DRAFT PROSPECTS ANALYSIS: OFFENSIVE TACKLES

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DRAFT PROSPECTS ANALYSIS: OFFENSIVE TACKLES


For the purposes of analyzing the tackle class, all the available tackles will be lumped into one grouping since it is wholly possible a player could be shifted from one side to the other if the owning franchise elected to do so.

There is a bit of an ongoing debate concerning the overall impacts of offensive line play and an even more detailed argument when narrowing the discussion to the value of an individual offensive lineman as well as the position being played by that lineman. This analysis is taking the posture that offensive lineplay is critical to success for any team. However, there is significant evidence to suggest that the interactions of all the players on the field along with style of play etc. can effect outcomes in a myriad of ways. The Super Bowl Miami Dolphins, for example, do not have an elite offensive line yet are among the top offensive units in the game. But, they have a terrific combination of speed at their skill positions with a young quarterback in Conner Librizzi who's throwing power is second only to the Chargers' Justin Herbert and who's awareness rating is nearly as high as Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, and Joe Burrow! And, while the passing elements are quite successful, the Dolphins' running game has been suspect much of the year and the running game does not incorporate the quarterback skills or the speed of the receivers so...???



There are 10 total tackles with Star Development ratings. Within that group there are several players who are either older or seem to be lacking some key elements. There are also a few players outside this group that are, at the very least, serviceable and could very well be mainstays for years to come as long as one accepts that one's offensive line does not have to be comprised of five Pro-Bowl caliber athletes or if a franchise has an offensive scheme that can mitigate the flaws.

A pair of players, who's first names are pronounced the same but spelled differently, head this year's class. 6'7" 312 Lbs Iowa Hawkeye Kadyn Byrd seems as good a prospect as any. He certainly has more than sufficient speed/acceleration/agility ratings to be mobile enough at his position while he also has some of the best pass/run blocking ratings in this class. Byrd is already an 80+ across the board athlete in pass blocking and has solid run blocking numbers. The additonal kicker is his age (21). A second tackle, 6'7" 328 Lbs Oregon Duck Kayden Mauigoa, is right there with Byrd and could easily be seen as superior. He is 26 pounds heavier and has far better speed/acceleration/agility ratios than does Byrd. He is not quite as strong (95 for Byrd to his 92) but in virtually every other key aspect he is on a par with Byrd. Like Byrd, he is also 21 years old.

Florida State's Rod Monroe (6'7" 314 Lbs) might be the next player in the pecking order. His numbers are, arguably, the best in this class and he could easily be taken first out of the group with only his age (22) acting as a deterrent. The reality is Monroe's age and entry level OVR rating will likely mean an additional 1000 XP will be needed to boost him and that has to be factored in to a degree. Nonetheless, The Seminole grad is the strongest tackle (97) in the class and his agility (84) also tops the group making him a multi-dimensional player who can not only pass and run block but also get outside on screens and sweeps.

Perhaps a guy who will slide simply due to his age will be Julian Casimir (Florida State). Casimir is excellent inand is near the top of his class in almost every category. His 94 strength is well above average and will enter the league with solid run block numbers and very good pass blocking stats. His lead and impact block numbers (88 and 87 respectively) are outstanding making him a true LT. the 6'6" 337 Lbs Casimir will easily hold down the LT positon for years to come and could be seen as the top choice at tackle unless his age hoolds him back.

6'5" 304 Lbs Samson Chaney could be seen as #4 in the class. The Michigan Wolverine clearly is not going to impress with his weight numbers but his age (21) and combine numbers are worth considering. His lower acceleration/agility numbers in coordination with his higher run blocking numbers suggest he may be a much more natural RT than shifting him over to the left side and that could hamper his ranking as a top tackle in this draft.

If youth is your thing, then 20 year old Tony Johannsen might be your guy. His biggest drawback is his smallish size (Just 299 Lbs) and he is not quite ready for prime time coming out of college where he played for the Florida Gators. But he will develop and might put some weight on as he matures. Presently, Johannsen is not quite as agile (72) as one would want in a more diverse tackle and all of his blocking skills will need to improve some but, if a team is willing to let him grow into the position, he should be fine.

Two Big 10 players, 6'7" 306 Lbs Michigan State Spartan Merrill Boyd and Northwestern Wildcat Caleb Suarez, could be the next in line to come off the board. Both the 21 year olds have upside but they also seem to be a bit incomplete. Boyd has excellent acceleration (86) numbers that ranks #1 in this class but his blocking has quite a ways to go if it is ever to be seen as anything more than slightly above average. His lead block number (79) could improve but it hints that he may struggle blocking on screens and sweeps and his agility/change of direction ratings has him looking more like a straight line blocker rather than one that is more athletic and diverse. Suarez seems a bit more athletic in some regards but his strength (88), lead block (78), and impact block (80) ratings are inferior to those of Boyd. He seems much more suited to being a RT but then those run blocking numbers loom larger. His 77 run block power is ok but he is likely to be less effective vs more agile defenders and he might not be able to hold up against the elite pass rushers in the league coming from the left side of the defensive line. Suarez has upside for sure but he is one that will need to be looked over in depth and might be a better fit in some systems over others.

If age does not scare GMs out there then 6'6" 332 Lbs Andrew Allen is your guy. The one time Arkansas Razorback has all the tools to come right in and be effective but his age and likely slower overall development could see him sliding down the draft a bit. He may be a little lacking of the stats one would see as ideal in a LT with his 80 agility ratings and 69 change of direction numbers indicating a less atheltic type but his numbers as a RT are attractive. He is the top run blocker in this class and that is a prime function for a RT but, again, there is at least a bit of worry about his ability to hold off elite pass rushers. He seems best suited for a team that runs inside the tackles where his mauling skills can best be utilized and maybe a bit miscast if he is to be used within a passing attack offense.

There is a host of players who have skill but are not Star Development gifted. Mammoth 21 year old Alabama product Kinsley McVay is a very interesting prospect. Quite literally, McVay is a towering behemoth standing at 6'7" and tipping the scales at 365 Lbs! That size would have him come into the league as the fourth heaviest tackle in football with only Arizona reserve T Daniel Faalele (400), New England's Trent Brown (380), and Tampa Bay's Jordan Mailata (375) possessing more girth! He could be a bit stronger but he has numbers across the board that match him right up there with the top tackles in this draft and he is younger. In the right system he could become outstanding especially if a GM throws points at him at the end of his rookie season and progresses him a bit during the regular season. McVay is an asset that needs to be monitored closley and could end up one of the real steals in this draft. Do not sleep on Will Cassinelli. He is 22 and does not have Star Development, which may see him slide, but still has impressive rookie numbers and should have enough time to at least become a solid starter. Cassinelli is the type that often slips through the cracks in PFL drafts as he is not likely to reach Pro Bowl levels. That could be a mistake in judgement, however, as good players can get it done. Expect Cassinelli to drift down in the draft and end up being a very nice pick by a lucky team willing to take him on.

Three Kiddie Corps players could be next in line. Colorado Buffalo Frank Weah is an undersized player who lacks enough skills to likely ever be more than a filler type player but he is just 20 years old. His 80 strength, 59 impact block, and worrisome 83 injury rate will likely see him fall quite a bit in this drafte despite his age. Samir Powers also has some serious flaws in his game but, again, is just 20 years old. The Appalachian State Mountaineer seems to lack the agility, size, strength, and passing skills to man the left side and it seems his best shot would be on the right side. Perhaps the lone 20 year old who has some real potential is Iowa State Cyclone alum Tyler Townsend. He is a bit smallish at 294 Lbs and does not really possess the numbers to be a LT. His better skills seem to be in the run game where his lead and impact numbers could improve. He is just agile enough to work the right side in a more run oriented offense but there would be serious worries if he were to be asked to block ends like Kansas City's Chris Jones!

Others worth at least a glance? Two Irish players from Notre Dame: Joey Ramcharran and Caleb Scarlata (23 years old but also Star Development).

Pre-Draft Rating: 1-Kadyn Byrd-Iowa

2-Kayden Mauigoa-Oregon

3-Rod Monroe-Florida State

4-Julina Casimir-Florida State

5-Samson Cheney-Michigan

6-Tony Johannsen-Florida

7. Will Cassinelli-LSU

8-Andrew Allen-Arkansas

9-Kinsley McVay-Alabama

10-Merrill Boyd-Michigan State

11-Caleb Suarez-Northwestern

12-Tyler Townsend-Iowa State

13-Joey Ramcharran-Notre Dame

14-Caleb Scarlata-Notre Dame

15-Samir Powers-Appalachian State

16-Frank Weah-Colorado
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