Top 10 Tackles In 2018 Draft

1. Notre Dame T Mike McGlinchey – Senior – 6-7, 309 – 5.10
McGlinchey is a sensational run-blocker and has enough length and athleticism to be effective as a pass blocker, although his lack of elite footwork makes him susceptible to speed rushers who have given him trouble in college. Still, his future could be as a right tackle in the NFL and a mauling run blocker for the team who drafts him. McGlinchey was also durable, notching 38 straight starts for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey (68) – Photo courtesy of Notre Dame

2. UCLA T Kolton Miller – Junior – 6-9, 309 – 4.95
Miller may be the best overall athlete at the tackle position in this year’s draft and has a good of a frame as you will see. The only major knock on him is height which also prohibits a good bend and he can sometimes struggle with smaller pass rushers. With an excellent punch and very good footwork, Miller could step in as a starter from Day 1. Miller earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors after starting all 13 games for the Bruins in 2017.

3. Texas T Connor Williams – Junior – 6-5, 296 – 5.05
Williams has above average footwork and sets a great base in pas blocking, while also showing a nasty streak as road grader in the run game. A three-year starter in Austin, Williams was counted on to anchor the Longhorns offensive line, but a knee injury caused him to miss all but four games in 2017. While he could be a very good tackle in the NFL, some think he would be a Pro Bowl guard right out of the gate if a team chose to move him inside.

4. Western Michigan T Chukwuma Okorafor – Senior  – 6-4, 297 – 5.31
Okorafor has prototypical size, weight, and also length combined with terrific athleticism according to scouts. He is a dominant blocker in the running game who displays excellent hand placement and doesn’t lose defenders once he gets his mitts on defensive players. Okorafor will need to refine his pass blocking at the next level, but was able to get away with average technique due to his ability to recover on his feet. Okorafor was named a first-team All-American by the FWAA in 2017.

5. Oklahoma T Orlando Brown – Junior – 6-8, 345 – 5.85
Brown is a massive wall of a man who moves surprisingly well for someone of his size. Strong, tall and long, bull rushers beware; he won’t often be moved. Speed rushers have given hime some trouble in college but most feel any deficiencies he has can be worked on and improved upon with good coaching. Brown earned unanimous First Team All-American honors and was the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Orlando Brown – Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Sooners Athletics

6. Ohio State T Jamarco Jones – Senior – 6-4, 298 – 5.50
While he may end up a left tackle in the NFL, where he excelled in Columbus, Jones could end up moving to the right side where some scouts see a brighter future. Jones took over as the starting left tackle for Ohio State in 2016, earning second-team All-Big Ten. Then as a senior in 2017 Jones was even more dominant and was selected first-team all-conference for the Buckeyes.

7. Pitt T Brian O’Neill – Junior – 6-8, 298 – 4.82
O’Neill took over at tackle in 2017 and ended up taking All-ACC honors. While he excelled in college, he will need to improve his strength to be a starter in the NFL, but scouts like his tools. Some project him to move to guard where he would excel in a zone-based running scheme.

8. Oregon T Tyrell Crosby – Senior – 6-4, 319 – 5.23 
Crosby has plenty of upside after missing most of two season in college with injuries. But once healthy  he started all 13 games for the Ducks in 2017 and was awarded the Morris Trophy, the Pac-12’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award. Crosby has a compact frame and moves well due to his athleticism.

9. Humboldt T Alex Cappa – Senior – 6-5, 299 – 5.39
Tough and gritty, Cappa was named Great Northwest Athletic Conferences’ Offensive Lineman of the Year  in all four of his seasons. Cappa is a nasty, street-fighting lineman with a great mix of technique and sheer brute force but will most likely take a while to develop against the competition he will face in the NFL as opposed to college.

10. Mississippi State T Martinas Rankin – 6-4, 308 – 5.20
One on of the top JUCO transfers, Rankin locked in the starting left tackle position for Mississippi State and despite starting just nine of 10 games played in his senior year at left tackle due to an ankle sprain, Rankin was a still voted first-team All-SEC pick.

Best Of The Rest

11. Louisville T Geron Christian – Junior – 6-5, 298 – 5.33
Christian can play tackle and guard, but some feel his best success at the next level will be at center. Christian started all 13 games at left tackle in 2017 as a junior and earned All-ACC honors for the Cardinals. Excellent balance is is best trait and is a better pass blocker than run blocker at this point.

12. North Carolina A&T T Brandon Parker – Senior – 6-7, 314 – 5.37
Parker was again named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year  last season, and also first-team FCS All-American honors from the Associated Press. He has impressive size and skill but he played against much lesser competition in college which will hurt his stock a little.

13. West Georgia T Desmond Harrison – Senior – 6-6, 292 – 4.90
Harrison had some off the field issues coming out of high school that led him to West Georgia after getting kicked out of Texas. Harrison has the athleticism to be picked higher, but his issues in college have hurt him somewhat. Scouts want to see him add some weight as well.

Will Richardson – Photo by: Getty Images

14. N.C. State T Will Richardson – Junior – 6-6, 322 – 5.36
Richardson was rated the No. 1 offensive player for N.C. State by Pro Football Focus last season after a solid junior season. However, Richardson has some off the field questions that need to be answered. Well put together with a great punch and agile feet, Richardson has potential at the next level.

15. LSU T Toby Weathersby– Junior – 6-6, 308 – 5.34
Scouts like a lot about Weathersby, especially his versatility to play both tackle positions although he is thought to be a better right tackle prospect in the NFL due to just average footwork. Big and string with a solid frame, Weathersby could have benefited by staying one more year at LSU.

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