From all the tape I’ve watched of the 2020 offensive tackle class, I think these 15 prospects have the best chance at a future in the NFL, although three or four of them will probably move inside to guard. This tackle class is rare, sporting not only premier talent, but also some depth and a few developmental prospects with high ceilings.

To each tackle’s evaluation section I’ve added their Year 1 and Year 3 outlook, not necessarily saying what I think will happen, but what is a realistic best case scenario for each prospect as they progress in their NFL careers. Tons of factors will be at work in determining if these projections actually come true, including scheme, coaching, character, health and more, but based on what I can know at this time, I made reasonable, high-end guesses as to where each player’s career could be headed in ideal circumstances.

Alabama OT Jedrick Wills – Photo: University of Alabama

My grading scale, in layman’s terms of value:

1st Round = Elite player
2nd Round = Very good-to-good starter
3rd Round = Good-solid starter
4th Round = Spot starter-good depth player
5th Round = Depth player/Special teams

15. Cameron Clark, Charlotte (6-4, 308, 5.29)

For what he is, I kind of like Clark on tape. He’s not a good athlete and that probably means he can’t stay at tackle in the NFL, but man he’s powerful and nasty in the run game. Watch him against Clemson and you’ll see the rare small school tackle with the physical ability to mash with the big dogs – even at the next level.

Unfortunately, Clark is so tight laterally that he’s always going to struggle against pass rushers with speed, athleticism and the ability to cross his face quickly. His technique, length and strength help him to a degree, but a move inside may negate some of the ugly reps you see on tape.

I think Clark can hang in the NFL because of his physical tools and ill-tempered play demeanor, but there are going to be limitations and he needs to be protected by scheme to a degree. His ceiling is probably a low-end, spot starter at the next level, but he’s likely to settle in as a decent backup.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup

Year 3 Outlook: Position versatile backup

Grade: 5th Round

14. Jack Driscoll, Auburn (6-5, 306, 5.02)

Driscoll was actually better all-around on tape than I thought he’d be, but there are still too many examples of quality opponents beating him inside and with power than you’d like. His lack of length is going to push him inside for most teams, but his lack of strength could be an issue there.

Driscoll has quick feet and solid technique, which could help make him a versatile sixth or seventh offensive lineman off the bench. If he can learn to snap, Driscoll might make a solid backup center, but he isn’t a people mover in the run game and rushers than can convert speed-to-power are probably always going to give him issues. Driscoll is the type of player you pick up on Day 3 due to his smarts, work ethic and versatility that will add to any team’s depth, but don’t expect much more than that.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup tackle

Year 3 Outlook: Backup utility offensive lineman

Grade: 5th Round

13. Matt Peart, Connecticut (6-7, 318, 5.06)

There’s a pretty decent high ceiling for Peart as a pass protector, but guys with his lack of flexibility, bend and strength rarely become difference makers in the run game. Peart wasn’t much of a people-mover or block-sustainer in the AAC, so don’t expect much different in the NFL. He works hard and he’s big and long enough to get in the way, but this is clearly the area where he needs to do the most work before he sees the field in the NFL.

In pass protection, Peart glides into his pass sets and has the quickness to match speed rushers, but the time at the Senior Bowl still showed a tackle learning to adjust his set points to different rushers. Again, his upright style of play invites rushers into his frame, but Peart’s length is a massive asset in warding power rushes off and helping him recover and stay on blocks even when his footwork isn’t perfect.

Peart reminds me some of longtime Tampa Bay right tackle Demar Dotson, and that’s probably his peak comparison for the NFL. If he can get to Dotson’s level technically, he has solid long-term starter ability, but I’ve seen a lot of tackle prospects in Peart’s mold before, and most of them end up struggling in the NFL.

Year 1 Outlook: Developmental

Year 3 Outlook: Starting potential if strength and technique have developed

Grade: 4th Round

12. Ben Bartch, Saint John’s (6-6, 309)

It’s almost impossible to feel comfortable projecting a D-III prospect to the NFL, especially on the offensive line, where the uptick in competition is greater than any position in the league. Adding to an already blurry picture is Bartch’s lack of ideal length, with sub-33-inch arms that will almost certainly push NFL teams to move him inside.

Projecting a player to success through a position change and a massive leap in competition is extremely risky. Thankfully, Bartch’s Senior Bowl tape was more good than bad, but it’s probably not reasonable to expect him to step in against NFL competition anytime soon. For every good rep where he locked down Terrell Lewis, Anfernee Jennings and Jabari Zuniga there was an ugly one: getting push-pulled by Robert Windsor, bull rushed to the ground by Trevis Gipson, speed-spin rush crossed his face by Lewis … you can see the potential, but consistency is a ways off.

Bartch is a smooth mover with good athleticism and solid technique in pass protection, but it is frustrating that he didn’t move people very often in the run game, even at Saint John’s. Pass protection is more important and I rarely saw him even slightly tested in that regard, but it’s just hard to take much away from the tape when your opponent has zero moves or counters most of the time.

Still, Bartch’s ability to stay flat-backed, land punches with authority and consistently stay under control in his pass sets is a good sign for the future. He has starting ability down the road, but the tight end convert may need a year in the weight room and on the practice field to adjust to a totally new level of competition.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup

Year 3 Outlook: If the transition to the interior has been a smooth one, Bartch should ideally be competing for a starting spot by year three.

Grade: Early 4th

11. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (6-5, 308)

I actually think Wanogho’s tape was pretty solid, considering he plays offensive tackle on stilts. Wait … what’s that? He doesn’t? Those are his twiggy legs? Oh, okay. You’re sure though?

Wanogho changes direction like a battleship, but he’s explosive out of his stance if he times up the snap correctly (big “if”), and he might eat up more ground on his kick-slide than any other tackle in the class. Of course, that can backfire on him as well, as he’s a walking target for inside moves from edge rushers. I also don’t think I’ve ever scouted an offensive tackle with more timing issues, from too many false starts to full games where he was a step late off the snap for all four quarters.

One of my favorite aspects of Wanogho’s game is his ability to fend off chops and clubs with excellent independent hand usage and a nasty snatch-and-trap. He’s not the longest-armed offensive tackle at 33.5 inches, but he does a nice job of mixing up single-hand strikes and swats to get rushers off balance when they try to attack his frame.

For a tackle who constantly plays high, Wanogho doesn’t give up a ton of ground against the bull rush, but he’s weak on both edges, which will likely hinder him in the NFL. He doesn’t do enough in the run game to make up for it either, consistently falling off blocks and getting too top-heavy moving into opponents.

Wanogho is heralded for his character and work ethic, and it’s clear on tape that he’s rarely confused about how to execute his assignments. Athletically there is a good bit to be desired here, but he’ll be one of the better tackles likely selected in the mid-rounds, with a decent shot to see the field as a starter someday.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup

Year 3 Outlook: At best he’s a limited starter, at worst a solid No. 3 backup swing tackle

Grade: Early 4th Round

10. Austin Jackson, USC (6-5, 322, 5.07)

Scouting Report

Here’s the problem with the hype about Jackson: we aren’t learning from our mistakes as evaluators. That goes for NFL team and draft analysts alike. Why are we still putting guys with his flaws in the first two rounds of our boards?

We’ve seen what happens with offensive tackles who get worked by top competition in college and can’t even physically hang with the defensive line talent in their conference. Jackson got tossed around in the run game way too often, and was consistently worked by speed, bend, rush moves and inside counters in college.

I understand he’s a good athlete with the length and size teams want at the position, but there is simply not enough there on tape to warrant the Top 15-20 consideration he’s getting. Not even close. You can’t get dunked on by Bradlee Anae, A.J. Epenesa and Julian Okwara – the only three quality edge defenders you face all season – and be a top tackle on my board. I see too much Cedric Ogbuehi when I watch Jackson, and I don’t like it.

Year 1 Outlook: Developmental tackle

Year 3 Outlook: Possible starter

Grade: Early 4th Round

9. Saahdiq Charles, LSU (6-4, 321, 5.05)

I haven’t seen many offensive tackle prospects ever play with the kind of flexibility that Charles has, and that’s a great trait to have in the trenches. He’s able to recover from all sorts of awkward angles and get away with some technical flaws that other tackles couldn’t because he is such a unique athlete for the position.

Unfortunately because Charles’ game lacks consistency, he’s in recovery mode more often than you’d like to see, especially in pass protection. Just as often there are lockdown reps where he mirrors an SEC rusher for five or six seconds while Joe Burrow buys time, looking for someone to throw to. It’s just such a mixed bag, and his footwork is too inconsistent to count on him in 2020.

Still, it’s hard not to like Charles’ upside, and he’s closer than a lot of other raw linemen due to his power and tenacity in the run game, and pretty clean mental processing in pass protection. Character concerns have been reported from several draft analysts now, and if they are as serious as it sounds, Charles might not get drafted at all. Even if he is drafted, with 33-inch arms, there’s a good chance the NFL will see Charles as a guard at the next level.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup

Year 3 Outlook: Competing for a starting spot

Grade: Late 3rd Round

8. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia (6-6, 350, 5.32)

There is so much to like about Wilson’s game, most notably that he’ll enter the NFL as one of the biggest and strongest dudes in the league. Those traits are an asset in the run game, where Wilson can maul defensive lineman at the line of scrimmage without even exemplifying proper technique.

Unfortunately he’s just not flexible enough to consistently win as the low man, an issue that plagues him as a run blocker and as a pass protector. If Wilson gets his hands on you, you might get thrashed, but keep him moving and you’re on the path to success. He’s almost as big as Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, yet doesn’t have the same graceful movements in pass protection. Wilson is explosive on the vertical plane and out of his stance, but things get dicey when asking him to adjust to targets in space or mirror speedy rushers stop-start ability up the arc.

LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson had Wilson on the ground a few times in their match-up this past season, and Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara even got him once or twice with his patented long arm. The weird thing is that Wilson has the quickness to get out of his stance and shadow the apex of the arc, but his struggles to stop, start and change directions are going to allow more athletic edge rushers to play games with him if his NFL teams leave him on an island.

I think Wilson can have success in an offense that is play action or RPO-heavy and doesn’t put as much strain on him as some of Georgia’s deep drops did. Power run teams are going to want him leading the charge in the ground game up front, and if they can scheme him some help in pass protection, Wilson could be one of the rookie tackles that makes an early impression. However, a look into the context might reveal a player without a high ceiling who is managing what’s on his plate, but likely not being given a ton to eat. Ironic for a 6-foot-6, 350-pound man.

Year 1 Outlook: Won’t be surprised to see him starting due to his pro-ready size, strength and experience, but he’ll need some help in pass protection against certain matchups

Year 3 Outlook: Hopefully able to hold a little bit more of his own water as a solid starting offensive tackle

Grade: 3rd Round

7. Lucas Niang, TCU (6-6, 315)

I don’t really include medicals in my evaluations, since I’m not a doctor and I don’t have access to all the medical information that teams do. Niang may not come off the board until the fourth or fifth round, largely due to a labrum tear in his hip that required surgery during the 2019 season, but his 2018 tape (the last time he was healthy) shows a player worthy of Day 2 consideration.

Niang’s pass sets turned into some wonky back-pedaling motion in 2019, solely due to the fact that he could not handle the explosive movements of a normal pass set due to the pain in his hip, as he told me at the NFL Scouting Combine. I completely buy his explanation, as one look at his 2018 tape reveals a twitched-up vertical pass set that helped him handle Nick Bosa and Chase Young when TCU and Ohio State met early in the season.

Niang is physical and edgy in his play demeanor, with the toughness to play through pain this past season that will earn NFL coaches respect right away. But his pass sets have to return to form for him to have a chance in the NFL, and power rushers may always be somewhat of an issue.

I think Niang has potential to become a reliable pass protector in the NFL, and he’s already pretty strong in the run game due to his leverage and intensity. There is risk here, not only because of the injury history but because the 2019 tape was also tough to grade him on. How Niang scores in interviews with teams and how his medicals go will determine just how bright his future may be in the NFL.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup

Year 3 Outlook: Solid Starter

Grade: 3rd Round

6. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State (6-6, 311, 4.93)

Now we get to the clear drop-off in caliber of play at offensive tackle, as I’ve gone back and forth on who will be the best pro out of the next three tackles, with all offering different strengths and weaknesses.

Cleveland frustrates me because he doesn’t physically dominate or control defenders like you wish a tackle getting first-round hype would. It seems like defenders are always able to disengage from him at some point in the rep, and I struggle to project most tackles that can’t push opponents around to high standing in the NFL.

Still, Cleveland has smooth feet and good pass sets, two things that really matter for his position in the NFL. He rarely faced quality edge rushers, but there are a myriad of reps against different types of rushers (speed and power, outside linebacker types and 290-pound “edge” defenders) on tape, and Cleveland is certainly capable of handling them all.

I worry about power rushers bullying him back on bull rushes a bit, and I worry about Cleveland’s soft punch allowing rushers to stay alive a bit too long, even when he stops their initial attack. Still, he’s capable in the run game and has all the tools you want in pass protection. I’m not sure his ceiling is sky-high like his athletic testing would suggest, but Cleveland should be a decent starter in the NFL.

Year 1 Outlook: Backup/spot starter

Year 3 Outlook: Solid starter

Grade: Early 3rd Round

5. Josh Jones, Houston (6-5, 319, 5.27)

Scouting Report

There isn’t much to dislike about Jones on tape, as he clearly has the size, length, power and athleticism to play tackle at the next level. He’s a smooth mover with clean pass sets (when he takes them) and the physicality and demeanor to move people in the run game.

The biggest question for Jones is how he’ll handle an uptick in competition from the AAC to the NFL. The Senior Bowl went about as well as he could have hoped, but the leap in the caliber of pass rusher Jones will face at the next level will be significant.

Still, he was so dominant in protection in college that I think we’ll eventually get a quality starter out of Jones, even if his ceiling isn’t sky-high. Jones’ run blocking took a big leap forward in 2019, which was encouraging.

Year 1 Outlook: Jones might need a year to adjust, but he should be a starter sooner than later

Year 3 Outlook: Quality starter

Grade: 2nd Round

4. Andrew Thomas, Georgia (6-5, 315, 5.22)

Scouting Report

There may not be great upside for Thomas like there is for Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, but he might be better than both of his fellow rookies in his first year in the NFL. Thomas may always struggle against the top speed rushers in the NFL, but he’s a strong technician, who has a terrific pass protection track record against some of the best competition in college football.

Thomas is an overall asset in the run game, but at times his blocks can stall out because he plays too high and loses leverage. He’s powerful enough to overcome not always being the low man however, and he did some of his best work on double teams. Thomas can get overextended at times, especially when trying to hit and latch onto targets in space.

The bottom line with Thomas is that he consistently got the job done in college despite not having the prettiest … well, anything. I think his technique is good enough that he can overcome not being the smoothest mover on his feet, but there are going to be elite athletes that test him at the next level. How much he perfects the intricacies of his game will be key to how great he becomes at the next level.

Year 1 Outlook: Starting tackle with the usual rookie ups and downs

Year 3 Outlook: Very good starter

Grade: Early 2nd Round

3. Mekhi Becton, Louisville (6-7, 364, 5.10)

Scouting Report

I’m a big fan of Becton’s potential, but in the end I switched he and Wirfs because the Louisville swing tackle simply hasn’t had nearly as many strong reps in pass protection as Wirfs – a reality that was admittedly out of his control in Louisville’s run-heavy, RPO-heavy offense. Becton often didn’t take true pass sets in the Cardinals’ offense, and when he did the competition he faced wasn’t on par with that of Wills or Wirfs.

Having said that, Becton’s flashes on tape are dominant, and even if his technique is never perfected, brutes that can move like he can with that kind of length are really tough for opposing pass rushers to work around. Facing a specimen like Becton requires rushers to think outside the box for an arsenal of moves that might work best, and that alone adds to his value.

In the run game, Becton literally throws starting ACC defensive ends on a per-game basis, hurling opponents to all fours with one devastating punch. Yes, he needs to latch and control opponents more often because the NFL poses a totally different physical threat than the ACC did, but the power and quickness he has to be able to manhandle defenders is special.

Everyone (mostly Browns fans) wants to know if Becton can survive in an outside zone heavy scheme in the NFL, and it’s a fair question. Louisville ran almost all zone scheme concepts, and Becton was often cutting on the backside and kicking out (and by that I mean blowing up dudes to the sideline) on the frontside.

He’s certainly capable of continuing to do those things in the NFL, but I honestly think he can be one of the best run blockers in the NFL in a gap/power scheme offense. His kind of power and explosiveness should be use to displace defenders vertically, and I hope beyond all hopes we get to see him fire off the ball at the next level.

Year 1 Outlook: Don’t be surprised if Becton gets off to a bit of a rocky start in the transition from his college offense to the NFL, but he should find his way into the starting lineup quickly, and his new team would be wise to scheme him some pass protection help in certain match-ups until he adjusts

Year 3 Outlook: Should be one of the best run-blocking tackles in the NFL, and a very good pass protector as well

Grade: 1st Round

2. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa (6-5, 320, 4.85)

I’ve gone back-and-forth with Wirfs all draft season, always failing to see the “sure thing” that others see, but not blind to the peak plays and elite physical/athletic profile he offers at the position, either. Wirfs faced a strong array of quality pass rushers during the college football season, and his performance was far more good than bad, especially as the season went on. In the end, I took that into consideration and decided to go all in on betting on Wirfs’ future.

Wirfs is one of the best pure athletes to ever play the position, but I wouldn’t say that his athleticism is quite as functional as Wills’. He’s obviously no slouch, but I didn’t consistently see the elite explosiveness or fleet-footed re-directs on Wirfs tape that I saw in Wills. The Iowa right tackle is still a strong mover who should excel against speed rushers as he refines his set point range, while also having the power to bring defenders to a standstill with a single punch.

The best way to describe Wirfs’ game is smooth or finesse, which is ironic considering he’s more powerful than almost everyone who lines up across from him. When he lands his hands in pass protection, it’s deadly, but when he doesn’t and opponents get into his chest, he gives more ground against bull rushes than you’d like. Oversets can plague him as they do with many young tackles, but his inside hand stays pretty strong against counters.

In the run game, Wirfs has flashes of annihilating opponents, but his fire doesn’t burn constantly like Wills’ or Becton’s, and his finishing can be up-and-down as a result. That isn’t a big deal to me, as Wirfs still generally gets the job done when his technique is on point. His ability to play in a zone or gap scheme at the next level is a big boost to his stock, but I think he’ll be an ideal target for zone-heavy attacks over the other top tackles in the class.

Year 1 Outlook: Wirfs has shown the ability to do everything well at the tackle position, but he needs to become more consistent rep-to-rep as he should be an early starter based on the lack of quality tackles in the NFL and his draft slot

Year 3 Outlook: Ceiling is every bit as high as Wills or Becton’s – maybe higher – and is on the path to becoming one of the best young tackles in the NFL

Grade: 1st Round

1. Jedrick Wills, Alabama (6-4, 312, 5.05)

Scouting Report

When an offensive tackle has plenty of starting experience, terrific athleticism and lock-down pass protection reps on tape against great competition, I’m probably going to be high on them. Wills began his career at Alabama with two straight solid seasons, then took a huge leap as a junior, both in his pass sets and in his technique in the run game.

There aren’t too many areas where Wills struggles, as his insane explosiveness off the snap allows him to get early advantages in both the run and pass game. His flexibility and power consistently move defenders in the trenches and at the second level, and the healthy amount of nasty in his game means the finishes are plentiful as well.

Wills can match speed and flexibility with elite range in his pass sets, but he does have the occasional issue with oversetting and letting rushers slip inside him. His feet are so quick that he is often able to step down and push opponents back down the line of scrimmage, but the process is still something that will need cleaned up.

Can Wills play left tackle? That’s the question I always get from fans, and the reality is that I don’t know. There’s no inherent reason why he couldn’t, it certainly isn’t more difficult to play left tackle than on the right side, but I’ve never seen him do it to know if he is comfortable or not. Only way to find out for sure is to draft him and give it a whirl. Top 5 talent in the class, I’d take the slight risk.

Year 1 Outlook: All first-year outlooks for offensive tackles should be tempered, as the jump in competition is as great as any position in the league, but Wills should be an early starter, and is more battle-tested than most rookies

Year 3 Outlook: Moving toward becoming a rising star among young players at his position

Grade: 1st Round