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Twelve players received mention in a poll of those 16 personnel men asking to name their six best offensive linemen regardless of position. Six points were awarded for a first-place vote, five for second and so on.
Joe Alt led with nine first-place votes and 87 points. Following, in order, were JC Latham (58, two), Troy Fautanu (47), Taliese Fuaga (45, two), Olu Fashanu (44, three), Jackson Powers-Johnson (18), Amarius Mims (17), Tyler Guyton (eight), Graham Barton (seven), Jordan Morgan (three), Blake Fisher (one) and Christian Haynes (one).
“Depth-wise, it’s pretty good for the first couple rounds,” a seasoned scout said in reference to the tackles. “Classically speaking, compared to Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden and Tony Boselli, no, but we’re in a different era of the game. This is the best of what college football has to offer.”
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TACKLES
1. JOE ALT, Notre Dame (6-8 ½, 321, 5.07, 1): His father, Jon, was 6-7, 270 out of Iowa when Kansas City drafted him No. 21 as a left tackle in 1984. His 13-year career with the Chiefs included two Pro Bowls. “He’s just like his dad,” a veteran scout said. “Natural left tackle, just smooth like his dad was. I imagine he worked with his dad because his pass technique is just exceptional and he has great pass level as a run blocker.” Played some tight end as a true freshman in 2021 before moving to LT and starting the final 33 games of his career. “He bends like a 6-4 guy,” another scout said. “He’s got immediate leverage on the outside rusher. He has real long arms (34 1/4 inches) and uses them to punch and push the speed rusher wider. He can pick up stunts and pass the rusher off to the inside. Really good quickness out of his stance. This guy bends his knees. You can’t get any better than this.” Worked out exceptionally well. Recorded the best short shuttle (4.51) and 3-cone (7.31) of the tackles. “He’s a nice player, don’t get me wrong,” a third scout said. “But I’ve seen a lot of tackles over the years I think were as good if not better than him. But if you look over the last number of years (there are) not many (great) ones.” Hands were 10 inches. Said a fourth scout: “I just don’t like anybody that tall. But he’s got ridiculous makeup, ridiculous pedigree. He’s steady and sturdy. Knows how to play. There’s going to be times where he's going to get his *** rocked back because he’s 6-8. He’s probably the most consistent guy in the draft. He’s better than (Mike) McGlinchy, and he’s wired way better than McGlinchy. He’s got mental stamina, which is huge for the position. He’ll be maybe a Pro Bowl-level tackle but I don’t think he’ll be an All-Pro guy because he’s just going to have some innate issues the way he’s built.” From North Oaks, Minn.
2. JC LATHAM, Alabama (6-5 ½, 343, no 40, 1): Mississippi-born, he played two years of high-school ball in suburban Milwaukee before finishing with two years at IMG Academy (Fla.) “Sort of well-traveled,” one scout said. “He’s still very young (turned 21 in February). He’s got a big upside in what he can be over the next two, three years. He’s such a huge, powerful person. He’s only played right tackle but I think he could play some left tackle. He could be a guard.” Third-year junior, two-year starter at RT. “Has a physical skill set to be a Pro Bowl guard or Pro Bowl tackle,” a second scout said. “Has lateral agility, exceptional power and size to move people in the run game. Needs to be more consistent as a tackle in the passing game. With bumpers inside as a guard he should shut anybody down. He’s more destructive as a run blocker than (Taliese) Fuaga, but not as consistent.” Josaiah Stewart (6-1, 245), Michigan’s lean edge rusher, went right through Latham to foil a two-point conversion run to end the game and hand the Crimson Tide a CFP semifinal defeat. “Here’s a 340-pound dude that’s athletic as can be and built like a damn house and the little guy, No. 5 (Stewart), runs him over,” a third scout said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. I’ve never seen a guy just stand and watch plays as much as this guy. I wasn’t crazy about the guy from there a couple years ago, Evan Neal, and he turned out to be a disappointment. He’s kind of cut from the same cloth. They tease you a little bit but ultimately you wonder, ‘Does this guy like football? Does he really want to be out there?’ He flashes some Pro Bowl stuff and then some stuff you really don’t want him on your team.” Arms were 35 1/8, hands were 11. “He’s got more ability than Paris (Johnson) but Paris was much more instinctive and aware, which is a huge, huge deal,” said a fourth scout. “What worries me a little bit is if you play him inside because when he struggles it’s (against) games and second-level defenders. There seems to be a lot of confusion there. With Latham, when it’s me and you the end, he doesn’t lose. All his (problems) come on twists, games, stunts, movement.” From Oak Creek, Wis.
3. TALIESE FUAGA, Oregon State (6-5 ½, 326, 5.16, 1): Fourth-year junior, two-year starter. “I don’t know if he’ll be great but he’ll be good,” said one scout. “He really jumped up this year, probably more than anybody I saw. He was a backup until (2022) and this year he really improved his game. He’s physical, he’s strong. He’ll be a solid starting right tackle in the league and play for a long time.” Redshirted in 2020, backed up in ’21 and started at RT for two years. “Smart, aggressive, tough, more than enough athleticism,” said a second scout. “Willing to finish. Hard to get around. Very, very passionate about the game, which you appreciate.” Arms were 33 1/8, hands were 10 1/8. “He is the true, prototypical right tackle,” said a third scout. “Like in the old school. Better run blocker. Maybe a little stiffer and not as athletic as a pass protector. But he’s tough. He’s got range. Played well with his hands. I don’t think there’s much bust potential with him at all.” From Tacoma, Wash. “I kept trying to like him,” a fourth scout said. “He’s a solid right tackle only. Not really light on his feet. Kind of gets in the way. You need feet to control and sustain. If he’s got to adjust to sustain I don’t really see that.”
4. OLU FASHANU, Penn State (6-6, 312, 5.10, 1): Redshirted in 2020, backed up Rasheed Walker in 2021 and started at LT in 2022-’23. “He reminds me a ton of Germain Ifedi,” one scout said. “It’s more robotic mechanically than it is athletic. Which isn’t fatal because he’s so big, so long. When I watched him go against good pass rushers, especially the Ohio State game, there was a little more concern. I thought he was more bottom half of the first round than the top half.” His hands were a position-low 8 ½. “What’s happening in every (draft) room is if you like the tape and the person you’ll dig up everything you can for why it’ll be OK,” the scout said. “If you want to lower him on your board and you’re not sure about him and there’s other guys you have more conviction on it’s going to be, ‘OK, name me a tackle with less than 9-inch hands?’ No one’s going to be able to do it and they’ll move on to another guy.” His arms were 34 inches, which ranked seventh among the top 10 tackles. “My big concern is durability,” a second scout said. “He’s been hurt every year. He’s been hurt through the (spring). Great kid. He’s competitive. He wants to do well. He’s probably not the elite left tackle athlete initially I thought I was looking at. In a perfect world, he’s probably more of a right tackle because he is very strong. He’s stout. If he gets his hands on you, you ain’t moving. His anchor pass pro is really good.” From Waldorf, Md. “He’s got similarities to Ikem Ekwonu coming out of NC State (in 2022),” said a third scout. “I just don’t think that translates well against elite pass rushers. I thought Ekwonu was going to be a bust but he’s turned into a serviceable guy (for the Panthers).”
5. AMARIUS MIMS, Georgia (6-7 ½, 344, 5.08, 1): Classic boom or bust. “You might have a first team All-Pro in three years or the tackle from Georgia (Isaiah Wilson, No. 29 overall pick, 2020) that Tennessee took that never stepped on the field,” one scout said. “Four years from now, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s the best of the whole group. His talent is stupid. Talent-wise, he’s the second best behind Latham. But I don’t know the depth of the makeup.” From tiny Cochran, Ga. “He’s a little bit squirrely but somebody’s taking a shot on the guy,” a second scout said. “He may be the biggest bust. He’s so f--king talented but there are so many (questions). He’s only started how many games? That ain’t very many. That scares the f--k out of me.” Played nine games as a true freshman backup in 2021 and promptly entered the transfer portal. Removed his name after 10 days, started two games at RT in ’22 and then six in ’23 before suffering an season-ending ankle injury. “Here’s the enigma of the draft for me,” a third scout said. “How much trust can you have in him? Mekhi (Becton) definitely had more experience and was definitely more polished and had more power and finish. He was playing left tackle in college. I would have Mekhi higher than him.” Arms were 36 1/8, hands a position-largest 11 1/4. “Mims is absurd, the talent that he has,” said a fourth scout. “But you’re kind of throwing the dice. Really neat kid. Nice, friendly, well-spoken, intelligent. You could really hit on this guy.”
6. TYLER GUYTON, Oklahoma (6-7 ½, 330, 5.21, 1-2): Fourth-year junior. “If you watch the Florida State game he actually dominated (Jared) Verse,” one scout said. “He kicked his ***. Absolutely dominated him. But he only steps up for big games. He went down to the Senior Bowl and stepped up. Thing is, once he gets comfortable, once he gets complacent, he’s gonna shut it down a little bit it looks like. In the National Football League you have to step up to the challenge every week. He may be the biggest bust. He’s an athletic freak but he’s just a mental midget.” After two backup seasons at TCU, he made 14 of his 15 starts for the Sooners at RT. “Thing that pisses you off about him is he’s so dang inconsistent with his hand placement,” a second scout said. “He gets beat by guys he has no business losing to. In the run game, his temperament and finish are very inconsistent. He can do it. He just has to set his mind to it. But when he does he can get push and movement off the line of scrimmage. He can pull and get to the second level. It’s just a matter of (improving) character-wise to reach the next level.” Arms were 34 1/8, hands were 10 ¼. His vertical jump of 34 ½ inches led the top 20 tackles. “He’s talented but there’s some unknowns based on what you see on film,” a third scout said. “His technique just isn’t very good. Definitely a finesse style, but he can be a starting left tackle. Not a bad kid. You could really hit on him if you’re comfortable with the makeup.” From Manor, Texas.
7. JORDAN MORGAN, Arizona (6-5, 311, 5.07, 2): Played five seasons for the Wildcats. “He’s a foot athlete,” one scout said. “He moves his feet well, moves around well. He isn’t real physical. Excellent pass blocker, adequate run blocker. Natural left tackle. Not as strong or nasty as the other top guys. Alex Gibbs would love him. He gets to the second level and downfield. What he is, he’s a technician with nice feet. Remember that guy from Pittsburgh (Brian O’Neill) who was drafted by the Vikings? He had no strength all. That’s who this guy is. He has the feet.” Started 37 games at LT. “He’ll be a steady starter,” a second scout said. “Good athlete.” Has the shortest arms (32 7/8) of the top 15 tackles. “People will start him off at tackle but maybe ship him inside ultimately,” a third scout said. “In today’s football, he probably is (a guard).” From Marana, Ariz. Blew out an ACL in November 2022. “I was hoping to see a jump in his play this year but didn’t see that as much,” said a fourth scout. “He’ll be a starter possibly. I see him early as a swing tackle. He’s athletic. He’s just got to put it all together. You’d like him to be more physical.”
8. BLAKE FISHER, Notre Dame (6-5 ½, 314, 5.22, 2): Joe Alt became the Irish starting LT after Fisher suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in the first game of his true freshman season (2021). “He settled in at right (tackle) with Joe Alt being there,” said one scout. “I felt he needed another year in terms of strength development and overall physical maturity. Go back and show you can play left tackle, but he came out. He’s closer to being a starter than (Kingsley) Suamataia.” Started 25 games at RT the past two years. “Quick feet in pass set,” another scout said. “Just average strength and sustain in the run game. More raw. Probably comes in as a swing tackle who is putting it together. He’ll be a starter at the end of the day.” His 9-6 broad jump paced the top 20 tackles. “He’s got something to him,” a third scout said. “He’s quick. He’s got some jolt. He’s got some thick girth stoutness to him. Not the best foot movement athlete as far as sustaining things. Little bit top-heavy too much. But he uses his hands really well. In pass pro he sets quick and punches guys. You got the Orlando Brown’s of the world and Trent Brown and those guys playing left tackle. Could he be that? I wouldn’t throw him out there but, sure, I’ve seen worse.” Arms were 34 3/8, hands were 10. “He’s got the least play strength of the top guys, particularly in his lower body,” said a fourth scout. “That said, he’s light on his feet, flexible. You put him at guard, he’s got elite pass pro skills. He’s more raw but his physical upside is at least more than Fuaga’s. Talent-wise, he should be a left tackle and Alt should be the right tackle. That tells you they trust Alt a lot more.” From Avon, Ind.
9. KINGSLEY SUAMATAIA, Brigham Young (6-4 ½, 322, 5.02, 2-3): Entered the transfer portal during the 2021 season at Oregon after getting in one game. At BYU, he started at RT in 2022 and at LT in ’23. “He’s at the top of my intriguing-guy list,” said one scout. “He’s gigantic and he plays on his feet. Got really good technique. Not a super nimble athletic guy but it’s hard to get around him. His feet are good enough. He’s got length. Unlike some others, he knows how to play. He’s just not an elite athlete.” His 31 reps on the bench press led the position. “He’s got a lot of good stuff to him but it’s the inconsistency of his determination and toughness that get him in trouble,” a second scout said. “He doesn’t know how to finish. He is not (a bad kid).” Lions tackle Penei Sewell is his cousin. “He is pretty talented but he has major makeup issues and really high bust potential because of that,” a third scout said. “He’s almost like one of these modern-day quarterbacks in a negative connotation. He’s really high maintenance.” Arms were 34 ¼, hands were 10 5/8. From Orem, Utah.
10. ROGER ROSENGARTEN, Washington (6-5 ½, 310, 4.92, 2-3): Started at RT for two seasons. “There was talk he’d go back and move to left because (Troy) Fautanu was gone,” said one scout. “He decided to come out. He’ll be a good, solid starter. He might be a year away. He can still fill out his frame and get stronger. Good athlete, tested well. He has really quick feet.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 5/8. “He’s got want, will, intestinal fortitude,” said a second scout. “He needs to get stronger. He is like a backup guy at best right now.” Just 20 reps on the bench. “His arms aren’t the common line of 34 (inches) for tackles but technique-wise, there’s some things he can do with his punch in pass pro that would help him. He has the feet to mirror, and that’s a good starting point. You see his ability to anchor against some power. Against more talented rushers like (Laiatu) Latu he just needs to clean up his hand use.” From Highlands Ranch, Colo.
11. PATRICK PAUL, Houston (6-7 ½, 332, 5.18, 2-3): Longest arms at the position (36 ¼). “He’s an interesting guy because of his length,” said one scout. “He’s a left tackle-right tackle. He’s got just a unique, interesting way of playing. His hand placement is not great but he gets the job done. There’s some upside there from a physical tools standpoint. Second-third round type.” Lightly recruited out of Houston, Paul stayed home for college. He won the LT job in his second season (2020) but an ankle injury cost him the final six games. Started 39 games at LT from 2021-’23. “When is the last time the University of Houston had an offensive tackle?” said a second scout. “You’ve got to go back to the New England guy, Sebastian Vollmer, and that’s a long time ago (2009-’16).” Hands were just 9 3/8. “Fool’s gold,” a third scout said. “I just don’t see it. I don’t see the combative spirit.”
12. KIRAN AMEGADJIE, Yale (6-5 ½, 324, no 40, 3): Suffered a season-ending quad injury during a practice in October. On April 3, he took part in position drills but wasn’t able to test. “He was starting to come around and then he had the injury,” one scout said. “So you didn’t get to see the finished product. He’s a developmental guy. He’s at least a half a season away. I’m not going to say a year away because by December these guys that come in the league are on the field because of the injuries. You’d like to think he would have dominated more than he did. He played well those four games before he got hurt (but) it wasn’t like he was just dominating the Ivy League.” His 24 starts from 2021-’23 included 14 at LT and 10 at RG. “He was one of my favorite players,” said a second scout. “Kind of like a sleeper going into the year and then he got hurt. He’s still not 100% but he had a good workout. He’s athletic, he’s long. Even with the injury, after the top 50 picks or so, there just aren’t very many talented tackles hanging around. He'll stick out in the third round.” Arms were 36 1/8, hands were 9 5/8. “His upside is tremendous,” a third scout said. “Great kid, smart. He could probably play every position on the line with the exception of center.” From Hinsdale, Ill.
OTHERS: Caedan Wallace, Penn State; Walter Rouse, Oklahoma; Javon Foster, Missouri; Christian Jones, Texas; Sataoa Laumea, Utah; Ethan Driskell, Marshall; Nate Thomas, Louisiana; Jeremy Flax, Kentucky; Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State; Frank Crum, Wyoming; Anim Dankwah, Howard; Andrew Coker, Texas Christian; Josiah Ezirim, Eastern Kentucky.
