How would you rank the Tackle prospects after Sewell

[Cowboyny]

In my opinion, yesterday's GB/TB game was won and lost in the trenches. Since there aren't any elite defensive line prospects at the top of the draft, I am looking at the top Tackles that can make our line dominate again. We are all aware of the concerns with Tyron and his future health and don't really know the severity of Collins hip at this juncture.

Even if both Tackles are healthy next season, have zero problem finding a way to play our 5 best. You can draft a Tackle and kick him inside to upgrade Connor Williams in the interim or even kick one of the Tackles inside if need be.

How would you rank the deep Tackle class, after Sewell:

Slater Northwestern
Darrisaw Virginia Tech
Leatherwood Alabama
Mayfield Michigan
Eichenberg Notre Dame
Cosmi Texas
Carman Clemson
Jenkins Okla State
Little Stanford
Cristenson BYU

I am fully aware some of the prospects aren't considered 1st rd valued players, but should be in the mix for the Cowboys to address the need with a quality option.

 

[J-man]

IMHO, Sewell would be the pick over anyone at 10 if he fell that far. He's that good.
Slater could be the pick at 10 if the top defensive board gets wiped and they can't trade out.
After that I don't think they'll be looking at an OT until rd 4 and after.
Unless they know Smith or Collins won't be back, they won't invest that high a draft pick in a back up. Especially since it was the current 3rd and 4th string back ups that did pretty well when forced into action. Remember the true back ups were also out injured and were at least theoretically better than them.

 

[John813]

I have Little higher than a few guys above him but thats because IMO he's a guy that could play LT in the NFL.

His inactivity from playing will hurt his stock

 

[Cowboyny]

IMHO, Sewell would be the pick over anyone at 10 if he fell that far. He's that good.
Slater could be the pick at 10 if the top defensive board gets wiped and they can't trade out.
After that I don't think they'll be looking at an OT until rd 4 and after.
Unless they know Smith or Collins won't be back, they won't invest that high a draft pick in a back up. Especially since it was the current 3rd and 4th string back ups that did pretty well when forced into action. Remember the true back ups were also out injured and were at least theoretically better than them.

I think Slater/Darrisaw are the two best high-end fits for a zone blocking/west coast offense scheme. The team could very well decide to address the need late day 2 or early day 3.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Sewell looks to be the best OT in this class, but he wouldn’t be in last year’s class. I don’t necessarily see him as the can’t miss “generational” talent that some think he is. Would I take him #10? Absolutely.

I have Darrisaw as the clear OT #2. After that it gets muddled.

 

[Cowboyny]

Sewell looks to be the best OT in this class, but he wouldn’t be in last year’s class. I don’t necessarily see him as the can’t miss “generational” talent that some think he is. Would I take him #10? Absolutely.

I have Darrisaw as the clear OT #2. After that it gets muddled.

I agree about Sewell, good prospect, but not a generational talent. If he somehow falls to 10, you hand in the card. I don't have an issue with taking a 1st rd tackle, if their board gets wiped. I would love to trade back in that scenario and still land either Slater or Darrisaw.

 

[jterrell]

It's tough to study OT's because they don't play anywhere near equal opponents and the top 2 this year were opt outs.
Now we don't have a combine....

Just ugghhh.
Will be interesting see Senior Bowl guys if they even practice hard in 1v1 reps like previously.

 

[cowboyec]

slater...hoping we get him at 10.
leatherwood
darrisaw
little
mayfield
eichenberg
carman
jackson,iowa
van lanen,wisconsin
ealy,ou
doyle,miami-oh

i also like wyatt davis,ohio st....guard...some project him at tackle.
i wouldn't mind him at 10.

 

[cowboyec]

alaric jackson,iowa is a guy i really like if we go defense heavy...early.
he's strong.
can play tackle or guard.
love his size.
strong hands.
he'd be a nice consolation prize in the 4th or 5th rd.
he could go in the 3rd.

 

[cowboyec]

i wouldn't hate slater,leatherwood or darrisaw at 10.
i like this ot group.
some good players there up and down the board.

 

[beware_d-ware]

I'm sold on Sewell as a generational tackle. He would have been OT1 in my book last year, because he was outplaying all of the Big 4 guys as a 19yo sophomore. Wirfs' end of season hot streak that sent him shooting up boards was Sewell's entire year. Sewell had a better season than any of the 3 that Thomas played at Georgia. Factor in his outlier age, outlier athleticism and outlier dominance and I think he's a once-in-10-years kind of player.

If we want to do comps, the best one I can think of is Joe Thomas. Both have the same kind of untouchable speed that lets them hang with any speed rusher on a long drop. Neither one's a mauler in the run game, but Thomas's pass pro was as impenetrable as any LT who's ever played and Sewell is up there in the NCAA ranks.

Rashawn Slater is strong and absurdly mobile, and the only thing I or anyone seem to be able to knock him on is his height. It's a fair question to ask if he is better off at guard or tackle in the pros. Watching him pull and hit LBs in space like a 300lb fullback, I selfishly want to see him as a guard or even center. The comparison I'm going to make and everyone is going to make is Zack Martin. I'd give him a narrow edge for OT2 over Darrisaw, and of course, Darrisaw gets the nod if you're not projecting Slater to OT.

Darrisaw looks like a really safe prospect. 6'5" 318, fluid athleticism in space, blanking NFL-caliber dudes already, that's what a top 20 pick looks like. The lazy comparison I keep getting drawn to is Duane Brown, another easy-moving Hokie tackle who's been starting in the league for over 10 years. You could talk me in to Darrisaw at #10.

Eichenberg is kind of an ehhh for me. The floor is so high, but the ceiling is so clearly capped. Super strong, really sound technique, good movement, but you can see where he repeatedly "gets got" by elite speed and agility. He's like watching a sports car that can't shift above 4th gear. Eichenberg is polished enough to remain at tackle and beat some guys, but he's going to lose reps to the NFL's better DEs, whereas I think Sewell, Slater and Darrisaw all have the athleticism to hang with them. For a comp... maybe Riley Reiff? Good tackle who doesn't have that extra gear to be a great tackle?

For another lazy school-based comparison, Alex Leatherwood is Cam Robinson. Big strong Alabama tackle who plays with cement cleats. He's all straight-line with zero fluidity, and not overly powerful either. Going back to Robinson, he was a high 2nd round pick who gets his QB killed in pass pro, but he's started 4 years for Jacksonville anyway and is about to get paid anyway because the NFL's tackle situation is so dire. I think that's a bang-on career projection for Leatherwood.

 

[Cowboyny]

slater...hoping we get him at 10.
leatherwood
darrisaw
little
mayfield
eichenberg
carman
jackson,iowa
van lanen,wisconsin
ealy,ou
doyle,miami-oh

i also like wyatt davis,ohio st....guard...some project him at tackle.
i wouldn't mind him at 10.

I think in all likelihood if they get good injury info on both their Tackles prior to the draft, we will probably still see the need get addressed, but probably not with their 1st pick, unless they get wiped out. It's very possible in a trade back they could also go in that direction. With a deep Tackle class, we should at least get a quality, future starter at some point.

 

[Cowboyny]

I'm sold on Sewell as a generational tackle. He would have been OT1 in my book last year, because he was outplaying all of the Big 4 guys as a 19yo sophomore. Wirfs' end of season hot streak that sent him shooting up boards was Sewell's entire year. Sewell had a better season than any of the 3 that Thomas played at Georgia. Factor in his age, outlier athleticism and proven dominance and I think he's a once-in-10-years kind of player.

If we want to do comps, the best one I can think of is Joe Thomas. Both have the same kind of untouchable speed that lets them hang with any speed rusher on a long drop. Neither one's a mauler in the run game, but Thomas's pass pro was as impenetrable as any LT who's ever played and Sewell is up there in the NCAA ranks.

Rashawn Slater is strong and absurdly mobile, and the only thing I or anyone seem to be able to knock him on is his height. It's a fair question to ask if he is better off at guard or tackle in the pros. Watching him pull and hit LBs in space like a 300lb fullback, I selfishly want to see him as a guard or even center. I'd comp Slater to Zack Martin: shutdown college LTs that transitioned inside due to length concerns and excelled. I give him a narrow edge for OT2 over Darrisaw, and of course, Darrisaw gets the nod if you're not projecting Slater to OT.

Darrisaw looks like a really safe prospect. 6'5" 318, fluid athleticism in space, blanking NFL-caliber dudes already, that's what a top 20 pick looks like. The lazy comparison I keep getting drawn to is Duane Brown, another easy-moving Hokie tackle who's been starting in the league for over 10 years. You could talk me in to Darrisaw at #10.

Eichenberg is kind of an ehhh for me. The floor is so high, but the ceiling is so clearly capped. Super strong, really sound technique, good movement, but you can see where he repeatedly "gets got" by elite speed and agility. He's like watching a sports car that can't shift above 4th gear. Eichenberg is polished enough to remain at tackle and beat some guys, but he's going to lose reps to the NFL's better DEs, whereas I think Sewell, Slater and Darrisaw all have the athleticism to hang with them. For a comp... maybe Riley Reiff? Good tackle who doesn't have that extra gear to be a great tackle?

For another lazy school-based comparison, Alex Leatherwood is Cam Robinson. Big strong Alabama tackle who plays with cement cleats. He's all straight-line with zero fluidity, and not overly powerful either. Going back to Robinson, he was a high 2nd round pick who gets his QB killed in pass pro, but he's started 4 years for Jacksonville anyway and is about to get paid anyway because the NFL's tackle situation is so dire. I think that's a bang-on career projection for Leatherwood.

Excellent analysis!

It appears that you have Sewell then a wide margin to Slater/Darrisaw, then another wide margin to Eichenburg/Leatherwood.

To me if the Cowboys believe Slater can be a productive, future starting, Tackle, he is a no brainer selection. He could upgrade the OL day 1 and eventually replace Tyron down the line. I believe from a technical standpoint be might be the more ready prospect that offers the versatility to even play all 5 OL positions. Darrishaw might just be a Tackle only which is totally fine, but rather have the player who can play multiple spots, especially if both Tyron/Collins are expected to return next season.

All likelihood, the team has so many defensive needs, they look to address the need earliest in day 2 for more of a development, future starter. I have no problem which either direction, even handing the card in at 10.

 

[IceStar-D7]

Just say NO!!!!! If Sewell isn't there! When are some of you guys gonna learn. No defense. Doesn't matter how much offense. YOU STILL WON'T WIN ANYTHING! Talk about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome

 

[beware_d-ware]

Excellent analysis!

It appears that you have Sewell then a wide margin to Slater/Darrisaw, then another wide margin to Eichenburg/Leatherwood.

Yeah, that's accurate. There's a big fall off from Eichenberg to Leatherwood though. I think the former can still hack it at tackle, whereas the latter is going to be a liability.

I like Slater's game, but just can't justify him if he's not going to play tackle. We're set at RG with Martin, and I'd prefer to keep Williams at LG on a cheap contract instead of paying through the nose to replace him. Center's a hole and Slater could fill it, but has a center ever gone top 10? It's just not one of those one-on-one matchup positions that requires premier talent for.

I'm open to anyone making a case for Slater playing tackle, because I could definitely see it working. I just think there's at least a question if he could do it, whereas I'd have zero questions about him at guard. He would destroy dudes inside.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yeah, that's accurate. There's a big fall off from Eichenberg to Leatherwood though. I think the former can still hack it at tackle, whereas the latter is going to be a liability.

I like Slater's game, but just can't justify him if he's not going to play tackle. We're set at RG with Martin, and I'd prefer to keep Williams at LG on a cheap contract instead of paying through the nose to replace him. Center's a hole and Slater could fill it, but has a center ever gone top 10? It's just not one of those one-on-one matchup positions that requires premier talent for.

I'm open to anyone making a case for Slater playing tackle, because I could definitely see it working. I just think there's at least a question if he could do it, whereas I'd have zero questions about him at guard. He would destroy dudes inside.

I agree, the Cowboys need to see Slater as a future starting Tackle to justify taking him at 10. If they view him more as a high level interior lineman, emergency Tackle like Martin, I would feel better in a trade down and taking him after 15 if he fell that far.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Excellent analysis!

It appears that you have Sewell then a wide margin to Slater/Darrisaw, then another wide margin to Eichenburg/Leatherwood.

To me if the Cowboys believe Slater can be a productive, future starting, Tackle, he is a no brainer selection. He could upgrade the OL day 1 and eventually replace Tyron down the line. I believe from a technical standpoint be might be the more ready prospect that offers the versatility to even play all 5 OL positions. Darrishaw might just be a Tackle only which is totally fine, but rather have the player who can play multiple spots, especially if both Tyron/Collins are expected to return next season.

All likelihood, the team has so many defensive needs, they look to address the need earliest in day 2 for more of a development, future starter. I have no problem which either direction, even handing the card in at 10.

Don't know if it's true but read a tweet that Slater can play ALL five OL position........

 

[cnuball21]

Sewell
Slater / Darrisaw
Everyone else...

It is a loaded class...maybe not as top heavy as last year but I think there’s a handful of 2nd rounders that are good options if available.

 

[Cowboyny]

Don't know if it's true but read a tweet that Slater can play ALL five OL position........

That’s what I’ve have heard too. The biggest question about him is if he can play tackle on the next level without elite size or length. Several believe so.

 

[timb2]

I see Rashawn Slater as a guard



1- Penei Sewell OT Northwestern
2- Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama
3- Christian Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech
4- Trey Smith OT Tennessee
5- James Hudson OT Cincinnati
6- Stone Forsythe OT Florida
7- Jackson Carman OT Clemson
8- Aaron Brooks OT Notre Dame
9-Liam Eichenburg OT Notre Dame
10- Rion Smith OT Fayettville State