OFFENSIVE TACKLES
A particularly strong position group in this year’s draft, tackle has quickly become one of the most sought after position groups in the NFL. With a projected six first round picks and a seventh on the bubble, the 2024 tackle class is regarded as both elite and inordinate.
1. Joe Alt, University of Notre Dame*
Height: 6’8
Weight: 322
Class: JUNIOR — HIGHEST FLOOR —
+ Elite bend/quickness off the ball; jarring first step.
+ Is advanced in identifying blitzes in pass protection — a quality trait of a blindside tackle.
+ Is a better pass protector than run blocker.
+ Elite hand placement and ability to lock onto the torso of opposing pass rushers.
+ Has good feel of the “face to face” aspect of blocking; never puts himself in a position where he is not square to the pass rusher.
+ A former tight end, Alt’s sheer explosiveness is lethal combined with his physical frame.
+ Upper echelon-level footwork.
- Allows defenders to encroach on his frame, sometimes losing leverage (especially against quicker edge rushers).
- Does not utilize every inch of his frame, sometimes lacking the ability to totally annihilate defenders.
- Sometimes falls for traps while in transition — hand fakes, stutter steps, etc.
2. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State University*
Height: 6’6
Weight: 332
Class: JUNIOR — MENACE —
247 Sports
+ Has the mauler mentality; will wreck havoc at the point of attack. Uses athleticism to advantage.
+ Control of run blocks; displays ample ability to rag-doll edge defenders at the LOS.
+ Hands deliver striking blows capable of knocking defenders off their course.
+ Good lower body bend, which Fuaga uses to control leverage, manipulate blocks.
+ Looks for work; will get to the second level.
+ Surprisingly quick in space, can accelerate.
+ Team leader; fiery character and intrepid personality.
- Concerning hip flexibility allows bendier edge rushers to scream past him in space.
- Better going forwards than backwards, needs work in pass protection.
- Can, at times, miss blocks due to extreme aggression on the field.
- Arm length isn’t prototypical for NFL tackle.
3. Olu Fashuanu, Penn State University*
Height: 6’6
Weight: 317
Class: SENIOR — HIGHEST CEILING —
Penn Live
+ Best raw athlete in the entire tackle class; capable runner, adept game speed, bend ability.
+ Ideal frame, movement skills, in modern NFL-caliber tackle.
+ Uses speed to hit depth quickly and latch onto his plant foot. Utilizes speed to outgun rushers.
+ Phone booth quickness will pay dividends in the NFL.
+ While not entirely polished as a run blocker, Fashuanu’s game elevated drastically in 2023 trhough better utilization of leverage, better hand placement, and a more solid base.
- While speed/agility is not an issue, patience is. Fashuanu will need to time his strikes better and be able to recognize more effectively the plan of the pass rusher.
- Can overreach/overcorrect in pass sets, leading to wobbly feet and a free lane inside to the quarterback (Ohio State 2022, 2023).
- Can rise in pad level while blocking in space.
4. Amarius Mims, University of Georgia*
Height: 6’7
Weight: 340
Class: JUNIOR
+ Prototypical size for an NFL tackle.
+ Elite puller who works well in space; can find second level defenders very easily.
+ Powerful, centered strikes at the point of attack.
+ Uses longer arms to grapple onto defenders in pass protection, rarely giving leverage.
+ Sufficient enough hips.
- Is a true RIGHT tackle, meaning converting to the blindside would be an indelible endeavor.
- While hand technique is a major plus, Mims’ lower body oftentimes become unbalanced in pass protection and may even stall if he is overpowered.
- Can over pursue defenders on outside run plays.
5. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma University*
Height: 6’7
Weight: 328
Class: JUNIOR
247 Sports
+ Uber athletic for a 300+ pounder, floats in pass sets and has good pulling speed overall.
+ High end physical traits and a solid, but somewhat loose frame.
+ Moves well in space and as a run blocker, relying on athleticism to win blocks.
+ Is a far better run blocker than pass blocker.
- While banking on athleticism has become the move as of recent, Guyton’s worrisome pass protection skills are the reason he is at No. 5.
- When tasked with blocking a heavier defender, Guyton ends up on the ground more often than not.
6. JC Latham, Alabama University
Height: 6’6
Weight: 360
Class: JUNIOR
+ Overwhelming size, elite arm length, freakishly good speed.
+ Heavy, heavy anchor that seems almost unmovable (aside from the Michigan game).
+ Elite in zone run scheme, is able to get through and bully second level defenders.
+ Decent acceleration off the ball and into pass sets.
+ Good awareness of stunts and blitzes to pair with overall good communication with IOL.
- Absolutely needs to improve balance; way too often Latham slips off defenders.
- Improvements need to be made to his base — not anchor (base is more the set up of a blockers feet).
- At times sloppy in hand placement, will hurt NFL career and open injury risk.
Alabama Athletics
7. Jordan Morgan, Arizona University
Height: 6’4
Weight: 312
Class: SENIOR
Arizona Desert Swarm
+ Effective leverage blocker that uses agility and speed to outrace edge rushers.
+ Can move well; changes direction fast and with authority.
+ Is fairly good at second chance blocking — can make the most out of a lost rep.
+ Solid center of gravity (base).
- Very short arms; not fitting entirely into the “NFL mold”.
- Can lose track of hand placement and become uncontrollable at the point of attack.
8. Patrick Paul, Houston University
Height: 6’7
Weight: 333
Class: JUNIOR — SLEEPER —
+ Size is a major factor, and Paul has a ton of it. His thick-bodied frame fills all 6’7 of him.
+ Elite trapper/puller; can flatten people in space.
+ Good at identifying blitzes, can make adjustments on the fly.
+ Is a developed run blocker who uses size to his advantage.
- His height also hurts him — can play high in pass sets and allow edge rushers to jack his pads from underneath.
- Not a developed pass blocker.
- Loses balance rather easily (?).
9. Kiran Amegadjie, Yale University
Height: 6’5
Weight: 318
Class: SENIOR
Yale Athletics
+ Plays into the Ivy League stereotype; a very smart and witty football player.
+ Displays nasty streak when finishing his blocks.
+ Fires out rather quickly and puts long arms to use.
+ Heavy hands deliver striking blows — most apparent in run blocking situations.
+ Good in “the phone booth”.
- Inconsistent kick slide motion alters pass set almost every down.
- Heavy feet; tendency to drag feet when pass setting.
10. Kingsley Suamataia, Bringham Young University
Height: 6’4
Weight: 329
Class: SENIOR
+ Has ran over 20 MPH — a very fast human being in relation to his size.
Elite puller, makes use of athletic ability.
+ Precision hand placement while run blocking.
+ Kick slide may need to quicken in order to slow down the speed rushers of today’s NFL, but overall has dynamic feet and quick reaction time.
- Is initiated by contact, not the initiator. Needs to keep distance from pass rusher.
- General technique improvements — nothing sticks out as a “sore thumb”.