energy player. Really an excellent contested catcher. Likes to post up and take contact and finish the catch.” His 56 receptions in 2024 established a Michigan record for tight ends. “I wish he had a better quarterback throwing to him,” a third scout said. “Gets excellent separation and can adjust around his frame. More of a weapon in the pass game but can contribute in the run game.” Finished with 117 catches for 1,466 (12.5) and 11 TDs. Started 24 of 39 games. “If they just had to run a race he’d probably be the fastest one (of the top tight ends),” a fourth scout said. “I don’t think he’s a real nifty route runner. He gets jammed up. What he does best is run through zones. Really good hands. Not a blocker at all. The others were better blockers than him. If you play to his skill set he’ll make plays. If you don’t, then you’ll be disappointed.” Four-star recruit from Gooding, Idaho, where he was an all-state basketball player.
3. ELIJAH ARROYO, Miami (6-5, 250, no 40, 1-2): Suffered a torn ACL in mid-2022 and then battled injuries in 2023, playing in just six games. Started 13 times in 2024. “He exploded on the scene this year,” said one scout. “One of the most impressive interviews I had. Really good kid who will be a really good pro. He can align in any position and contribute in the pass game, and you do not have any type of decline as a run blocker. He can line up in the backfield, next to the tackle, in the slot, outside. You can do all your run-game stuff. He is a good enough athlete to catch and create after the catch.” Thirty-five of his career 46 catches came last season. Finished with 753 yards (16.4) and eight TDs. “Warren’s a better blocker, Arroyo’s a better athlete,” another scout said. “Arroyo’s in the Kelce camp, Warren’s in the Gronkowski camp.” Hurt his knee in the Senior Bowl game after a tremendous week of practice and couldn’t work at the combine. “I had never heard of him (before 2024),” a third scout said. “He was a pleasant surprise. This guy can run. He’s got a proportioned body. He’ll fight as a blocker. He’s going to be a good pro if he can stay healthy. You could get him probably in the top of the second round and be pretty happy. Maybe first round.” Four-year recruit from Frisco, Texas. “Not very productive in their offense but he can run routes, he’s athletic as can be, he’s fast, has really good hands,” said a third scout. “He does have some issues adjusting to tough catches. Surprisingly, he’s a really good blocker in space stuff and edges. In-line, you don’t want him in there that much. He’s got play-maker talent. He’s worth a late first-round pick.”
4. MASON TAYLOR, Louisiana State (6-5, 252, no 40, 1-2): Rewrote the LSU record book for tight ends as a three-year starter. “He’s a smooth-moving athlete,” one scout said. “He’s quick in his routes. Excellent feel. He’s a big guy that uses his size. Natural hands catcher. Run after the catch, he’s pretty tough. He’ll work as a blocker. He’ll keep getting better. I don’t think they (the Tigers) used him (enough). He should have been more productive but their offense was kind of a mess. He’s going to be really good.” Starting 37 of 38 games, he finished with 129 receptions for 1,308 (10.1) and a mere six TDs. “He’s a real good player, a starting player in the league,” said a second scout. “I just don’t see the blocker. He probably doesn’t play a gritty, tough, physical game. I think he sees himself as a little bit more of a finesse player. He is smooth. He gets open. He’s good after the catch. He’s an athlete.” His father, Jason, made the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 15-year career as a defensive end in which he registered 139 ½ sacks. At the 1997 combine, Jason (6-6, 243) ran 4.67 and scored 32 on the Wonderlic test. The Dolphins drafted him in the third round out of Akron. “I scouted his daddy,” said a third scout. “He was a tall, lanky, skinny kid. Never thought he’d turn out to be as good as he was. This kid is built like his dad. Long, lean. Great kid. No problems with him. I’m sure the dad has been teaching him how to do it. He’s followed his dad’s footsteps.” Jason married the sister of Zach Thomas, the Dolphins’ 5-11 Hall of Fame inside linebacker. “He’s got Jason Taylor’s frame but Zach’s length,” said a fourth scout. “He’s got 32-inch arms but he will compete as a blocker. He’s a very good, dependable receiver. You’ll scheme him open and he’ll catch a ball in the flat and get 15 yards. He’s trustworthy. During the season, you’d have thought he was a third-rounder. But now, after you squeeze the draft, he’s probably a solid second-rounder.” From Plantation, Fla.
5. HAROLD FANNIN, Bowling Green (6-3, 241, 4.76, 2-3): Led the NCAA in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in 2024. Both were FBS records for a tight end. “I would say that the staff at Bowling Green has done a better job with that football player making him the center of the offense and finding ways to get him the ball than anybody in the country,” one scout said. “That guy will be a lightning rod to talk about because he’s not fast. Most of his catches were within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. He catches the snot out of the ball. More than anybody in the class he’s got natural run-after-the-catch instincts. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s like a running back in the open field. What’s difficult about him from a draft perspective is he’s not a vertical receiver. For a guy that small, normally those dudes people get excited about run 4.5. It makes you pause a little bit how (high) you’re going to take him. He is not going to get open on his own. He separates by pushing off on guys. A safety will be riding him but all of a sudden Harold will reach up, push off and now he’s got as much separation as anybody.” Started one of 12 games in 2022 as a true freshman, then eight of 11 as a sophomore before breaking out. “I wanted not to like him but, man, this guy, he just gets open and catches everything,” said a second scout. “He’s got a stiff lower body and looks kind of odd when he runs. He’s not the quickest but he just finds a way. You can put it anywhere near him and he’s gonna catch it. Somebody’s on him? Doesn’t matter. As a blocker, I don’t even know if you need a great blocker anymore the way tight ends are used now. He’ll give some effort but you’ve got to use him for his strengths.” Was Bowling Green’s first consensus All-America pick. “My God, they threw 900 passes and he caught 117 of ‘em for 86 yards,” said a third scout. “He made a few plays; I shouldn’t discount him. He’s duck-footed. He competed some as a run-after-catch guy. But, wow, I was disappointed.” His team and another graded Fannin in the fourth-to-fifth round range. “He’s so stiff but he’s physically self-aware and has figured out a way to overcome it,” a fourth scout said. “For a stiff guy he is a dynamic route runner and has great ball skills and tremendous instincts. He’ll play.” Finished with 180 receptions for 2,396 (13.3) and 17 TDs. Also rushed 33 times for 159 (4.8) and five scores. Played safety, wide receiver and returned kicks in high school at Canton (Ohio) McKinley.
6. TERRANCE FERGUSON, Oregon (6-5 ½, 247, 4.63, 3): Started more games than not during a four-year career. “He’s played there for a really long time,” one scout said. “You know exactly what you’re getting with him. He did really well in Indianapolis (at the combine). He’s fluid and smooth. Faster than he looks. Got natural hands. He’s tall, long, athletic fast — and that’s what guys are looking for at the position. I think the scouting community is higher on him than the coaching community because of his issue as a blocker. He’s a pass catcher only. He does not have the ability to block. He’ll be able to start if you deploy ‘12’ personnel and one guy is your pass catcher and one is your blocker.” His combine results included the fastest 40 at the position and the best vertical jump (39 inches). “His blocking was more consistent in 2023,” a second scout said. “He’s a starting NFL tight end. He’s a better overall player than Taylor but they’re graded the same. He’s a little bit better blocker and Mason’s a little smoother as a route runner.” Finished with 134 receptions for 1,537 (11.5) and 16 TDs. “He’s proved he can get down the field,” a third scout said. “Is he tough enough and strong enough to block? He’s a starter.” From Littleton, Colo.
7. JAKE BRININGSTOOL, Clemson (6-5 ½, 240, 4.77, 3-4): Backed up in 2021-’22 before starting 25 games the past two seasons. “Outstanding athlete,” said one scout. “Got good grit and toughness. He will give good effort in his blocking. Holds his own as a blocker. You’re not going to rely on him to capture the edge in a zone scheme. He’s a receiving tight end. You can line him up just about anywhere. He can make plays. You can put him at wide receiver and that puts stress on the defense. If he fit the offense I was running I’d take him in the third round.” His 127 receptions set the record for a tight end at Clemson. Finished with 1,380 yards (10.9) and 17 TDs. Short arms (31 ½), tiny hands (8 5/8). From Brentwood, Tenn.
8. GUNNAR HELM, Texas (6-5, 241, 4.92, 4): Made 10 starts in 39 games from 2021-’23, catching just 19 passes. Started 15 games for a prolific offense last year and had 60 receptions. “He’s a production catcher,” said one scout. “He’s smart and has good hands. As far as having dynamic speed, quickness, run after the catch or blocking as a Y, I don’t see it. He’s a Y stick guy, a possession Y. He really can’t block anybody without help. Areas to be worked on are his blocking and escaping press coverage.” Finished with 79 receptions for 1,022 (12.9) and nine TDs. “He’s my No. 6 tight end but I think he’ll be a solid player,” a second scout said. “He won’t be a star or anything. Kind of does everything OK. Not the most gifted athlete but good enough. As a blocker, he’ll get in the way and put his face in stuff. He can position and work. The hands are good. Not a playmaker by any stretch running after the catch. He’ll start. Cole Kmet had a little more to him, a little more talent than this guy but that’s a good comparison.” From Englewood, Colo.
THE NEXT FIVE
Luke Lachey, Iowa (6-5 ½, 251, no 40)Said one scout: “His dad, Jim, played at Ohio State (and 11 years in the NFL as a Pro Bowl left tackle). He wasn’t good enough for Ohio State so Iowa took him as a developmental kind of guy. He’s not (Sam) LaPorta, he’s not Dallas Clark, he’s not there yet. He is a skilled, big athlete. He was derailed by injury (ankle surgery) a year ago and then poor quarterback play. He can be an NFL starter with two or three more years of development.”
Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh (6-4 ½, 246, 4.71)
Said one scout: “When (Kenny) Pickett was the quarterback (in 2022) this was his guy and he showed a lot of run and catch. He’s going to be a really good No. 2. Very high character kid. Do whatever you ask.”
Oronde Gadsden, Syracuse (6-4 ½, 241, 4.67)
Said one scout: “If someone has a vision of how to use him he could be a real weapon. Like an oversized wideout or an undersized tight end. Very talented, very athletic. I’d rather have him than Fannin.”
Moliki Motavao, UCLA (6-5 ½, 260, 4.80)
Said one scout: “He’s actually pretty smooth for that big a player. They just don’t build people that big at that position anymore. He’ll make a team as a No. 2 and eventually develop into a starter.”
Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame (6-5 ½, 258, 4.80)
Said one scout: “I admire him. He’s really fought through injuries. He is tough. He struggles to bend his knees and get in a leverage position (as a blocker) – not because of effort but the injuries. This year, early, he was having a hard time, but when you watch the playoff games he’s a good route runner and has really good hands.”
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Bob McGinn on OT's Part I
The golden age of offensive tackles in the NFL draft covered a span of five years three decades ago. Regarded as can’t-miss prospects as collegians, five players exceeded their immense expectations forging sterling pro careers that culminated with bronze busts in Canton.
In chronological draft order, the fivesome numbered Willie Roaf, No. 8, 1993; Tony Boselli, No. 2, 1995; Jonathan Ogden, No. 4, 1996; Orlando Pace, No. 1, 1997, and Walter Jones, No. 6, 1997.
The demand for dancing bears to block the ever-increasing explosiveness of edge rushers has never been higher. In the first 55 years of the common draft only once, in 2013, had as many as nine offensive linemen been selected in the first round. Desperate teams drafted nine O-linemen in the Round 1 in two of the past three drafts.
“You go through these rosters,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said, “these linemen are pathetic that are playing in the NFL.”
To put it mildly, every team is digging for giants with agility. What they’re seeing this spring is a good, not great cluster of tackles, better than most years but, of course, teams always want more.
“This is a mixed bag,” an AFC personnel man said. “If you talk to 10 people you get 10 different orders, I’m sure. There are very few left tackles. There are some very good right tackles and there’s some tackles that will probably end up playing guard. There’s some depth in this group and a bunch of ‘em are gonna go because they’re hard to find.
“There are no Ogdens, Bosellis, Walter Joneses. But in today’s football these guys go in the top 10, top 15 or top 20.”
“When you look at what 32 5/8 is compared to 33, and actually put that on a ruler and look at it, if you’re not going to take a guy who has potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler, then, OK … ” Started all 38 games at left tackle. “He’s good,” said a second scout. “If you want to nitpick, his arms aren’t that long. Great kid. His interview, he sounded like a head coach at a P4 (Power Four) school. It was incredible. One of the best interviews I’ve heard in my life.” Five-star recruit from Monroe, La., where his family operates a farm. “He’s less than a Jonah Williams as a left tackle but as a right tackle he would be a good player,” a third scout said. “He’s built like a guard … and I think that’s where he’s going to end up. You can find plenty of negative reps on this kid. If you want to knock holes in him and not take him you can find whiffs and misses and getting pushed back. They love him at the school and in the interviews so he will win people over with the personality and the desire and all that. But if you take him as a left tackle you’re going to be disappointed. You’ve got to have alternative plans. If you take him as a right tackle or guard then he’ll prove to be a good pick.” Vertical jump was 32 inches, broad jump was 9-5. “Maybe he’s a guard but I still see him as a tackle,” said a fourth scout. “He’s got the feet and the balance. He’s got the ability to play tackle but I want a longer-armed guy. He’ll be a starter, a winner, might make a Pro Bowl a time or two. I don’t think he’s that consistent guy that’s gonna have a 12-year career and is going to seven, eight Pro Bowls. I don’t see that.”
2. KELVIN BANKS, Texas (6-5, 315, 5.14, 1): Third-year junior, three-year starter. “He did play left tackle but he’s got sort of a right tackle’s features,” one scout said. “He’s not perfect but he’s got the size and strength to both block in the run game and enough size and foot agility to protect the passer. If he fails at left tackle he’ll be a right tackle. He has the most value (of the tackles).” Started 42 games at left tackle. “Liked his size and power and had good feet,” said another scout. “He’s a really well-rounded offensive lineman.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “A guy that’s athletic,” a third scout said. “He does look like a guard but let him fail at tackle first because they’re harder to find.” From Humble, Texas. “I don’t see it in this guy,” a fourth scout said. “At all. Big dude. Average athlete. Gets beat a lot. Falls off blocks. Not very strong, not very athletic. Has issues in space. He’d have to be (a guard).”
3. ARMAND MEMBOU, Missouri (6-4, 332, 4.95, 1): Third-year junior, 2 ½-year starter at right tackle. “We got him as a right tackle-guard,” said one scout. “Like him. He could play four of five (positions). For a big fella he’s a really good athlete. Light on his feet. He can bend, he’s quick, plays with good position, uses his length well. He’s never on the ground. He’s strong, not overpowering and not real mean. This is a good player.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 ¾. “Quick, light feet in pass pro, needs to win with his hands early,” said a second scout. “Struggles when power rushers get to his chest. Finishes in the run game and moves well in space. Wish he had a little more pop on contact. Like him at guard or tackle.” Excelled on the bench press (31 reps) and managed 34 inches in the vertical jump. “If you are set everywhere across your line Membou could be the best one (to draft),” said a third scout. “He’s a hell of a right tackle. Some might think he can play on the left side but he’s never done it. He’s a first-rounder even though he’s kind of a right tackle only. He’ll be fine at right tackle. I don’t think he’ll ever have to slide inside.” Four-star recruit from Lee’s Summit, Mo. “I loved his traits but I just didn’t think he was quite ready,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got big-time feet and range. That’s really good. Anchor’s kind of average. The instincts are kind of average. I think it will take a little bit of time so I don’t know if he’s a walk-in starter. I thought second round.” Turns 21 on Wednesday.
4. AIREONTAE ERSERY, Minnesota (6-6, 331, 5.06, 1-2): Started his final 38 games at left tackle before opting out of the Golden Gophers’ bowl game. “I was completely shocked by this guy,” said one scout. “He’s gigantic but he can play. He’s a little high-hipped and stiff-hipped but he’s got feet and excellent balance. He’s really smart … the technique’s there. Uses his hands excellent. Run game, he’s so damn big and he can position and really just move it. In pass pro he knows he’s big and uses his length perfectly. I compared him to Orlando Brown, another big guy, but this guy is better. He’s a better athlete. There will be a lot of talk about putting him at right (tackle) but I’d put him at left.” Didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school. “Big, long, athletic,” said a second scout. “Fluid in space. Liked him better in run than pass. He can improve in the pass game just working on his technique and consistency and not giving up the edge a little bit.” Started his only game played in 2020, redshirted in 2021 and started at left tackle for three years. “Had a good week at the Senior Bowl,” a third scout said. “Excellent knee bend and foot quickness in his pass set. Good extension to get his hands inside and control. Had a really good game against Iowa. Showed ability to anchor with power and can move defenders in the run game. He can get a little lackadaisical at times with his techniques, steps and pad level. He didn’t have a ton of high-school experience and didn’t play at a really good high-school program. He came in there kind of raw and had to learn. He’s a better athlete than (Daniel) Faalele. This kid’s going to be a starting left tackle.” Arms were 33 1/8, hands were just 9 ½. “We were concerned about laziness, lack of discipline and for the process,” said a fourth scout. “That’s bad, especially for an offensive lineman. But he’s an easy mover, light on his feet, pretty good space player for a big guy. You question his awareness a little bit. He’s head and shoulders above Banks and (Josh) Conerly on pure talent.” From Kansas City. “I wouldn’t say he’s had a checkered past but he’s had some little character things,” one scout said. “I believe in him. I’ll say this. I don’t think the character things will hurt his draft spot.” Added a fifth scout: “He’s very stiff. If he’s in the first (round) he’ll be the 30th pick as a right tackle.”
The golden age of offensive tackles in the NFL draft covered a span of five years three decades ago. Regarded as can’t-miss prospects as collegians, five players exceeded their immense expectations forging sterling pro careers that culminated with bronze busts in Canton.
In chronological draft order, the fivesome numbered Willie Roaf, No. 8, 1993; Tony Boselli, No. 2, 1995; Jonathan Ogden, No. 4, 1996; Orlando Pace, No. 1, 1997, and Walter Jones, No. 6, 1997.
The demand for dancing bears to block the ever-increasing explosiveness of edge rushers has never been higher. In the first 55 years of the common draft only once, in 2013, had as many as nine offensive linemen been selected in the first round. Desperate teams drafted nine O-linemen in the Round 1 in two of the past three drafts.
“You go through these rosters,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said, “these linemen are pathetic that are playing in the NFL.”
To put it mildly, every team is digging for giants with agility. What they’re seeing this spring is a good, not great cluster of tackles, better than most years but, of course, teams always want more.
“This is a mixed bag,” an AFC personnel man said. “If you talk to 10 people you get 10 different orders, I’m sure. There are very few left tackles. There are some very good right tackles and there’s some tackles that will probably end up playing guard. There’s some depth in this group and a bunch of ‘em are gonna go because they’re hard to find.
“There are no Ogdens, Bosellis, Walter Joneses. But in today’s football these guys go in the top 10, top 15 or top 20.”
TACKLES
1. WILL CAMPBELL, Louisiana State (6-6, 319, 4.98, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s super talented,” one scout said. “Can do it all. He’s quick, has feet, he’s athletic. His technique’s really good. In the run game, he can position or jolt people. In pass pro, he can mirror. He’ll give up some (pressure) every so often on an inside move mostly. He’s got Pro Bowl talent. His arms are a little short. That’d be the only concern.” Arm (32 5/8 inches) and hand (9 ½ inches) measurements at the combine (regarded as the standard by most teams) were the shortest/smallest among the top tackles. “There’s always exceptions, there’s always outliers,” the scout said.“When you look at what 32 5/8 is compared to 33, and actually put that on a ruler and look at it, if you’re not going to take a guy who has potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler, then, OK … ” Started all 38 games at left tackle. “He’s good,” said a second scout. “If you want to nitpick, his arms aren’t that long. Great kid. His interview, he sounded like a head coach at a P4 (Power Four) school. It was incredible. One of the best interviews I’ve heard in my life.” Five-star recruit from Monroe, La., where his family operates a farm. “He’s less than a Jonah Williams as a left tackle but as a right tackle he would be a good player,” a third scout said. “He’s built like a guard … and I think that’s where he’s going to end up. You can find plenty of negative reps on this kid. If you want to knock holes in him and not take him you can find whiffs and misses and getting pushed back. They love him at the school and in the interviews so he will win people over with the personality and the desire and all that. But if you take him as a left tackle you’re going to be disappointed. You’ve got to have alternative plans. If you take him as a right tackle or guard then he’ll prove to be a good pick.” Vertical jump was 32 inches, broad jump was 9-5. “Maybe he’s a guard but I still see him as a tackle,” said a fourth scout. “He’s got the feet and the balance. He’s got the ability to play tackle but I want a longer-armed guy. He’ll be a starter, a winner, might make a Pro Bowl a time or two. I don’t think he’s that consistent guy that’s gonna have a 12-year career and is going to seven, eight Pro Bowls. I don’t see that.”
2. KELVIN BANKS, Texas (6-5, 315, 5.14, 1): Third-year junior, three-year starter. “He did play left tackle but he’s got sort of a right tackle’s features,” one scout said. “He’s not perfect but he’s got the size and strength to both block in the run game and enough size and foot agility to protect the passer. If he fails at left tackle he’ll be a right tackle. He has the most value (of the tackles).” Started 42 games at left tackle. “Liked his size and power and had good feet,” said another scout. “He’s a really well-rounded offensive lineman.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “A guy that’s athletic,” a third scout said. “He does look like a guard but let him fail at tackle first because they’re harder to find.” From Humble, Texas. “I don’t see it in this guy,” a fourth scout said. “At all. Big dude. Average athlete. Gets beat a lot. Falls off blocks. Not very strong, not very athletic. Has issues in space. He’d have to be (a guard).”
3. ARMAND MEMBOU, Missouri (6-4, 332, 4.95, 1): Third-year junior, 2 ½-year starter at right tackle. “We got him as a right tackle-guard,” said one scout. “Like him. He could play four of five (positions). For a big fella he’s a really good athlete. Light on his feet. He can bend, he’s quick, plays with good position, uses his length well. He’s never on the ground. He’s strong, not overpowering and not real mean. This is a good player.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 ¾. “Quick, light feet in pass pro, needs to win with his hands early,” said a second scout. “Struggles when power rushers get to his chest. Finishes in the run game and moves well in space. Wish he had a little more pop on contact. Like him at guard or tackle.” Excelled on the bench press (31 reps) and managed 34 inches in the vertical jump. “If you are set everywhere across your line Membou could be the best one (to draft),” said a third scout. “He’s a hell of a right tackle. Some might think he can play on the left side but he’s never done it. He’s a first-rounder even though he’s kind of a right tackle only. He’ll be fine at right tackle. I don’t think he’ll ever have to slide inside.” Four-star recruit from Lee’s Summit, Mo. “I loved his traits but I just didn’t think he was quite ready,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got big-time feet and range. That’s really good. Anchor’s kind of average. The instincts are kind of average. I think it will take a little bit of time so I don’t know if he’s a walk-in starter. I thought second round.” Turns 21 on Wednesday.
4. AIREONTAE ERSERY, Minnesota (6-6, 331, 5.06, 1-2): Started his final 38 games at left tackle before opting out of the Golden Gophers’ bowl game. “I was completely shocked by this guy,” said one scout. “He’s gigantic but he can play. He’s a little high-hipped and stiff-hipped but he’s got feet and excellent balance. He’s really smart … the technique’s there. Uses his hands excellent. Run game, he’s so damn big and he can position and really just move it. In pass pro he knows he’s big and uses his length perfectly. I compared him to Orlando Brown, another big guy, but this guy is better. He’s a better athlete. There will be a lot of talk about putting him at right (tackle) but I’d put him at left.” Didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school. “Big, long, athletic,” said a second scout. “Fluid in space. Liked him better in run than pass. He can improve in the pass game just working on his technique and consistency and not giving up the edge a little bit.” Started his only game played in 2020, redshirted in 2021 and started at left tackle for three years. “Had a good week at the Senior Bowl,” a third scout said. “Excellent knee bend and foot quickness in his pass set. Good extension to get his hands inside and control. Had a really good game against Iowa. Showed ability to anchor with power and can move defenders in the run game. He can get a little lackadaisical at times with his techniques, steps and pad level. He didn’t have a ton of high-school experience and didn’t play at a really good high-school program. He came in there kind of raw and had to learn. He’s a better athlete than (Daniel) Faalele. This kid’s going to be a starting left tackle.” Arms were 33 1/8, hands were just 9 ½. “We were concerned about laziness, lack of discipline and for the process,” said a fourth scout. “That’s bad, especially for an offensive lineman. But he’s an easy mover, light on his feet, pretty good space player for a big guy. You question his awareness a little bit. He’s head and shoulders above Banks and (Josh) Conerly on pure talent.” From Kansas City. “I wouldn’t say he’s had a checkered past but he’s had some little character things,” one scout said. “I believe in him. I’ll say this. I don’t think the character things will hurt his draft spot.” Added a fifth scout: “He’s very stiff. If he’s in the first (round) he’ll be the 30th pick as a right tackle.”
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Bob McGinn OT's Part II
5. JOSH CONERLY, Oregon (6-4 ½, 313, 5.04, 1-2): Third-year junior, two-year starter. “If you need a left tackle he would be it,” one scout said. “He has the agility and athletic ability to protect the blind side. He’s only going to get better. Great kid, very young. I had a clear vision for him, especially if I needed a left tackle.” Shifted from running back to the offensive line as a high-school sophomore in Seattle. “Big thing was he played well against Penn State’s Abdul Carter,” said another scout. “That really jumped out. Better pass pro than run blocker. Not super talented. Not a gifted athlete. He’s just getting by on his guile and craftiness. He’s going to start and be a good player.” Started at left tackle opposite right tackle Ajani Cornelius. “Both their tackles were really up and down all year,” said a third scout. “They had a hell of an offense but nether one was consistent. They just really struggled with second moves in the pass game. The Boise State game. (Sept. 7) was that way. I’d probably go with Cornelius just because he’s got a little more upside. It was a struggle getting those kids to practice hard, go hard, play hard.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “If you’re asking a guy as a rookie to protect the blind side he would be a really good option,” a fourth scout said. “One thing he’ll have to get better at is strength in the run game if he wants to become a long-time Pro Bowl player. He doesn’t have in-line strength and power to displace vertically. He doesn’t have it, and you hope because he’s such a young guy that he can develop that.” Struggled in the Senior Bowl game. “He’d be on my all-overrated list,” a fifth scout said. “Has some athleticism but didn’t play smart, didn’t play with very good technique. I didn’t feel this guy.”
6. JOSH SIMMONS, Ohio State (6-5, 317, no 40, 2): Suffered a torn patellar tendon in Game 6 and underwent season-ending surgery Oct. 12. “He was just pass-setting and went down,” said one scout. “Boom! What a shame. He’s the best athlete in the group and maybe the best in the last few years. He is what you want. The movement is just easy for him. He’s also got some grit to him. He’s not a power dude but it’s easy for him and he yokes people up. Pro Bowl talent. If he didn’t get hurt I’d probably have him over Campbell.” Another scout said the knee would stop him from choosing him in the first round. “Patellar tendons can be longer than ACL,” he said. “It’s definitely going to drop him. There aren’t many patellar tendons in the offensive line. He’s an outstanding athlete. Lacks some pop and power but he’s got really good feet and bend.” Fourth-year senior redshirted in 2021, started 13 games at right tackle in 2022 and 19 games at left tackle in 2023-’24. “His arm length is (33) and some people don’t like that,” a third scout said. “He can stick-and-stay in space. He has sustain. He can kick out in line. Well-rounded tackle.” Removed from consideration by one team for makeup issues. Another team expressed serious reservations. “Kind of a f-----,” said a fourth scout. “His (issues) are more football character. He has a complete ******** sense of urgency, like a total finesse player. Mental is an issue. Lacks power, struggles to anchor. Fundamentals are poor. Plays like a guy that was at a JUCO and just came here. Now, he is a natural athlete and a knee bender. He’s got quickness, balance and body control, real light on his feet. He can pull and get to the second level. I did see the athletic positives but the whole football player I wasn’t crazy about.” Hands were 10. Four-star recruit as a guard from San Diego.
7. OZZY TRAPILO, Boston College (6-8, 319, 5.26, 2): Fifth-year senior. “He’s not getting enough buzz for what he is,” said one scout. “He’s just mammoth, dense. You’d probably like a little better arm length (33) but he’s technically sound enough so he can compensate for that. He’s a plug-and-play starter. More of a right tackle than a true left tackle. If he failed because of length and maybe he doesn’t have the left tackle feet I think you’ve got a high floor as a guard. Great football character, leader, tone-setter for that program. Above average athlete. Really good body control, great strength, good bend for a guy that’s 6-8. This guy is a ready-made NFL-type prospect. Limitations are first-step quickness, questionable length. Once in a while you see an elite edge rusher that’s able to get on him and he struggled to recover. For the most part, this guy is not going to get beat too often. Just a real steady Eddie.” Redshirted in 2020 before starting two games in 2021, 10 games at left tackle in 2022 and 24 games at right tackle in 2023-’24. “I usually don’t like big tall guys because it usually means they’re stiff waist-benders but he’s pretty good,” said a second scout. “Exceptional kid. Did a pretty good job at the Senior Bowl. He’s going to say and do all the right things. You’ll want him in your locker room. It would not surprise me if he slid into the second round because he checks all the boxes and too many other guys are (bleeps) at a position where there aren’t too many (bleeps).” His father, Steve (6-4, 282, 4.97), was drafted in the fourth round by New Orleans in 1987 and started 52 games over four years as a road-grading guard. He died in 2004. “He’s got some bloodlines,” a third scout said. “He’s a typical tall, narrow-framed BC resume. Not super gifted but he kind of gets the job done. If you need a right tackle, he’ll be a fourth or fifth starter, plug-in-and-play and probably be OK. The later he goes, the better he looks. If you overdraft him at, like, 23 or something you’ll be, like, ‘Oh, boy.’ But if you get him in the third you’ll be excited about him.” Three-time all-conference academic selection with a master’s degree in finance. From Norwell, Mass.
8. MARCUS MBOW, Purdue (6-4, 302, no 40, 2-3): Three-star recruit from Wauwatosa East High School in Milwaukee. “Really, really good athlete,” one scout said. “Agile, quick, smart, works, got some nastiness to him. He just needs to build up his body and get stronger. He reminded of Zach Tom. Purdue was awful. I see him as a second-rounder.” Played in four games as a freshman, started at right guard in 2022 and at right tackle in 2023-’24. Missed half of the ’23 season with a fractured leg that one scout said continued to affect his play early last season. “He has third-round ability,” the scout said. “I don’t think he can survive out there at tackle because of his size and length (32-inch arms). He is a guard, but it’s questionable whether or not he’ll be physical enough against bigger defensive tackles. The run game is suddenly back now.” Had major problems trying to withstand bull rushes at Senior Bowl practices. Said a third scout: “I thought he was weak as water in some of those reps at the Senior Bowl.” Hands were 10 ½. “Undersized with good quickness, speed and burst,” a fourth scout said. “Just lacks strength to engage on the line of scrimmage. He’s got a lot of traits. He just needs to get stronger. He can get out in space and run and pull and get to the second level easy. I don’t think he’s strong enough yet for guard. I don’t think he’s a left (tackle). That’s why I would say center, if anything, but he’s never done that so it’s a pure projection. He wants to be a tackle. You start him there until he fails.”
9. CHARLES GRANT, William & Mary (6-5, 309, 5.14, 3): Backup in 2020 before starting for 3 ½ seasons at left tackle. “He’s a nice project,” one scout said. “He’s as athletic as any guy in the (offensive line) group. His big problem is he’s had a hard time putting on and holding weight. Damn, he looks good moving around. He just needs to get stronger. He’s got great length. If he failed at tackle (maybe) play him at center because he’s smart, super athletic and can bend. He could go in the third maybe.” His arm length (34 ¾) was the longest of the top 10 tackles. Hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. “He’s very interesting,” a second scout said. “He’s a true left tackle. I was really impressed with his feet and his length. I think he’s a future starter. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see a team take him 50 to 80. He can really move. Very good pass protector. He’s coming from a smaller school and people might doubt that a little.” Team captain. From Portsmouth, Va.
10. MYLES HINTON, Michigan (6-6 ½, 325, no 40, 3-4): Started 15 games at right tackle for Stanford in 2021-’22 before transferring. At Michigan, he was benched in 2023 after five starts for the national champions before bouncing back to start 10 games at left tackle in ’24. “He’s got first-round talent,” one scout said. “He’s huge, he’s incredibly long. Now, putting it all together, I don’t know. He is a complete roll of the dice. If this guy had Will Campbell’s makeup he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Not because he's a bad kid. Not mean, not aggressive or violent. He’s finesse all day. He gives up on too many plays. But when this guy does it right … sometimes when he’s wrong he’s still right because he’s too big and too athletic. This guy could be a red (solid starting) player if he had a higher give-a-**** factor.” Described as a “true renaissance man” by his coach in high school. Marine biology major with environmental interests. Avid fisherman. His father, Chris (6-4, 276, 4.85), moved from outside linebacker to tight end to tackle during his career at Northwestern before being the No. 4 pick in the 1983 draft. He went on to play 13 seasons at tackle and make seven Pro Bowls. Myles’ younger brother, Christopher (6-3 ½, 304, 5.29), made 19 starts at defensive tackle for Michigan. Having played seven games in two seasons, he remains on the Chargers’ roster. “I don’t think he’s much,” said a second scout referring to Myles. “The dad was really good. His dad was probably even a better athlete than the kid. When Chris Hinton came out they said he was a little soft coming out of Northwestern. One thing about Chris Hinton, he was tough.” Arms were 34 1/8, hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. Myles, a four-star recruit from John’s Creek, Ga., also competed in basketball and track as a prep and won a state championship in the discus.
Cameron Williams, Texas (6-5 ½, 317, no 40)
Said one scout: “Played right tackle there. Not a very good athlete. Struggles with movement. Put him inside. In the playoffs he was getting run by.”
Jalen Travis, Iowa State (6-7 ½, 341, 5.13)
Said one scout: “Transfer from Princeton over the summer (of 2024). Super intelligent and already has been accepted into multiple law schools. He’s a massive kid. People will want to try to develop him further.”
Logan Brown, Kansas (6-6 ½, 311, 5.15)
Said one scout: “His measurables look fantastic on paper. He draws your attention with his build. But he’s pigeon-toed and very stiff. His tape is just OK. He’s a third-day guy.”
Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M (6-7, 321, 5.17)
Said one scout: “He was a fifth- or sixth-year senior. He didn’t leave Alabama A&M. He stayed loyal to the program. There are a lot of reasons to like Carson Vinson. He is a project to get stronger and all that, but he’s got feet and he’s got length (34 ½ arms) and he’s gonna be overdrafted. Not in the first two nights but he’ll be a third-day guy that people will really, really want to work with because he can move.”
Jack Nelson, Wisconsin (6-7, 318, no 40)
Said one scout: “I’ve been waiting for Jack to ascend over the last three years and I still haven’t seen it. He gets drafted and he’ll be a backup.”
5. JOSH CONERLY, Oregon (6-4 ½, 313, 5.04, 1-2): Third-year junior, two-year starter. “If you need a left tackle he would be it,” one scout said. “He has the agility and athletic ability to protect the blind side. He’s only going to get better. Great kid, very young. I had a clear vision for him, especially if I needed a left tackle.” Shifted from running back to the offensive line as a high-school sophomore in Seattle. “Big thing was he played well against Penn State’s Abdul Carter,” said another scout. “That really jumped out. Better pass pro than run blocker. Not super talented. Not a gifted athlete. He’s just getting by on his guile and craftiness. He’s going to start and be a good player.” Started at left tackle opposite right tackle Ajani Cornelius. “Both their tackles were really up and down all year,” said a third scout. “They had a hell of an offense but nether one was consistent. They just really struggled with second moves in the pass game. The Boise State game. (Sept. 7) was that way. I’d probably go with Cornelius just because he’s got a little more upside. It was a struggle getting those kids to practice hard, go hard, play hard.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “If you’re asking a guy as a rookie to protect the blind side he would be a really good option,” a fourth scout said. “One thing he’ll have to get better at is strength in the run game if he wants to become a long-time Pro Bowl player. He doesn’t have in-line strength and power to displace vertically. He doesn’t have it, and you hope because he’s such a young guy that he can develop that.” Struggled in the Senior Bowl game. “He’d be on my all-overrated list,” a fifth scout said. “Has some athleticism but didn’t play smart, didn’t play with very good technique. I didn’t feel this guy.”
6. JOSH SIMMONS, Ohio State (6-5, 317, no 40, 2): Suffered a torn patellar tendon in Game 6 and underwent season-ending surgery Oct. 12. “He was just pass-setting and went down,” said one scout. “Boom! What a shame. He’s the best athlete in the group and maybe the best in the last few years. He is what you want. The movement is just easy for him. He’s also got some grit to him. He’s not a power dude but it’s easy for him and he yokes people up. Pro Bowl talent. If he didn’t get hurt I’d probably have him over Campbell.” Another scout said the knee would stop him from choosing him in the first round. “Patellar tendons can be longer than ACL,” he said. “It’s definitely going to drop him. There aren’t many patellar tendons in the offensive line. He’s an outstanding athlete. Lacks some pop and power but he’s got really good feet and bend.” Fourth-year senior redshirted in 2021, started 13 games at right tackle in 2022 and 19 games at left tackle in 2023-’24. “His arm length is (33) and some people don’t like that,” a third scout said. “He can stick-and-stay in space. He has sustain. He can kick out in line. Well-rounded tackle.” Removed from consideration by one team for makeup issues. Another team expressed serious reservations. “Kind of a f-----,” said a fourth scout. “His (issues) are more football character. He has a complete ******** sense of urgency, like a total finesse player. Mental is an issue. Lacks power, struggles to anchor. Fundamentals are poor. Plays like a guy that was at a JUCO and just came here. Now, he is a natural athlete and a knee bender. He’s got quickness, balance and body control, real light on his feet. He can pull and get to the second level. I did see the athletic positives but the whole football player I wasn’t crazy about.” Hands were 10. Four-star recruit as a guard from San Diego.
7. OZZY TRAPILO, Boston College (6-8, 319, 5.26, 2): Fifth-year senior. “He’s not getting enough buzz for what he is,” said one scout. “He’s just mammoth, dense. You’d probably like a little better arm length (33) but he’s technically sound enough so he can compensate for that. He’s a plug-and-play starter. More of a right tackle than a true left tackle. If he failed because of length and maybe he doesn’t have the left tackle feet I think you’ve got a high floor as a guard. Great football character, leader, tone-setter for that program. Above average athlete. Really good body control, great strength, good bend for a guy that’s 6-8. This guy is a ready-made NFL-type prospect. Limitations are first-step quickness, questionable length. Once in a while you see an elite edge rusher that’s able to get on him and he struggled to recover. For the most part, this guy is not going to get beat too often. Just a real steady Eddie.” Redshirted in 2020 before starting two games in 2021, 10 games at left tackle in 2022 and 24 games at right tackle in 2023-’24. “I usually don’t like big tall guys because it usually means they’re stiff waist-benders but he’s pretty good,” said a second scout. “Exceptional kid. Did a pretty good job at the Senior Bowl. He’s going to say and do all the right things. You’ll want him in your locker room. It would not surprise me if he slid into the second round because he checks all the boxes and too many other guys are (bleeps) at a position where there aren’t too many (bleeps).” His father, Steve (6-4, 282, 4.97), was drafted in the fourth round by New Orleans in 1987 and started 52 games over four years as a road-grading guard. He died in 2004. “He’s got some bloodlines,” a third scout said. “He’s a typical tall, narrow-framed BC resume. Not super gifted but he kind of gets the job done. If you need a right tackle, he’ll be a fourth or fifth starter, plug-in-and-play and probably be OK. The later he goes, the better he looks. If you overdraft him at, like, 23 or something you’ll be, like, ‘Oh, boy.’ But if you get him in the third you’ll be excited about him.” Three-time all-conference academic selection with a master’s degree in finance. From Norwell, Mass.
8. MARCUS MBOW, Purdue (6-4, 302, no 40, 2-3): Three-star recruit from Wauwatosa East High School in Milwaukee. “Really, really good athlete,” one scout said. “Agile, quick, smart, works, got some nastiness to him. He just needs to build up his body and get stronger. He reminded of Zach Tom. Purdue was awful. I see him as a second-rounder.” Played in four games as a freshman, started at right guard in 2022 and at right tackle in 2023-’24. Missed half of the ’23 season with a fractured leg that one scout said continued to affect his play early last season. “He has third-round ability,” the scout said. “I don’t think he can survive out there at tackle because of his size and length (32-inch arms). He is a guard, but it’s questionable whether or not he’ll be physical enough against bigger defensive tackles. The run game is suddenly back now.” Had major problems trying to withstand bull rushes at Senior Bowl practices. Said a third scout: “I thought he was weak as water in some of those reps at the Senior Bowl.” Hands were 10 ½. “Undersized with good quickness, speed and burst,” a fourth scout said. “Just lacks strength to engage on the line of scrimmage. He’s got a lot of traits. He just needs to get stronger. He can get out in space and run and pull and get to the second level easy. I don’t think he’s strong enough yet for guard. I don’t think he’s a left (tackle). That’s why I would say center, if anything, but he’s never done that so it’s a pure projection. He wants to be a tackle. You start him there until he fails.”
9. CHARLES GRANT, William & Mary (6-5, 309, 5.14, 3): Backup in 2020 before starting for 3 ½ seasons at left tackle. “He’s a nice project,” one scout said. “He’s as athletic as any guy in the (offensive line) group. His big problem is he’s had a hard time putting on and holding weight. Damn, he looks good moving around. He just needs to get stronger. He’s got great length. If he failed at tackle (maybe) play him at center because he’s smart, super athletic and can bend. He could go in the third maybe.” His arm length (34 ¾) was the longest of the top 10 tackles. Hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. “He’s very interesting,” a second scout said. “He’s a true left tackle. I was really impressed with his feet and his length. I think he’s a future starter. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see a team take him 50 to 80. He can really move. Very good pass protector. He’s coming from a smaller school and people might doubt that a little.” Team captain. From Portsmouth, Va.
10. MYLES HINTON, Michigan (6-6 ½, 325, no 40, 3-4): Started 15 games at right tackle for Stanford in 2021-’22 before transferring. At Michigan, he was benched in 2023 after five starts for the national champions before bouncing back to start 10 games at left tackle in ’24. “He’s got first-round talent,” one scout said. “He’s huge, he’s incredibly long. Now, putting it all together, I don’t know. He is a complete roll of the dice. If this guy had Will Campbell’s makeup he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Not because he's a bad kid. Not mean, not aggressive or violent. He’s finesse all day. He gives up on too many plays. But when this guy does it right … sometimes when he’s wrong he’s still right because he’s too big and too athletic. This guy could be a red (solid starting) player if he had a higher give-a-**** factor.” Described as a “true renaissance man” by his coach in high school. Marine biology major with environmental interests. Avid fisherman. His father, Chris (6-4, 276, 4.85), moved from outside linebacker to tight end to tackle during his career at Northwestern before being the No. 4 pick in the 1983 draft. He went on to play 13 seasons at tackle and make seven Pro Bowls. Myles’ younger brother, Christopher (6-3 ½, 304, 5.29), made 19 starts at defensive tackle for Michigan. Having played seven games in two seasons, he remains on the Chargers’ roster. “I don’t think he’s much,” said a second scout referring to Myles. “The dad was really good. His dad was probably even a better athlete than the kid. When Chris Hinton came out they said he was a little soft coming out of Northwestern. One thing about Chris Hinton, he was tough.” Arms were 34 1/8, hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. Myles, a four-star recruit from John’s Creek, Ga., also competed in basketball and track as a prep and won a state championship in the discus.
THE NEXT FIVE
Cameron Williams, Texas (6-5 ½, 317, no 40)
Said one scout: “Played right tackle there. Not a very good athlete. Struggles with movement. Put him inside. In the playoffs he was getting run by.”
Jalen Travis, Iowa State (6-7 ½, 341, 5.13)
Said one scout: “Transfer from Princeton over the summer (of 2024). Super intelligent and already has been accepted into multiple law schools. He’s a massive kid. People will want to try to develop him further.”
Logan Brown, Kansas (6-6 ½, 311, 5.15)
Said one scout: “His measurables look fantastic on paper. He draws your attention with his build. But he’s pigeon-toed and very stiff. His tape is just OK. He’s a third-day guy.”
Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M (6-7, 321, 5.17)
Said one scout: “He was a fifth- or sixth-year senior. He didn’t leave Alabama A&M. He stayed loyal to the program. There are a lot of reasons to like Carson Vinson. He is a project to get stronger and all that, but he’s got feet and he’s got length (34 ½ arms) and he’s gonna be overdrafted. Not in the first two nights but he’ll be a third-day guy that people will really, really want to work with because he can move.”
Jack Nelson, Wisconsin (6-7, 318, no 40)
Said one scout: “I’ve been waiting for Jack to ascend over the last three years and I still haven’t seen it. He gets drafted and he’ll be a backup.”