DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2020 NFL Season 2020 NFL Draft Your Top 5 OL Prospects For The Draft

More like Qasim Mitchell 2.0

"Big Cakes" is all about his pancakes, not so much about the rest of the game.

Wow, what a throwback

We've talked a lot about the tackles, but I think we could also use some help at RG. Here are the top interior offensive linemen, per PFF:

2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Interior Offensive Linemen

1. Netane Muti, Fresno State

Draft Board Rank: 37th

Muti dabbled at tackle for Fresno State back in 2018 and played a rock-solid game and a half there before an Achilles tear ended his season. He came back to guard in 2019 and was similarly dominant through three games before a shoulder injury ended that season. The injury concerns are massive, but it's not as if they were related and recurring. Muti is pound for pound the most powerful guard in this class. He tosses defenders on a regular basis, and on 697 pass-blocking snaps for his career, Muti allowed only 14 pressures. That combination of power and pass-blocking proficiency is why he's OG1.

2. Jonah Jackson, Ohio State

Draft Board Rank: 40th

We are always going to love some pass protectors, and Jackson is as advanced in pass pro as any interior lineman in this class. You may know him better as the Rutgers player who actually graded well back in 2018. For his career, he's allowed only one lone sack or hit on 1,020 pass-blocking snaps, which speaks to arguably his greatest trait — not losing quickly. Even when he does allow pressure, Jackson is almost always still holding on for dear life and riding guys past the pocket. His hand usage is exceptional, and he plays with a balance unmatched in the draft class.

3. Cesar Ruiz, Michigan

Draft Board Rank: 43rd

The lone true junior on this list, Ruiz declared early because he's already shown all the physical tools needed to succeed at center in the NFL. He's so graceful for a 6-foot-4, 320-pound center that you often forget just how big he really is when watching his tape. He's still not quite a power player, though, as indicated by his 64.9 run-blocking grade from last year, but at only 20 years of age, he could still develop a good deal physically.

4. Damien Lewis, LSU

Draft Board Rank: 85th

Lewis was born to play guard in the NFL. At 6-foot-3, 332 pounds, Lewis looks as if he couldn't get under 300 pounds even if he trained for a marathon. He also looks like he wouldn't cede an inch on a bull-rush against a Mac truck. And he routinely didn't until Auburn's Derrick Brown came along. While Brown got him a couple of times in that game, the matchup was must-see TV for any trench-play enthusiast. Both got their nice wins in, and Lewis held up about as well as any guard did against Brown all season.

5. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin

Draft Board Rank: 87th

Biadasz has been one of the best run-blocking centers in the country for three straight seasons now. His lowest single-season run-blocking grade over that span was an 82.1 back in 2017. The reason why he dropped down our board from the beginning of the season has to do with his work in pass protection. We thought we'd see a lights-out year from the redshirt junior in 2019, but instead, Biadasz earned the lowest pass-blocking grade of his career at 70.5 and got taken off his feet far more often than we'd like. Biadasz has the size to play any position on the interior, even though he never played anything but center in three seasons at Wisconsin.


https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-position-rankings-interior-offensive-linemen

From what I have heard and read from "sources" Cleveland is Cleveland's man.

Good read. Thank you.

Thanks, I broke down this game tape myself, but I am not savvy enough to produce cut ups like this to explain the play.

I like that we have the same player comp. in Taylor Lewan...

Thanks for the video. I'm still not sold on him due to short(er) arm length and small hands. I'd pass, but what do I know?

I agree with you. He's a project.

I want this guy, if only for the name! Badasz

j/c

Okay. I only see two LT prospects worthy of a top 10 selection and even one of those I'm not sold on.

#1- Andrew Thomas, GA.

He is a natural LT who played high level competition. The match ups he played against were some of the best in the nation. While not perfect, he has shown he matches up well against top flight competition on a rather consistent basis in one of the top two conferences in the NCAA. One thing that most won't even try to debate is that the SEC is not only loaded in talent, they are certainly one of the fastest conferences in terms of team speed on defense. This will come in handy competing against that type of speed when playing opposing teams in the NFL.

#2- Jedrick Wills, AL.

I'm certainly not a huge proponent of drafting a guy in the top 10 that you have to depend on switching positions. That certainly wouldn't be my preference. But in this case I really have no choice but to make this exception. He did protect the blind side of a left handed QB so out of the other remaining candidates he's the best of what remains of the crop.

While it is true that he was somewhat of a standout at the combine, I do think several teams saw him as having the ability to make the switch to the LT position before the combine. Once again I will point to the speed of the SEC as a reason it may make the transition easier.

There are two other OT's out there many would consider as the #10 pick that I have ruled out and here is why.

Tristan Wirfs- Iowa

His transition to LT I believe is based more on his combine than his film. That is something I'm very weary of. I don't actually question his potential, or that someone may draft him very high. I do question his ability to pass block against fast edge rushers at the next level. He had some trouble against quality pass rushers that I consider weaker than those who my above picks had success against.

Mekhi Becton- Louisville

I believe that Becton is rated so highly by many due to his freakish athleticism and that nasty buzz word, "upside". Potential more than results. The ACC certainly does not provide the level of competition that either the SEC or Big 10 provide with which to evaluate a player. Not to say you can't find a quality NFL LT there, but the ability to actually see how a player would fair on a week to week basis against much stroner competition is surely lacking. Especially as someone who is nothing more than a fan such as myself.

Combine that with possible weight and work ethics issues, whether more perceived than real or not, those question marks alone, combined with my above mentioned issues certainly drop him below the top 10 in my opinion.

Now I could be more detailed in my analysis but as it stands, the points above suffice for me at the present time. I'm certainly not an expert nor do I make a living doing this. But as it pertains to the LT position in the draft I have a pretty fair track record.

But as with any other fan we'll just have to see how this all plays out. If we do select one of the two players I have eliminated from my #10 slot, along with everyone else I will certainly hope my evaluations were wrong.

If you look at the bottom of that link, there's a button that will show his closest physical comparisons. Garrett Bolles is the closest match. I think whoever drafts Cleveland will feel disappointment similar to the Broncos with Bolles, especially if he's taken early and forced into action. People get caught up in the athleticism/feet. Not enough time on his anchor and actual blocking/technique.

I disagree, and you are being disingenuous, Bolles was only one comparison.
So naturally you went with him as yours, but I like the Taylor Lewan comp. Better.

To each their own

His blocking technique is good. His anchor needs some work, (and some of it can be attributed to his injury.) But it is not as bad as some want to make it out to be either.

There is not one prospect in this or any other Draft does not have things that need improving on.

If you do not meet the athletic threshold then you have little chance transitioning.

That is not the case with Ezra Cleveland.

I don't foresee Okudah falling to us at ten.

I have a good hunch that Thomas will be available at ten.

Disingenuous? I didn't post the article. Look at the mockdraftable box towards the bottom of the article. Click comparisons. Bolles has the highest percentage match by the testing numbers. I didn't just pull it out of thin air.

I've said in other threads that they all need to improve as well. I'm not sure that Cleveland can overcome his tiny (by OL standards, 2nd percentile) hands. They show up on tape. He has trouble maintaining control.

Being a great athlete isn't enough. It's not just WRs that need good hands at their position. Ezra is kind of the Carlton Mitchell of OL to me. He looks the part, has the measurables, but just fails to finish the job too often. Fortunately for Cleveland, the rest of his OL was bad enough that he looked great in comparison and the NFL is desperate for OTs.

Maybe he can overcome it, but I wouldn't bet a pick on it until day 3.

j/c...

Read all of those carefully.

ANDREW THOMAS
T, COLLEGE PLAYER

NBC Sports' Peter King reports the Chargers have "loved" Georgia LT Andrew Thomas "throughout the fall and winter."

In King's mock draft, he has the Dolphins selecting Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing on Tua Tagovailoa for Thomas, who has drawn interest from "several teams in the top 10" per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. King admits he doesn't know what the Chargers will do if Tagovailoa is available at No. 6, but the drum continues to beat for Thomas as a potential top-10 selection. In fact, King notes that Thomas is the Browns' "preferred" pick at 10th overall. Expect Thomas, Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs, and Mekhi Becton to be selected in the first half of Round 1 this Thursday.

RELATED: Los Angeles Chargers
SOURCE: NBC Sports
Apr 20, 2020, 2:05 AM ET

j/c:

I've stayed out of the debate on whether it's a big deal or not to switch from RT to LT - I don't know enough to have an opinion. I did see and agree that there is a mental component to playing on the blindside ... that I do see and think some players will handle better than others.

Along with everyone else I love JT - I think it's very hard not too see this and not give it good consideration in this debate.


Joe Thomas
✔
@joethomas73
I think you made my point, switching sides when you go from College to Pros is a non-issue... I have zero experience as a GM, but I know what I'm talking about with switching sides of the OL https://twitter.com/R1stCLE/status/1252048276716687360 …

I'm looking forward to the draft for obvious reasons and also so some of these mocks are over with. LOL

Anyone have any insight on the virtual visits the Browns had? More difficult to track this year with the Pandemic, obviously.

I thought that always provided good intel on players they were leaning toward.

oops last years visits

Although I have my favorites, I personally don't do them. They can be fun and entertaining and, yes, the outcome can be outrageous. Whatever turns your crank...

NFL.com numeric ratings for Tackle prospects

Rating Scale

8.0 The perfect prospect

7.3-7.5 Perennial All-Pro

7.0-7.1 Pro Bowl talent

6.7-6.8 Year 1 quality starter

6.5 Boom or bust prospect

6.3-6.4 Will be starter within first two seasons

6.1-6.2 Good backup who could become starter

6.0 Developmental traits-based prospect

**********

Prospects

jedrick wills Alabama 6.85

mekhi becton Louisville 6.70

andrew thomas Georgia 6.49

tristan wirfs Iowa 6.48

josh jones Houston 6.37

isaiah wilson Georgia 6.34

austin jackson USC 6.34

robert hunt Louisiana-Lafayette 6.34

ezra cleveland Boise State 6.29

lucas niang Texas Christian 6.28

prince tega wanogho Auburn 6.27

saahdiq charles LSU 6.20

ben bartch St. John's (Minn.) 6.18

matt peart Connecticut 6.14

alex taylor South Carolina State 6.00


https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/prospe...L&year=2020

Where does Austin Jackson figure in Browns’ clear view of draft-board tackle rankings

By Steve Doerschuk
Posted Apr 21, 2020 at 8:47 AM

USC tackle Austin Jackson (73) reflects with head coach Clay Helton after helping the Trojans to a win less than two months after a three-hour operation in which he transferred bone marrow to his sister. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)▲
The former USC’s star is a name to watch, as a Hall of Fame GM’s almost comical ranking of tackle prospects could reflect serious consideration by the Browns to trade the No. 10 pick.

This is no re-run of "Browns Sounds of Spring," circa 2019.

The choir of voices is so different this April, and not just because "rehearsals" are on Zoom, not in Berea, because of COVID-19.

John Dorsey's finger was on the draft button last spring. Now, it is Andrew Berry's. Conspicuous lineup changes include head coach (Freddie Kitchens to Kevin Stefanski), offensive coordinator (Todd Monken to Alex Van Pelt), and offensive line coach (James Campen to Bill Callahan).

With offensive tackle held forth as the biggest need, Hall of Fame GM Gil Brandt's "Hot 150" is almost comical as it pertains to Cleveland's scheduled pick at No. 10.


Brandt's top-rated tackles are Alabama's Jedrick Willis at No. 7 overall, Iowa's Tristan Wirfs at No. 8, Georgia's Andrew Thomas at No. 9 and Louisville's Mekhi Becton at No. 10.

Berry might add USC's Austin Jackson, ranked 19th overall by Brandt, as an acceptable option.

The Class of 2020 might be so full of good tackles that a couple will slide well outside the top 10. NFL.com draftnik Chad Reuter has the Browns trading from No. 10 (where the Saints would take QB Jordan Love) to No. 24, where Jackson would be the pick.

In a Monday Zoom session with beat writers, Berry would only say "tons of hours" invested by his staff have produced a "clear mind" on Cleveland's tackle rankings.


Berry warns that rookies seldom excel right out of the gate. One exception was Joe Thomas, who played every down at left tackle on the last Browns team to post a winning season (2007).

Last year's draft exemplifies how pre-draft rankings go away once tackles hit the field ... or don't.

The first O-lineman picked, by Cincinnati at No. 11, was Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams. He suffered a torn labrum in spring practice and sat out the season. The next, at No. 22 to Philadelphia (Berry's team at the time) was Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard. He made four starts.

The third to go, Alabama State left tackle Tytus Howard by the Texans at No. 23, played every down and was not charged with a sack after Game 6.


Otherwise, Berry might conclude the Browns can trade up from their second pick, at No. 41, and secure a good tackle who drops. The USC guy, Jackson, is an interesting possibility.

Former Browns scout Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network sees Jackson as the 28th-best player in the draft, with top-15 potential.

Jeremiah's scouting notes:

"Intriguing blend of size and athleticism, with endless upside ... People may be sleeping on him ... Only 20 years old ... Overall play strength needs to improve, but he is tantalizing."


Jeremiah's top five tackles are Becton (No. 7), Wills (No. 10), Wirfs (No. 13), Thomas (No. 18), Jackson (No. 28). He ranks Houston's Joshua Jones at No. 39 and Boise State's Ezra Cleveland (a Brandt favorite) at No. 53.

Jackson's school, USC, has a history of churning out tackles. In addition to Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, a first-round pick in 1980, Trojan tackles drafted in Round 1 include Keith Van Horne (1981), Don Mosebar (1983), Ken Ruettgers (1985), James Fitzpatrick (1986), Dave Cadigan (1988), Pat Harlow (1991), Tony Boselli (1995), John Michels (1996), Sam Baker (2008), Tyron Smith (2011) and Matt Kalil (2012).

Jackson grew up in Phoenix as a two-way lineman who on defense made 29 tackles for loss as a high school senior. He chose USC in part because his grandfather, Melvin Jackson, played on the Trojans' 1974 national championship team prior to a career with the Packers.

Jackson played as a true freshman in 2017 and started at left tackle in 2018. Life got complicated when he emerged as the donor of blood marrow for his younger sister, Autumn. The good news was that transferring 1.4 liters of marrow from the back of his hip was a godsend to his sister.


The flip side was the procedure was delayed until last July. He lost a month of training and began his pivotal 2019 season in a weakened condition before getting in a groove.

His USC position coach, Tim Drevno (a former Michigan offensive coordinator) notes Jackson never missed a practice, fought through the season, and should be graded on a curve by NFL scouts.

USC went 8-5 in 2019, posting September wins over No. 23 Stanford and No. 10 Utah, later going on a 5-1 hot streak before losing a bowl game to Iowa.

Jackson dismisses any heroic element to donating his marrow, saying, "Wouldn't everybody do it for their little sister?"


NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein sees Jackson as "raw but gifted, with "true left tackle traits."

The Browns' highest expansion-era picks out of USC were Daylon McCutcheon and Cody Kessler, third-rounders in 1999 and 2016. Notable picks from the past include Chip Banks, Clay Matthews and Charles White.

Cleveland hasn't drafted an offensive lineman from USC since 1973, when Pete Adams was a No. 22 overall pick who had been a teammate of Jackson's grandfather.

Of perhaps going to his grandpa's NFL team, Green Bay, Jackson says, "It'd be nice," but he adds, "Whoever drafts me ... that's where I'll be happy."

https://www.cantonrep.com/sports/2020042...impression=true

I have been reading that Wills may be the Giants pick

Vegas (the MGM, anyways) has it:
1. Wills
2. Wirfs
3. Thomas
4. Becton

link

https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-brow...impression=true

Jake Burns breaks down top 5 tackles in this draft.

Glad Jones is on there ... looking forward to watching this once the kids are in bed Thanks

JB sounds sold on Josh Jones. He spent some time showing why. Nice view, thanks.

Yep - they all have issues. Honestly Becton scares me the most and I've seen him mocked many times as the first OT off the board.

Thomas #1 and Jones #2 for me, though I wouldn't want to take Jones at #10.

I went looking and didn't see Becton taken as the first OT like I thought. Maybe it was just a couple of places and it stuck with me as a real stretch.

This is a helpful video. Thanks.

Honestly,

I won't be one bit surprised if we make a deal with the Skins for Williams. Say maybe a 2nd or a 3rd, or a 3rd and a swapping of positions in another round.

Washington wants to get out from under him, and his price has dropped dramatically. this allows us to trade back a few places and get more value, and this draft seems to have a big talent drop after the 1st 7 picks.

I think if we can get the deal done for Willaims we move back in the 1st rd. We will just have to wait and see.

If we can't get a deal done for Willaims i think we make a selection at 10, just not sure who.

I think Jake Burns lets his bias show through a little. He's gushing over Josh Jones and then says the Browns might trade down for him when he presented a much more balanced critique of the other guys.

But I'm really posting because this is such a good draft class for learning about Oline play. With so many top prospects, you can't avoid watching videos of good/bad play along the line.

I like Thomas better than Wills.