McGinn Draft Series - Part 3: OT

[Risen Star]

By Bob McGinn​

The golden age of offensive tackles in the NFL draft covered a span of five years three decades ago. Regarded as can’t-miss prospects as collegians, five players exceeded their immense expectations forging sterling pro careers that culminated with bronze busts in Canton.

In chronological draft order, the fivesome numbered Willie Roaf, No. 8, 1993; Tony Boselli, No. 2, 1995; Jonathan Ogden, No. 4, 1996; Orlando Pace, No. 1, 1997, and Walter Jones, No. 6, 1997.

The demand for dancing bears to block the ever-increasing explosiveness of edge rushers has never been higher. In the first 55 years of the common draft only once, in 2013, had as many as nine offensive linemen been selected in the first round. Desperate teams drafted nine O-linemen in the Round 1 in two of the past three drafts.

“You go through these rosters,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said, “these linemen are pathetic that are playing in the NFL.”

To put it mildly, every team is digging for giants with agility. What they’re seeing this spring is a good, not great cluster of tackles, better than most years but, of course, teams always want more.

“This is a mixed bag,” an AFC personnel man said. “If you talk to 10 people you get 10 different orders, I’m sure. There are very few left tackles. There are some very good right tackles and there’s some tackles that will probably end up playing guard. There’s some depth in this group and a bunch of ‘em are gonna go because they’re hard to find.

“There are no Ogdens, Bosellis, Walter Joneses. But in today’s football these guys go in the top 10, top 15 or top 20.”

TACKLES​

1. WILL CAMPBELL, Louisiana State (6-6, 319, 4.98, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s super talented,” one scout said. “Can do it all. He’s quick, has feet, he’s athletic. His technique’s really good. In the run game, he can position or jolt people. In pass pro, he can mirror. He’ll give up some (pressure) every so often on an inside move mostly. He’s got Pro Bowl talent. His arms are a little short. That’d be the only concern.” Arm (32 5/8 inches) and hand (9 ½ inches) measurements at the combine (regarded as the standard by most teams) were the shortest/smallest among the top tackles. “There’s always exceptions, there’s always outliers,” the scout said.

“When you look at what 32 5/8 is compared to 33, and actually put that on a ruler and look at it, if you’re not going to take a guy who has potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler, then, OK … ” Started all 38 games at left tackle. “He’s good,” said a second scout. “If you want to nitpick, his arms aren’t that long. Great kid. His interview, he sounded like a head coach at a P4 (Power Four) school. It was incredible. One of the best interviews I’ve heard in my life.” Five-star recruit from Monroe, La., where his family operates a farm. “He’s less than a Jonah Williams as a left tackle but as a right tackle he would be a good player,” a third scout said. “He’s built like a guard … and I think that’s where he’s going to end up. You can find plenty of negative reps on this kid. If you want to knock holes in him and not take him you can find whiffs and misses and getting pushed back. They love him at the school and in the interviews so he will win people over with the personality and the desire and all that. But if you take him as a left tackle you’re going to be disappointed. You’ve got to have alternative plans. If you take him as a right tackle or guard then he’ll prove to be a good pick.” Vertical jump was 32 inches, broad jump was 9-5. “Maybe he’s a guard but I still see him as a tackle,” said a fourth scout. “He’s got the feet and the balance. He’s got the ability to play tackle but I want a longer-armed guy. He’ll be a starter, a winner, might make a Pro Bowl a time or two. I don’t think he’s that consistent guy that’s gonna have a 12-year career and is going to seven, eight Pro Bowls. I don’t see that.”

2. KELVIN BANKS, Texas (6-5, 315, 5.14, 1): Third-year junior, three-year starter. “He did play left tackle but he’s got sort of a right tackle’s features,” one scout said. “He’s not perfect but he’s got the size and strength to both block in the run game and enough size and foot agility to protect the passer. If he fails at left tackle he’ll be a right tackle. He has the most value (of the tackles).” Started 42 games at left tackle. “Liked his size and power and had good feet,” said another scout. “He’s a really well-rounded offensive lineman.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “A guy that’s athletic,” a third scout said. “He does look like a guard but let him fail at tackle first because they’re harder to find.” From Humble, Texas. “I don’t see it in this guy,” a fourth scout said. “At all. Big dude. Average athlete. Gets beat a lot. Falls off blocks. Not very strong, not very athletic. Has issues in space. He’d have to be (a guard).”

3. ARMAND MEMBOU, Missouri (6-4, 332, 4.95, 1): Third-year junior, 2 ½-year starter at right tackle. “We got him as a right tackle-guard,” said one scout. “Like him. He could play four of five (positions). For a big fella he’s a really good athlete. Light on his feet. He can bend, he’s quick, plays with good position, uses his length well. He’s never on the ground. He’s strong, not overpowering and not real mean. This is a good player.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 ¾. “Quick, light feet in pass pro, needs to win with his hands early,” said a second scout. “Struggles when power rushers get to his chest. Finishes in the run game and moves well in space. Wish he had a little more pop on contact. Like him at guard or tackle.” Excelled on the bench press (31 reps) and managed 34 inches in the vertical jump. “If you are set everywhere across your line Membou could be the best one (to draft),” said a third scout. “He’s a hell of a right tackle. Some might think he can play on the left side but he’s never done it. He’s a first-rounder even though he’s kind of a right tackle only. He’ll be fine at right tackle. I don’t think he’ll ever have to slide inside.” Four-star recruit from Lee’s Summit, Mo. “I loved his traits but I just didn’t think he was quite ready,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got big-time feet and range. That’s really good. Anchor’s kind of average. The instincts are kind of average. I think it will take a little bit of time so I don’t know if he’s a walk-in starter. I thought second round.” Turns 21 on Wednesday.

4. AIREONTAE ERSERY, Minnesota (6-6, 331, 5.06, 1-2): Started his final 38 games at left tackle before opting out of the Golden Gophers’ bowl game. “I was completely shocked by this guy,” said one scout. “He’s gigantic but he can play. He’s a little high-hipped and stiff-hipped but he’s got feet and excellent balance. He’s really smart … the technique’s there. Uses his hands excellent. Run game, he’s so damn big and he can position and really just move it. In pass pro he knows he’s big and uses his length perfectly. I compared him to Orlando Brown, another big guy, but this guy is better. He’s a better athlete. There will be a lot of talk about putting him at right (tackle) but I’d put him at left.” Didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school. “Big, long, athletic,” said a second scout. “Fluid in space. Liked him better in run than pass. He can improve in the pass game just working on his technique and consistency and not giving up the edge a little bit.” Started his only game played in 2020, redshirted in 2021 and started at left tackle for three years. “Had a good week at the Senior Bowl,” a third scout said. “Excellent knee bend and foot quickness in his pass set. Good extension to get his hands inside and control. Had a really good game against Iowa. Showed ability to anchor with power and can move defenders in the run game. He can get a little lackadaisical at times with his techniques, steps and pad level. He didn’t have a ton of high-school experience and didn’t play at a really good high-school program. He came in there kind of raw and had to learn. He’s a better athlete than (Daniel) Faalele. This kid’s going to be a starting left tackle.” Arms were 33 1/8, hands were just 9 ½. “We were concerned about laziness, lack of discipline and for the process,” said a fourth scout. “That’s bad, especially for an offensive lineman. But he’s an easy mover, light on his feet, pretty good space player for a big guy. You question his awareness a little bit. He’s head and shoulders above Banks and (Josh) Conerly on pure talent.” From Kansas City. “I wouldn’t say he’s had a checkered past but he’s had some little character things,” one scout said. “I believe in him. I’ll say this. I don’t think the character things will hurt his draft spot.” Added a fifth scout: “He’s very stiff. If he’s in the first (round) he’ll be the 30th pick as a right tackle.”

 

[Risen Star]

5. JOSH CONERLY, Oregon (6-4 ½, 313, 5.04, 1-2): Third-year junior, two-year starter. “If you need a left tackle he would be it,” one scout said. “He has the agility and athletic ability to protect the blind side. He’s only going to get better. Great kid, very young. I had a clear vision for him, especially if I needed a left tackle.” Shifted from running back to the offensive line as a high-school sophomore in Seattle. “Big thing was he played well against Penn State’s Abdul Carter,” said another scout. “That really jumped out. Better pass pro than run blocker. Not super talented. Not a gifted athlete. He’s just getting by on his guile and craftiness. He’s going to start and be a good player.” Started at left tackle opposite right tackle Ajani Cornelius. “Both their tackles were really up and down all year,” said a third scout. “They had a hell of an offense but nether one was consistent. They just really struggled with second moves in the pass game. The Boise State game. (Sept. 7) was that way. I’d probably go with Cornelius just because he’s got a little more upside. It was a struggle getting those kids to practice hard, go hard, play hard.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10 3/8. “If you’re asking a guy as a rookie to protect the blind side he would be a really good option,” a fourth scout said. “One thing he’ll have to get better at is strength in the run game if he wants to become a long-time Pro Bowl player. He doesn’t have in-line strength and power to displace vertically. He doesn’t have it, and you hope because he’s such a young guy that he can develop that.” Struggled in the Senior Bowl game. “He’d be on my all-overrated list,” a fifth scout said. “Has some athleticism but didn’t play smart, didn’t play with very good technique. I didn’t feel this guy.”

6. JOSH SIMMONS, Ohio State (6-5, 317, no 40, 2): Suffered a torn patellar tendon in Game 6 and underwent season-ending surgery Oct. 12. “He was just pass-setting and went down,” said one scout. “Boom! What a shame. He’s the best athlete in the group and maybe the best in the last few years. He is what you want. The movement is just easy for him. He’s also got some grit to him. He’s not a power dude but it’s easy for him and he yokes people up. Pro Bowl talent. If he didn’t get hurt I’d probably have him over Campbell.” Another scout said the knee would stop him from choosing him in the first round. “Patellar tendons can be longer than ACL,” he said. “It’s definitely going to drop him. There aren’t many patellar tendons in the offensive line. He’s an outstanding athlete. Lacks some pop and power but he’s got really good feet and bend.” Fourth-year senior redshirted in 2021, started 13 games at right tackle in 2022 and 19 games at left tackle in 2023-’24. “His arm length is (33) and some people don’t like that,” a third scout said. “He can stick-and-stay in space. He has sustain. He can kick out in line. Well-rounded tackle.” Removed from consideration by one team for makeup issues. Another team expressed serious reservations. “Kind of a f-----,” said a fourth scout. “His (issues) are more football character. He has a complete ******** sense of urgency, like a total finesse player. Mental is an issue. Lacks power, struggles to anchor. Fundamentals are poor. Plays like a guy that was at a JUCO and just came here. Now, he is a natural athlete and a knee bender. He’s got quickness, balance and body control, real light on his feet. He can pull and get to the second level. I did see the athletic positives but the whole football player I wasn’t crazy about.” Hands were 10. Four-star recruit as a guard from San Diego.

7. OZZY TRAPILO, Boston College (6-8, 319, 5.26, 2): Fifth-year senior. “He’s not getting enough buzz for what he is,” said one scout. “He’s just mammoth, dense. You’d probably like a little better arm length (33) but he’s technically sound enough so he can compensate for that. He’s a plug-and-play starter. More of a right tackle than a true left tackle. If he failed because of length and maybe he doesn’t have the left tackle feet I think you’ve got a high floor as a guard. Great football character, leader, tone-setter for that program. Above average athlete. Really good body control, great strength, good bend for a guy that’s 6-8. This guy is a ready-made NFL-type prospect. Limitations are first-step quickness, questionable length. Once in a while you see an elite edge rusher that’s able to get on him and he struggled to recover. For the most part, this guy is not going to get beat too often. Just a real steady Eddie.” Redshirted in 2020 before starting two games in 2021, 10 games at left tackle in 2022 and 24 games at right tackle in 2023-’24. “I usually don’t like big tall guys because it usually means they’re stiff waist-benders but he’s pretty good,” said a second scout. “Exceptional kid. Did a pretty good job at the Senior Bowl. He’s going to say and do all the right things. You’ll want him in your locker room. It would not surprise me if he slid into the second round because he checks all the boxes and too many other guys are (bleeps) at a position where there aren’t too many (bleeps).” His father, Steve (6-4, 282, 4.97), was drafted in the fourth round by New Orleans in 1987 and started 52 games over four years as a road-grading guard. He died in 2004. “He’s got some bloodlines,” a third scout said. “He’s a typical tall, narrow-framed BC resume. Not super gifted but he kind of gets the job done. If you need a right tackle, he’ll be a fourth or fifth starter, plug-in-and-play and probably be OK. The later he goes, the better he looks. If you overdraft him at, like, 23 or something you’ll be, like, ‘Oh, boy.’ But if you get him in the third you’ll be excited about him.” Three-time all-conference academic selection with a master’s degree in finance. From Norwell, Mass.

8. MARCUS MBOW, Purdue (6-4, 302, no 40, 2-3): Three-star recruit from Wauwatosa East High School in Milwaukee. “Really, really good athlete,” one scout said. “Agile, quick, smart, works, got some nastiness to him. He just needs to build up his body and get stronger. He reminded of Zach Tom. Purdue was awful. I see him as a second-rounder.” Played in four games as a freshman, started at right guard in 2022 and at right tackle in 2023-’24. Missed half of the ’23 season with a fractured leg that one scout said continued to affect his play early last season. “He has third-round ability,” the scout said. “I don’t think he can survive out there at tackle because of his size and length (32-inch arms). He is a guard, but it’s questionable whether or not he’ll be physical enough against bigger defensive tackles. The run game is suddenly back now.” Had major problems trying to withstand bull rushes at Senior Bowl practices. Said a third scout: “I thought he was weak as water in some of those reps at the Senior Bowl.” Hands were 10 ½. “Undersized with good quickness, speed and burst,” a fourth scout said. “Just lacks strength to engage on the line of scrimmage. He’s got a lot of traits. He just needs to get stronger. He can get out in space and run and pull and get to the second level easy. I don’t think he’s strong enough yet for guard. I don’t think he’s a left (tackle). That’s why I would say center, if anything, but he’s never done that so it’s a pure projection. He wants to be a tackle. You start him there until he fails.”

9. CHARLES GRANT, William & Mary (6-5, 309, 5.14, 3): Backup in 2020 before starting for 3 ½ seasons at left tackle. “He’s a nice project,” one scout said. “He’s as athletic as any guy in the (offensive line) group. His big problem is he’s had a hard time putting on and holding weight. Damn, he looks good moving around. He just needs to get stronger. He’s got great length. If he failed at tackle (maybe) play him at center because he’s smart, super athletic and can bend. He could go in the third maybe.” His arm length (34 ¾) was the longest of the top 10 tackles. Hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. “He’s very interesting,” a second scout said. “He’s a true left tackle. I was really impressed with his feet and his length. I think he’s a future starter. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see a team take him 50 to 80. He can really move. Very good pass protector. He’s coming from a smaller school and people might doubt that a little.” Team captain. From Portsmouth, Va.

10. MYLES HINTON, Michigan (6-6 ½, 325, no 40, 3-4): Started 15 games at right tackle for Stanford in 2021-’22 before transferring. At Michigan, he was benched in 2023 after five starts for the national champions before bouncing back to start 10 games at left tackle in ’24. “He’s got first-round talent,” one scout said. “He’s huge, he’s incredibly long. Now, putting it all together, I don’t know. He is a complete roll of the dice. If this guy had Will Campbell’s makeup he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Not because he's a bad kid. Not mean, not aggressive or violent. He’s finesse all day. He gives up on too many plays. But when this guy does it right … sometimes when he’s wrong he’s still right because he’s too big and too athletic. This guy could be a red (solid starting) player if he had a higher give-a-**** factor.” Described as a “true renaissance man” by his coach in high school. Marine biology major with environmental interests. Avid fisherman. His father, Chris (6-4, 276, 4.85), moved from outside linebacker to tight end to tackle during his career at Northwestern before being the No. 4 pick in the 1983 draft. He went on to play 13 seasons at tackle and make seven Pro Bowls. Myles’ younger brother, Christopher (6-3 ½, 304, 5.29), made 19 starts at defensive tackle for Michigan. Having played seven games in two seasons, he remains on the Chargers’ roster. “I don’t think he’s much,” said a second scout referring to Myles. “The dad was really good. His dad was probably even a better athlete than the kid. When Chris Hinton came out they said he was a little soft coming out of Northwestern. One thing about Chris Hinton, he was tough.” Arms were 34 1/8, hands were 10 ¼. Just 19 reps on the bench press. Myles, a four-star recruit from John’s Creek, Ga., also competed in basketball and track as a prep and won a state championship in the discus.

THE NEXT FIVE​

Cameron Williams, Texas (6-5 ½, 317, no 40)
Said one scout: “Played right tackle there. Not a very good athlete. Struggles with movement. Put him inside. In the playoffs he was getting run by.”

Jalen Travis, Iowa State (6-7 ½, 341, 5.13)
Said one scout: “Transfer from Princeton over the summer (of 2024). Super intelligent and already has been accepted into multiple law schools. He’s a massive kid. People will want to try to develop him further.”

Logan Brown, Kansas (6-6 ½, 311, 5.15)
Said one scout: “His measurables look fantastic on paper. He draws your attention with his build. But he’s pigeon-toed and very stiff. His tape is just OK. He’s a third-day guy.”

Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M (6-7, 321, 5.17)
Said one scout: “He was a fifth- or sixth-year senior. He didn’t leave Alabama A&M. He stayed loyal to the program. There are a lot of reasons to like Carson Vinson. He is a project to get stronger and all that, but he’s got feet and he’s got length (34 ½ arms) and he’s gonna be overdrafted. Not in the first two nights but he’ll be a third-day guy that people will really, really want to work with because he can move.”

Jack Nelson, Wisconsin (6-7, 318, no 40)
Said one scout: “I’ve been waiting for Jack to ascend over the last three years and I still haven’t seen it. He gets drafted and he’ll be a backup.”

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

if campbell drops to 12, I would take him. like we did with Tyrson Smith, then move Guyton to the right and get rid of Steele. build for the future.

otherwise, the guys I like from list above,
Ersery
Simmons (may not play much in 25, but a long term solution and probably a steal in the long run)
Mbow - just needs to get stronger and you got a really goot LT

 

[RS12]

That one scout savaged Simmons for the mental part of the game. I gót a feeling he is there at 12.

 

[Risen Star]

Will Campbell at RT for the Cowboys is something I would approve of.

But man we need playmakers on offense.

 

[RS12]

 

[Coogiguy03]

There's a kid that went to Connecticut that's from Arlington, he'll surely be a Cowboy!

 

[Risen Star]

 

[John813]

If Will Campbell falls to 12, I would be ok with taking him. Move Guyton to ROT or the bench, don't care.

Far better LOT prospect than Guyton.

 

[darthseinfeld]

That one scout savaged Simmons for the mental part of the game. I gót a feeling he is there at 12.

12? I seriously doubt he goes in the first at all

 

[RS12]

12? I seriously doubt he goes in the first at all

If the doctors sign off on it I strongly believe he goes first round.

 

[Risen Star]

Will Campbell mugging his brother Jihaad Campbell.

 

[RS12]