Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2023 NFL Draft with its position previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Josh Queipo continues the previews with the offensive tackle position, with a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need. Queipo also provides a detailed list of this year’s top offensive tackles. In addition, Scott Reynolds offers up the Bucs draft needs and the annual Pewter Report Bucs’ Best Bets – the most likely offensive tackle for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Offensive Tackle

Bucs OL Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Change is afoot at the tackle position for the Bucs. After eight seasons manning the left tackle position, Donovan Smith is gone. All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs is now in a bit of limbo as he could be playing on either side of the line come September. In preparation he is working out in both spots.

Beyond Wirfs the options get murky as Tampa Bay has several players with tackle/guard flexibility that they could use, but probably don’t feel extremely confident with. These options include 2022 second-round draft pick Luke Goedeke, who played right tackle in college at Central Michigan, recently signed Matt Feiler who has almost 1,600 snaps at right tackle in his career (although only one since 2020).

In addition to those two Tampa Bay can count Robert Hainsey as a part of that group. While there has been less talk of Hainsey transitioning to tackle, he, like Goedeke played right tackle in college. After those players, the Bucs have a couple of relatively unproven options in Brandon Walton, Justin Skule, Grant Hermanns and Michael Niese.

What The Bucs Need At Offensive Tackle

Tampa Bay needs clarity above all else. Goedeke, Hainsey and Feiler are all options to play right tackle … and left guard … and right guard. And none of those players are slam dunks for any of those positions. Each player has his own distinct question marks.

Hainsey hasn’t played right tackle since 2020 at Notre Dame. Goedeke struggled mightily at left guard last year. The Bucs moved him to that position because there are questions regarding whether his build and arm length are suitable for tackle. And as mentioned before, Feiler hasn’t played tackle since 2019.

Tampa Bay needs to find a player who is a legitimately strong option to play tackle and simultaneously give Wirfs some certainty at where he will play in 2023 so he can dedicate all of his time and energy into one spot. Offensive tackle could very well be the team’s top priority and first-round pick.

Top Offensive Tackles In The 2023 Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski – Junior – 6-4, 313 – 5.16

Skoronski is a pure technician and easily the best offensive linemen in this year’s draft. He is also one of the few true blue-chip prospects this year as well. He uses a quick get off and lightning-fast hands to counter length that he lacks. Skoronski is a plus mover who is an effective puller and works well in space. That combined with his superior leg drive make him an excellent run blocker. His lack of wingspan makes him a possibility to move inside to guard and he has true five-position versatility. Only allowing six pressures all season in 2022, Skoronski is capable of moving into a starting NFL lineup and immediately be a plus contributor.

2. Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr. – Junior – 6-6, 313 – N/A

Johnson has a legitimate chance to be the first tackle off the board next week, especially considering the fact that Skoronski very well may be drafted to be a guard. The questions about length and wingspan aren’t there with Johnson as both are above the 95th percentile. Standing at over 6-foot-6 inches, Johnson has no bad weight and carries that weight well. Johnson defends the outside arc very well against both speed and power. He is a mean finisher who combines lateral mobility with a powerful lower half to drive defenders off the line of scrimmage. Johnson is a natural left tackle who has a chance to be a top-ten player at his position for years to come.

3. Tennessee OT Darnell Wright – Junior – 6-5, 333 – 5.01

Tennessee RT Darnell Wright – Photo by: USA Today

Wright is a late riser in the draft as evaluators got to see what he could do in the biggest moments against the best competition. Wright’s tape against Alabama, and more specifically Will Anderson, was absolutely stellar. No tackle better handled Anderson than Wright. He has a massive frame that he uses to his advantage, absorbing bull rushes and long arms with a powerful anchor.

Wright creates wins for himself with a quick jump set that helps him get vertical to keep the edge of the pocket clean. He pairs that quickness with fast violent hands that deliver punches designed to stun and knock back opponents. While he is a good run blocker, Wright has been in a power scheme during his time in Tennessee. He hasn’t been given the opportunity to show what he can do in a wide zone scheme, but his functional athleticism gives hope.

4. Georgia OT Broderick Jones – Sophomore – 6-5, 311 – 4.97

Jones requires evaluators to balance his excellent athleticism and quality 2022 tape against the fact that he is very inexperienced. With only 19 career starts and less than 1,400 career snaps Jones is still a moldable ball of clay. Jones’ hip fluidity and overall agility give him above average movement skills. These aide him in operating outside and at the second level in the run game. Jones uses his long arms to latch and control rushers and helps him adjust to inside counter moves well.

However, he will need to improve at landing his punches and not giving up his chest to defenders. When this happens, he has trouble anchoring and can get pushed back into the quarterback’s lap. Ultimately, Jones has all of the physical tools to be one of the very best offensive linemen in the league. But he will only reach those levels if he continues to develop his very raw skill set and continues to gain experience.

5. Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison – Junior – 6-4, 315 – 4.98

Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison – Photo by: USA Today

Harrison is a good athlete with a strong and quick lower half. He mirrors edge rushers trying to gain the outside corner on him with impressive foot speed and placement. His quickness also aides him getting into space and finding second-level defenders like linebackers, safeties and corners on outside zone runs, toss sweeps and screens to the perimeter. And while his lower half is strong, he needs to continue to improve his play strength as he can be bullied by more powerful rushers.

Harrison is also fairly young which bodes well for him in that he most likely isn’t near done developing physically (where he has room to add weight to his frame) or from a technique perspective. The key for Harrison at the next level is to continue to develop his pass protection where he will be challenged to learn more complex schemes than what he was exposed to in college.

6. Ohio State OT Dawand Jones – Senior – 6-8, 374 – 5.35

Jones is a mammoth human being who relies on his size and almost 88-inch wingspan to just absorb anything and everything that tries coming into his wake. And while his size would lead you to believe he is not a great mover; he really is for his size. However, he will never be ideal for a movement-based offense. But if you can keep him in a gap/power scheme he is going to bully opposing defenders with his incredibly strong lower half.

Jones has an advanced feel for pass blocking, diagnosing the rushers preferred way of winning and adapting his plan to it. If his opponent wants to try and win the edge, Jones will use his tree trunks of arms to push him wide of the arc. If they try to get to his chest down the middle, he loves to respond with a snatch and pin technique. And if they try to win to his inside, he isn’t afraid to wash them through the pocket. He pairs this advanced pass protection with a maulers attitude in the run game to drive defenders through the ground.

7. Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron – Senior – 6-5, 318 – N/A

Bergeron, like Skoronski may be a better guard than tackle at the NFL level. He is a fluid mover with a compact build. Bergeron is at his best when he fires off the line and dictates the point of attack. He shows plus athleticism and agility on tape, moving well laterally, climbing to the second level and covering up linebackers. Bergeron should enter the NFL as a solid run blocker from day one.

Bergeron struggles with length as defenders with long arms can get into his chest and nullify his anchor, driving him backwards with ease. In an effort to protect the edge he can often over set for outside rushes and leave his inside shoulder vulnerable for counters.

8. Old Dominion OT Nick Saldiveri – Senior – 6-6, 318 – 5.21

Saldiveri is an athletic lineman with an explosive lower half. That explosiveness helps him excel as a lateral blocker in a moving run scheme where he can execute reach blocks to open up lanes. He possesses plus footwork to keep him balanced in pass sets in order to handle outside and inside moves.

Most of Saldiveri’s opportunities come from how he handles the second half of a rep. He can struggle to maintain anchor by completing the sink in his hips, maintain hand placement to control rushers second moves. He can also get caught leaning if he is caught off guard by counter move he wasn’t expecting. Ultimately, Saldiveri’s football IQ and overall awareness give him a fighter’s chance of developing into a starter at the next level, although it may or may not be at a position other than tackle.

9. Pittsburgh OT Carter Warren

Warren is at his best when he can use his long arms to catch defenders early in the rep. When he does this, he has the ability to lock out and control his assignment, keeping them away from his chest. However, if he is unable to land his hands early, he invites trouble. Warren’s average athleticism holds him back from being able to win the top of the arc with speed. And his awareness of that fact forces him to protect against it, which in turn leaves him vulnerable to inside counters.

And while Warren has long arms, he does not have heavy hands and a strong latch to pair with them. That leads him to letting his hands get wide where he loses control. In the run game he is an adequate blocker who can drive through opponents at the line of scrimmage but doesn’t work very well on the move as a puller or at the second level.

10. Utah OT Braeden Daniels – Senior – 6-4, 294 – 4.99

Daniels’ size can lead one to think he will have to move inside to guard or center. However, were he to stay outside at tackle he immediately can use his size to be a plus run blocker as he generates natural leverage from his shorter, stockier frame. Daniels plays with good pad level and a wide base that give him a solid foundation to win reps. However, he has trouble recovering against both speed and power/length. When that happens, his best tool is to try and simply redirect the defender rather than a full recovery to regain leverage.

Daniels plays with good balance that helps him adjust to counter moves well. That comes with his high IQ as he shows a developed understanding of pass rush plans, stunts, twists and blitzes. Overall, Daniels has the mental acuity and technique to elevate the depth of any offensive line and as long as he can work on being able to match up physically with next level defenders, he could be a plus technician-style starter for years to come.

Best Of The Rest

11. Maryland OT Jaelyn Duncan – Senior – 6-5, 306 – 5.10

Duncan is the prototypical project athlete. He has the frame, speed and footwork to protect the edge easily. He moves well and can redirect which aides him in matching counter moves in pass protection. His movement skills are also a plus as a run blocker where he flashes as a plus puller and in zone schemes.

Duncan still has a long way to go to reach his potential. His hands are a minus which has led to him drawing penalties and losing latch to finish blocks. And his upright posture saps what little anchor he can muster right now.

12. Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris – Senior – 6-5, 307 – 5.10

Morris has flashes of amazing tape, using his ideal frame and quick feet to fire off the line with a quick and efficient set. He then can show off his massive wingspan to mirror and match edge defenders to the top of the arc or rely on his fantastic balance to handle counter moves easily. Morris has a mean demeanor that you look for in a lineman and it shows in his powerful punch as well as the way in which he finishes blocks. His long arms also aide him in the run game as he executes reach blocks well.

Where Morris struggles is in keeping his fundamentals. He has trouble absorbing contact. He can either jump back to reset, resulting in him confining the pocket for his quarterback or narrow his base allowing opponents to drive him wherever they want. And while his punch is powerful at contact, his hands can slip wide leading to potential penalty issues at the next level. Add in some recent injury and character concerns and you have a talented playerwho may not be bankable.

13. BYU OT Blake Freeland – Senior – 6-7, 302 – 4.98

BYU OT Blake Freeland – Photo by: USA Today

Freeland is a long and athletic with short arms that don’t match his 6-foot-7 frame. Freeland moves easily for his size, showing his basketball background with nimble feet while the upper and lower halves of his body work in concert. Freeland also uses those basketball skills to jump off the line with explosiveness. This gives him an advantage when protecting the edge on vertical pass sets. As a run defender he excels when he is able to keep his feet churning, driving defenders away from the point of attack.

While Freeland is able to move well for a big man, he does not have the play strength that will work at the NFL level yet. He has had to put on weight every year to just get to his current 302 playing designation and he doesn’t show the power needed to handle NFL linemen consistently. Additionally, at 6-foot-7, he has and will continue to struggle maintaining leverage and pad level. He lacks ideal timing for his punch and his hands can slip wide. He is a developmental project who has the ceiling of a starter in the NFL.

14. North Carolina OT Asim Richards – Senior – 6-4, 309 – 5.12

Richards has the frame to be a natural leverage type of player. Unfortunately, he hasn’t learned how to play that way to date. He maintains a high pad level that kills his leverage and leaves him susceptible to bull rushes that sap his anchor. Despite this, he has the arm length to stick on the outside and strength throughout his upper and lower half to be a power blocker. His best reps are as a run blocker

15. Georgia OT Warren McClendon – Junior – 6-4, 306 – N/A

McClendon was a part of not one, but two national championship teams at Georgia. McClendon has the length and build to play tackle at the NFL level but has a slighter frame and narrow base that prevents him from being able to handle powerful bull rushes. McClendon makes up for these deficiencies with sound technique. That technique keeps his penalty count low. He combines a strong upper half with a good hand strike that gives him a punchers chance in pass protection. That paired with a good run blocking skill set gives McClendon the upside of being a capable fill-in backup.

Bucs’ Best Bets: OT

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 1-3: Oklahoma LT Anton Harrison

The Bucs have a need for another offensive tackle after parting ways with Donovan Smith after his bad 2022 season, and also letting Josh Wells go in free agency. Tampa Bay feels that Tristan Wirfs has the athleticism to play right or left tackle, and the Bucs also believe that Luke Goedeke could handle playing right tackle, which was his college position, after seeing him do it effectively in Week 18. But drafting a player like Oklahoma left tackle Anton Harrison would allow the Bucs to keep Wirfs at right tackle where he’s an All-Pro, and slide Goedeke over to right guard to replace Shaq Mason.

The Bucs might prefer Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr., Tennessee right tackle or Georgia’s Broderick Jones, but that trio could be off the board by the time Tampa Bay selects at No. 19. Harrison started at left tackle as a sophomore and junior, playing in 34 games at Oklahoma with 24 starts (23 at left tackle, 1 at right tackle). Harrison just turned 21 and is a long way from reaching his ceiling as a player. He’s athletic and has great movement skills, but needs to hit the weight room to build a stronger core and base. Still, he’s talented enough to be a plug-and-play starter as a rookie left tackle.

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 4-7: BYU LT Blake Freeland

The Bucs like to draft left tackles due to their athleticism, and Jason Licht has done that with Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa. Even Ryan Jensen was a left tackle in college. Tampa Bay needs a potential starting tackle on the offensive line and even a swing tackle to replace Josh Wells. BYU’s Blake Freeland is one of the most athletic linemen in this year’s draft. His 10-foot broad jump and 37-inch vertical were tops at the NFL Scouting Combine for all linemen this year.

Freeland has an imposing frame at nearly 6-foot-8, 302 pounds and has room to add another 10 pounds of bulk at the next level. As a four-year starter for the Cougars, Freeland logged 26 starts at left tackle and 15 starts at right tackle. He’s well versed in playing in a zone scheme at BYU and has light feet to pull and attack on the perimeter. At best, Freeland could develop into a starting offensive tackle in Tampa Bay in a year or two. At worst, he’s the team’s swing tackle and top reserve as he improves his technique and strength behind the scenes.