Tennessee had two of the best tackles coming out this year always fun to watch film on this team because of these two and we are not sure which one is better but both of them show big concerns of effort on film. The sleeper in this position is James Hurst Left Tackle out of North Carolina. The film above was the one that convinced me that Hurst is better than Richardson or James, watch as Hurst beats Clowney all game. Compare the Tennessee game vs Virginia Tech to North Carolina vs Virginia Tech in 2012 one Tackle looks amazing the other two look lost after five seconds on every play. If this does not convince you watch Hurst against Georgia Tech in 2013 no sacks allowed while he was matched up against Attaochu a top pass rusher coming out. If Hurst is taken past the 5th round he is an absolute steal he should go in the 4th to 3rd range, if he goes in the second all the announcers will say that it was a huge stretch but if I needed a left tackle and he is available in the top of the third I would take him over anyone who is left.
1. Jake Mathews – 6’5” 308 Ilbs. 5.07 40 Texas A&M – 6.9 – Another accomplished tackle in Mathews, he is a four year starter. He has excellent technique and is an explosive athlete. Jake is great in pass protection any limitations he has in length he makes up for in smarts, his quick slide and amazing hands. Mathews is great in run blocking as well able to get to the second level easily and has no problem shutting down the edge. Cousin of Clay Mathews that is always a plus.
2. Taylor Lewan – 6’7” 307 Ilbs. 4.87 40 Michigan – 6.85 – Taylor is a four year starter with over the past two season’s at left tackle. He has all the tools in the world necessary to be a top left tackle in the league for the next ten years. He is the best pass blocker in the draft and does not need help on his side. Lewan can use improvement in run blocking, however he can get the job done. He needs to become stronger in the lower body to become a dominant run blocker. Shows a mean streak you like to see in lineman.
3. Greg Robinson – 6’5” 332 Ilbs. 4.92 40 Auburn – 6.8 – A true beast of a man. Robinson is more than capable of playing left tackle in the NFL and has to be tried their first. His pass blocking can use some work on hand placement and keeping a lower level. As a run blocker he is amazing he has no problem getting to the second level and wins with pure size when he gets there. If Greg cannot block elite rushers he has a great fallback position in right tackle. I would put him there from day one and not worry about the right side for the next 10 years.
4. Zach Martin – 6’4” 308 Ilbs. N/A 40 Notre Dame – 6.25 – Yet again a four year starter at a great school. Martin shows great footwork as a pass blocker all four of his years at Notre Dame were at left tackle. I do not believe his length will force him inside because his ability to pass block is his best feature. Martin is a capable run blocker but must show the ability to finish blocks. He could thrive in a zone blocking offense. May have to move inside but is he strong enough for that?
5. Billy Turner – 6’5” 315 Ilbs. 5.16 40 North Dakota State – 5.9 – He has great production being a starter his whole colligate career 56 starts. He has the size length and footwork to be a left tackle. On tape Billy is a monster finishing blocks all over the field on running plays he almost always blocks more than one guy. So long as Turner can adjust to the competition increase in the NFL he will be a great left tackle for the next decade. Needs to strengthen core to be an effective pass blocker in the NFL. Good run blocker who has room to improve with the right coaching. When a player has great production with potential for more and is rated this low it just might be a sleeper for a team that is patient and grooms him into something worth putting out to the field.
6. James Hurst – 6’5” 296 Ilbs. 5.31 40 North Carolina – 5.5 – four year starter with the past two seasons at left tackle. Did not give up a sack against South Carolina and Georgia Tech this past season. Most of these two games he has two of the better pass rushers in college to go up against. Although he is not the most athletic tackle he is a hard worker who has smarts. Great at pass blocking he has shown the ability to shut down top rushers. In run blocking he can use some work but is good overall. He needs to run block with better posture and keep driving his feet after contact. May have to play right tackle however could have the pass blocking ability needed to stay on the left side. James has a great motor and can think while exerting effort. Plenty of times the play seems in front of him but he will put in the effort to go for another block or make sure that his block is sealed. When watching film you will not see him standing still and is always where he needs to be to make the block in pass or run. Under rated this year by far a sign of people giving too much emphasis on raw talent and not enough on technique. Hurst has the size, he has the technique and is not even in his prime yet. Therefore we am putting James where the film shows and that he is a top tackle. We would put him higher if we could but anymore than this and well we might be pushing it.
7. Antonio Richardson – 6’6” 336 Ilbs. 5.30 40 Tennessee – 5.5 – two year starter at left tackle. He has the ability to become a good pass blocker in the NFL with long arms great size and the necessary agility to get in front of the speed rushers. Antonio is a very good run blocker who can become elite with the right offensive line coach. I would like to see Richardson sit for a year and be groomed into something special however he is good enough to play right away if needed. Richardson could be asked to move positions if left tackle does not work out and might be better suited on the right side anyway. Good initial effort after that quits which will have to stop before playing in the NFL.
8. Ja’Wuan James – 6’6” 311 Ilbs. 5.34 40 Tennessee – 5.5 – Started his whole career at right tackle never missing a game from freshman to senior year. The weird thing is he seems to be a better pass blocker than run blocker. He is very reliable in pass protection but does not wow in the running game on film. He is more than a capable run blocker however and could easily stay on the right side in the NFL. It will be interesting to see if a team wants to try him out on the left side. I see him standing around a lot on film though and could have just been a lack of interest on a mediocre team. Needs to play with more effort.
9. Cyrus Kouandjio – 6’7” 322 Ilbs. 5.59 40 Alabama – 5.45 – Cyrus will have to move to right tackle simply because of foot work ability. He could survive on the left side in pass blocking but he could thrive on the right. Best asset is his size and run blocking skills. Although there is concern about his spotty play at times Cyrus just might wind up being the biggest force of this draft’s class of tackles being a force in the running game on the right side for a long time. He has suffered a torn ACL so there is some injury concern here. Seems less effective as the game goes on. Plays standing up quickly especially when blocking to next level.
10. Morgan Moses – 6’6” 314 Ilbs. 5.35 40 Virginia – 5.4 – four year starter three on the right and senior year on the left. He is a good pass blocker mainly due to size. Needs work on agility and speed rushers however, he probably is better suited for the right side. Good run blocker with a ton of room to grow, too often he got their quickly and then did not get his hands on the defender. Needs to learn how to use his size and also hit the weight room. If he slides far enough due to erratic play he can be a real steal as a developmental right tackle who could serve as depth on the left side.
11. Joel Bitonio – 6’4” 302 Ilbs. 4.97 40 Nevada – 5.25 – He might be best fitted for the inside. Joel uses all of his average ability to stay in front of defenders but he will struggle in the NFL due to lack of lateral movement and strength. He is a great run blocker however which makes him an intriguing prospect. If he has time to improve his technique he might be able to stay on the outside because he definitely has the determination and mean streak to succeed in the NFL. The only question I am uncertain about is which position he will play probably not left tackle but perhaps on the right side because he is a capable blocker on the edge and he is a tenacious run blocker.
12. Wesley Johnson – 6’5” 297 Ilbs. 5.11 40 Vanderbilt – 5.19 – Wesley does everything you can ask of out a player. Started every single game since his freshman year and has experience all over the line. He has good athletic ability as a left tackle but there are concerns about his strength and size. Johnson is a good pass blocker sometimes struggles with power rushers. As a run blocker he is great technically he just needs to get a little stronger or prove to his future team that he is strong enough to stick blocks in the NFL. Could move to center but either way he has everything you want in a developmental lineman other than lacking a little bit of size and strength, either way he could surprise a lot of people.
13. Jack Mewhort – 6’6” 309 Ilbs. 5.37 40 Ohio State - 5.1 – Jack has great size for the tackle position. He probably does not have the feet to play left tackle in the NFL although he could provide depth for the left tackle position. The old adage is the run blocking tackle goes on the right and this is where Mewhort belongs. Pass blocking is a little above average and does have room to improve. Run blocking is good being able to get his man and sometimes get to the second level if needed. He has potential to start on the right side or inside after a season or two.
14. Cameron Fleming – 6’5” 323 Ilbs. 5.28 40 Stanford – 5.1 – Cameron has great size to play right tackle. He is also very smart coming from a well-recognized school and earning a difficult degree. Coming out a year early and graduated a year early Fleming will benefit from two years in an NFL weight room. He is average in pass protection definitely struggles against quick or over powering rushers. In the run game he has the size and potential strength to be a factor. His options are not only at right tackle he could also play guard.
15. Seantrel Henderson – 6’7” 331 Ilbs. 5.04 40 Miami – 4.9 – On paper he looks amazing however that was as good as it got in college. He was an average pass blocker and also average maybe a little bit above average in the running game. Injury and off field issues are a concern. Will probably have to move to guard due to a lack of motivation to get his foot work and hand placement better. He is falling like a rock for good reason.
16. Michael Schofield – 6’6” 301 Ilbs. 5.01 40 Michigan – 4.8 – He is a versatile lineman with two years’ experience inside and last season at right tackle. Michael is an above average pass blocker but could turn into a good one with coaching. He is a good run blocker and has experience with bigger defensive tackles. He is definitely a developmental prospect that can give a team depth at three positions.
17. Laurent Duvernay –Tardif – 6’5” 321 Ilbs. 40 N/A McGill (Canada) – 4.75 – Laurent has great size for either tackle position. He is the highest rated Canadian player who has come out in quite some time. Tuff to say how his run and pass blocking is since he has never faced elite competition but he did impress at the Shrine Bowl. He has grown into his body over the past few years and obviously has experience playing in the cold. If he goes low enough he could be a steal developmental left tackle. My biggest knock on him is lack of elite competition.
18. Charles Leno – 6’4” 304 Ilbs. N/A 40 Boise State – 4.7 – Charles has a long body and the look to play left tackle in the NFL, he has played one year at right tackle and the past two at left tackle. Below average pass blocker but has the tools to become better. Not sure if he can make an impact run blocking at the next level. Late round pick with potential to suprise.
19. Dakota Dozier – 6’4” 313 Ilbs. 5.42 40 Furman – 4.6 – A small school prospect who is well built head to toe. Might have the ability to pass block at right tackle however is probably going to bump inside where he can do his best work as a zone blocking guard. Could see him go in the middle rounds if a team sees enough in him.
20. Justin Britt – 6’6” 325 Ilbs. 5.19 40 Missouri – 4.2 – although Justin has 36 starts at left tackle and has a good frame for the position there are concerns. First is that he played in a spread offense with a lot of quick passes and typically only needed to make sure that the defender was slowed down not stopped. Second is that he tore his ACL in 2012 although he played well on it in 2013 it is another concern. Probably best suited for the right side however he is not a proven pro style run blocker.
