The first of the series is a position of interest for the Titans, Offensive Tackle:
1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stanley might be a surprise number one selection here for many but I'll explain why I have him ranked here. Firstly, I see Stanley as the best pure pass protector in the draft. He has rare length and astonishing footwork for a man of his size which render speed rushers ineffective. Stanley also gets square well and has thick hips that make it hard to get pushed back from his base which nullifies the effectiveness of the bull rush. One area for improvement for Stanley is that in the run blocking game he shouldn't just rely on pure power and athleticism to get the job done. On a couple of occasions this has led to poor technique in run blocking and missed opportunities to secure blocks in the open field. Despite this he is still a premier run blocker in this draft. Any team would be lucky to have Stanley on their roster. Draft Ranking: Top 5
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| Stanley is my top rated OT for 2016. |
2. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels - Tunsil is what teams look for in a prototypical left tackle. He has the size, the foot speed, the thickness and the ability to be effective in pass protection and run blocking. The fact that he is not the top ranked OT in my mind should not be too much of a black mark on his work. Tunsil has certainly shown he can be one of the most consistent players in college football when healthy. I believe he is the best run blocker in this draft class, he consistently gets on blocks and has perfect technique. He doesn't just rely on pure athleticism to get the job done in this area. His one area for improvement would be pass blocking where, despite being great, he has had some struggles vs. speed rushers. His game against Auburn is an example of this, Carl Lawson gave Tunsil some concerns. A broken leg sustained in 2014 might also perturb scouts. But despite those concerns, there's no doubt that Tunsil possesses elite offensive tackle traits and will be among the first players taken in the draft. Draft Ranking: Top 5
T-3. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Spartans - A behemoth of a man, Conklin is probably more suited to the right side where speed rushers will be less able to take advantage of him. He has possibly the best anchor of this draft, his ability to stop defensive lineman with brute strength is astonishing. He controlled DeForest Buckner - a likely top 10 pick - and also had a good game against highly-touted Joey Bosa. I think a team might reach on Conklin as a left tackle, where he could be good but I don't see elite potential there. He has value in the teens. Draft Ranking: Top 20
T-3. Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes - Decker has been a prolific starter on one of the most successful teams in college football as of late. His main strength is with his run blocking where he's been able to help one of the best running backs in the country, 'Zeke' Elliott, get national attention. He's nasty in his run blocking, able to drive men back and gets good leverage on his opponent. He also possesses a nice frame and good length which leads to him being a solid pass protector. He does have some issues with speed rushers and is not the most polished athlete in the world but he will be a starter at tackle for someone in the 2016-17 NFL season. Draft Ranking: Top 20
4. Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana Hoosiers - Spriggs is the classic small-school offensive lineman that makes a big impact at the pro level. He has prototypical NFL size and his speed and athleticism particularly impress when you watch him in Indiana's up tempo offense. His ability to pass protect by using his superior athleticism is something which you would look to transfer into the NFL as long as he can get some pro coaching to refine his technique. He's a solid, not special, run blocker but his build and ability make him a fit at either right or left tackle. The main area of concern for Spriggs is that he is coming from a spread offense and has only faced small school opponents. The task for him is to translate his play against stronger opposition in the NFL. Draft Ranking: 1st Round
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| Spriggs is a small school guy that will turn heads. |
5. Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies - Ifedi is the classic high risk, high reward player. He has pretty special athleticism and a huge wing span. He has also showcased solid technique practicing at both tackle positions for the Aggies. The concern for Ifedi will be refinement in his game and the ability to become a reliable starter. He also seems to have a tendency to hold on to pass rushers when his technique fails. But he will get early attention from front offices because of rare athletic traits that he possesses for the position. I think it's possible he goes as even as high as the middle-late part of the first round due to the lack of consensus and depth beyond the top two offensive tackle prospects. Draft Ranking: Late 1st - Early 2nd Round
Tape References:
Stanley -
vs Syracuse
vs USC
vs Texas
Tunsil -
vs Boise St
vs Auburn
vs Alabama
vs Mississippi St
vs Oklahoma St
vs TCU
Decker -
vs Michigan St
vs Virginia Tech
vs Michigan
vs Alabama
Spriggs -
vs Southern Illinois
vs Ohio St
vs Rutgers
Ifedi -
vs Alabama
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