Top Offensive Tackles In 2019 Draft

1. Florida RT Jawaan Taylor – Junior – 6-5, 312 – N/A
The Gators’ right tackle started all three years at the University of Florida and has likely pulled away as the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft. A tackle who can excel in pass protection and in the run game, Taylor is athletic for his position and possesses top-tier size, strength and footwork, earning him both freshman All-American honors and freshman All-SEC honors in his first year in Gainesville. At 6-foot-5, 312 pounds with 35 1/8 inch arms and a strong base, Taylor will likely be an immediate starter at right tackle or right guard. His biggest weakness lie in technical issues such as his pad level and hand technique, but Taylor is likely headed for a first-round selection – likely in the Top 15. He had a local visit with the Bucs.

2. Washington State LT Andre Dillard – Senior – 6-5, 315 – 4.96
Dillard arrived at Washington State in 2015, and despite playing in just three games his first season, went on to start 39 consecutive games over the next three years on high-scoring offenses. At a comparable height and weight to Jawaan Taylor, Dillard has great size, exceptional footwork and his athletic metrics are off the charts. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Dillard was one of just four offensive linemen to post a 40-yard dash under five seconds, he led the group with a broad jump of 118 inches, a 4.4 second 20-yard shuttle and finished just behind Garrett Bradbury with a 7.44 second three cone drill. Dillard was one of the nation’s best offensive tackles in pass blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus, and while he does lack some functional strength and valuable experience from a run blocking standpoint, he could be selected as high as the middle of the first round come draft day.

3. Oklahoma RT Cody Ford – Junior  – 6-4, 329 – 5.21
After redshirting his first year at Oklahoma, Ford went on to play left guard before a broken leg ended his 2016 season early. He was then moved to left tackle in 2017 and then over to right tackle in 2018 as Oklahoma watched their offensive line overpower the nation as the NCAA’s most dominant grouping. Ford is a massive presence at 329 pounds with great strength and athleticism. He’ll need to improve his pad level and footwork at the next level, especially if he’s moved inside to guard, but he’ll likely be off the board as high as the second half of the first round, possibly falling to the top half of the second. Ford took a Top 30 visit to Tampa Bay.

K-State RT Dalton Risner – Photo courtesy of KSU

4. Kansas State RT Dalton Risner – Senior – 6-5, 312 – 5.30
For being such a nice guy, Risner is going to step in and bring instant nastiness to the team that brings him in on draft day. Risner started all four years at Kansas State, including the last three at right tackle, and while he isn’t the most naturally gifted tackle in his class, he’s got a mauler mentality with great strength. His football IQ is through the roof and he’s technically sound and he can play all across the offensive line with college experience at center and tackle. The 2018 All-American will need to improve his footwork, and as a result pass protection, as he transitions to the NFL, but whether he’s left at tackle or moved inside to guard, he’ll give a team good value in the upper part of the second round. Risner had a private workout with Bucs offensive line coach Joe Gilbert.

5. Washington RT Kaleb McGary – Senior – 6-7, 317 – 5.05
McGary is a huge, physical tackle who more often than not wins via sheer size, power at the point of attack and grit more so than his technical ability. He will likely have issues with speed rushers in the NFL due to his inconsistent footwork and pad level and his run blocking is much more refined than his pass protection, despite technical issues in both areas. His footwork and balance leaves much to be desired, but his play and experience over four years at Washington earned him first-team All-PAC 12 honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He will be a project, projected in the fourth or fifth round, but the physicality and mental game is there. McGary was diagnosed with heart arrhythmia in high school, but was medically cleared to play in college. That will likely be checked by NFL physicals, but probably won’t be an issue.

6. Mississippi LT Greg Little – Junior – 6-5, 310 – 5.33
Little fits the bill from a size standpoint, but he’s a bit of a project. He was a five-star recruit out of high school, earned freshman All-American and freshman All-SEC honors in his first year, was voted second-team All-SEC in his second year by the league coaches and earned first-team all-conference honors in his junior season. He’s agile and quick, but lacks power, balance and some technical traits. Could go as high as the third, but will likely be a Day 3 selection. Scouts really have mixed opinions on Little.

7. West Virginia LT Yodny Cajuste – Senior – 6-5, 312 – N/A
Cajuste was hampered by injuries in his first couple of years at West Virginia, but once healthy, he played his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors over 13 games at left tackle in his junior year. In his senior year, he earned the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award along with K-State’s Dalton Risner and Oklahoma’s Dru Samia. Cajuste is a smart player with power, length and aggressiveness. In pass protection his strength allows him to anchor well and he uses his length to his advantage, and in the run game he’s strong on the point of attack and has the athleticism to move downfield and block effectively at the second level, despite some needed technical refinement. Coming off an injury, Cajuste could be selected as high as the second round. The Bucs interviewed Cajuste at the Combine.

8. Alabama State RT Tytus Howard – Senior – 6-5, 322 – 5.05
Howard left high school as a quarterback and basketball player before transitioning to a tight end in his first year at ASU. He was then moved to left tackle and eventually over to right tackle where he was voted first-team all-conference by the SWAC coaches. His strength, athleticism and flexibility is natural but considering he picked up the position after he had already gotten to college, a lot of his physicality, technique and the mental side of the game still need to be developed. Howard likely isn’t someone that can step in and start day one, but to his benefit, he has the things that can’t be taught: size, athleticism and effort. Howard is projected as a fourth-round pick, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if a staff thinks he can be molded and reaches for him in the third round. The Bucs interviewed him in Indy and brought Howard in for a Top 30 visit.

9. Northern Illinois LT Max Scharping – Senior – 6-6, 327 – N/A
Scharping is another smaller school guy, but after redshirting his first year, was voted a freshman All-American by the Football Writer’s Association of America. The MAC coaches then voted him first-team all-conference in his second year and then after moving to left tackle in his third year, earned all-conference honors again. His experience, awareness and natural size are his biggest strengths while his balance, footwork and technical skills will need to be refined by NFL coaching. Scharping’s versatility is a plus, with experience at both tackle positions, but he may be moved inside to guard at the next level. He had a formal interview with Tampa Bay at the Combine.

10. USC LT Chuma Edoga – Senior – 6-3, 308 – 5.19
Edoga dealt with a wrist injury in his first year at USC, faced a one-game suspension for violating team rules in his second and missed two games in his junior year with a sprained ankle, but he played in 24 games over his last two years and was voted second-team all-conference in his senior season. Edoga was voted the best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl where he had a great week playing left tackle for the first time. He’s athletic and explosive in run blocking but struggles in pass protection. Edoga will need to clean up his pass protection at the next level and will likely have to not only get stronger, but learn how to effectively use that strength.

Best of the Rest 

11. Wisconsin RT David Edwards – Junior – 6-6, 308 – 5.28
Like Tytus Howard, Edwards is another tackle who transitioned from quarterback to tight end before winding up at the offensive tackle spot. With that said, he’ll need to add strength and sure up his technique and quick if he wants to produce at the NFL level, but he shows natural athleticism with quick feet at this point.

12. Ohio State RT Isaiah Prince – Senior – 6-6, 305 – 5.09
Prince started three years at Ohio State and earned first-team All-Big 10 honors in his senior season. He’s strong, got good length that he uses well and shows some of that nastiness you want at the position. He’s strictly a right tackle and made a lot of progression throughout college in pass protection, but Prince is held back by his pad level and lack of flexibility, which costs him leverage.

13. South Carolina RT Dennis Daley – Senior – 6-5, 317 – 5.23
A big, strong tackle who’s solid with a great base in pass protection and his size, power and length allow him to win the point of attack in the run game. However, Daley is inconsistent with his hands in pass protection and isn’t particularly great with his feet. If he can bring some consistency to his punch in pass protection and avoid overextending when run blocking, he has the potential to start at the next level.

14. Elon RT Oli Udoh – Senior – 6-5, 323 – 5.05
Udoh didn’t play against much top level talent in college, but he has experience starting for four years and his size, length and strength are NFL quality. He’s got a strong base but lacks elite traits across the board, with the exception of his natural size. He’s a great, raw talent, but has too many holes in his game to be expected to start right away and will absolutely need time to develop after he’s taken on Day 3.

15. Utah RT Jackson Barton – Senior – 6-7, 310 – 5.18
Big, strong left tackle for Utah who will likely see a conversion to right tackle if he ends up on an NFL roster. Barton does a good job taking advantage of his strength in the run game, but lacks the pad level, balance and flexibility to be much of an impact player at this time. He uses his length well and does well anchoring his rusher when running the ball, but struggles blocking to the inside and often plays too tall. Barton will be a late-round pick if drafted and will really have to work to find a spot on a 53-man roster.

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