The 2021 NFL Draft is just about a month away, and the league’s football clubs are working feverishly in order to plan out their course of attack throughout the rest of free agency up into the three-day marathon of selections. Compared to just a week ago, front offices are beginning to show their hand as to what positions they might be leaving until draft day due to their actions early in free agency. For example, the Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders have all had a focus on making some moves along the offensive line. The first two AFC West teams seemed to interested in acquiring free agent talent along their offensive front instead of developing the position through the draft. Meanwhile, the Raiders seem intent on the opposite and have gutted their veterans in the trenches in favor of developing a younger unit.
The Raiders aren’t the only team likely to aggressively go after the big guys in this draft class. With holes along their front, the Jets, Jaguars, and Giants have remained largely quiet through the first few days of this free-agent frenzy. And luckily for them, this is a top-heavy draft class at offensive linemen, as standout prospects such as Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater, and Wyatt Davis highlight the impressive talent available at any spot along the line. Today, I will be looking for some fits between some of the top blocking prospects and teams that will have a realistic shot to draft them, based on their respective positioning throughout the draft. I will be separating tackles and interior offensive lineman into two different articles, so be sure to stay tuned for the second part! Keeping things in order of selections, the first tackle below isn’t likely to have to wait very long before hearing his name called in Round 1…
*Note: Clemson’s Jackson Carman will be included in the next section with the interior offensive linemen. The blindside protector for Trevor Lawrence played left tackle during his collegiate career, but have more tools to succeed at the guard position in the NFL. An earlier version excluded Alex Leatherwood from this section, but he will be included as a tackle upon further review.*
Penei Sewell, Oregon – Miami Dolphins
- Projected Pick: 3rd overall
The type of athlete that you don’t typically see at the offensive tackle position, Penei Sewell has the potential to become a generational talent at left tackle with the proper physical and technical development. Already a day one starter wherever he ends up, Sewell has a chance to be this generation’s Joe Thomas in an era of spread offenses throughout the NFL. The Oregon product is quick enough to beat plenty of defenders to the point of attack down the field and keep up with screens and downhill runs that involve linemen to seemingly get out of their comfort zone. In those situations, Sewell might just look his most comfortable. For a team with a young quarterback still recently removed from a career-threatening injury, the Dolphins will likely be running an offense that calls for plenty of those scripted plays, which the former Heisman vote-receiver would flourish in.
Rashawn Slater, Northwestern – Dallas Cowboys
- Projected Pick: 10th overall
It’s possible that Dallas looks at a more prominent need in this position, but Rashawn Slater’s versatility across the offensive line could prove more valuable to the Cowboys than most other teams. The former Wildcat can lineup and likely start at any position along the line, similar to Joe Thuney in his time at North Carolina State. Slater is also a better prospect than the former third-rounder was coming out of college. On top of his impressive versatility, the lineman is technically sound and shows impressive athleticism, as evidenced by his 4.88 40-yard dash. Like Sewell, Slater has room to grow physically despite already being the most pro-ready lineman in this draft class. With a guy like this around, the Cowboys could add a fifth big name to the offensive front, providing extra insurance in case of more injuries and allowing the Northwestern product to eventually take over for Tyron Smith.
Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC – Minnesota Vikings
- Projected Pick: 14th overall
Another stellar athlete and versatile option for the offensive line position, Alijah Vera-Tucker shouldn’t have to wait much longer than the other top tackles before finding a home for himself. The Vikings have been reportedly in the market to acquire Orlando Brown Jr., and could look to the early rounds of the draft in the event that the star offensive tackle gets dealt somewhere else. The USC product helps fill out the left side of the line, which is likely to be without both starting tackle Riley Reiff and guard Dakota Dozier. There are some doubts as to whether or not Vera-Tucker can capably deal with power rushers at the next level and might be better at right tackle or guard. Still, the questions about strength and length haven’t stopped him yet from dominating the point of attack, and those weaknesses would be further mitigated by the Viking’s zone blocking scheme.
Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech – Las Vegas Raiders
- Projected Pick: 19th overall
Raiders fans didn’t enjoy the selection of Kolton Miller with the 15th-overall pick in 2018, and has since quieted doubters as he developed into a reliable starter for a talented offensive line in Oakland and Vegas over the past two years. Christian Darrisaw is a more technically refined prospect than Miller was coming out of college, but the Virginia Tech product similarly needs to learn how to properly use his strength at the next level or risk getting overpowered at the point of attack. The Hokies’ three-year starter’s biggest knack is his lack of a mean-streak, something that Richie Incognito could absolutely help with as an unlikely mentor. Given that the Raiders’ two remaining starting offensive linemen from 2020 have the tools to coach up Darrisaw and see him potentially reach his high ceiling at one of the tackle spots.
Jalen Mayfield, Michigan – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Projected Pick: 24th overall
The Steelers have done a solid job of retaining as much of their 2020 team as possible despite issues with cap space. However, Alejandro Villanueva, Maurkice Pouncey, and Matt Feiler are all gone from their roster and the offensive line seems to be in no shape to protect for the 39 year-old Ben Roethlisberger. The entirety of the left side of Pittsburgh’s offensive line is currently in shambles and could look to the early rounds of the NFL Draft in order to address that severe need, especially after retaining young talents JuJu Smith-Schuster for the receiving corps and Cameron Sutton in the secondary. Jalen Mayfield is a raw, but athletically-gifted prospect that seemed to even piece his technique together during his 2-game 2020 season with the Wolverines. One of the few prospects that can say that they held their own against Chase Young in college, the tackle is as close to a sure thing as you can get from a one-year-plus-two-games starter.
Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State – Kansas City Chiefs
- Projected Pick: 31st overall
Teven Jenkins has been rising up draft boards since the pre-draft process begun. Concerns about length haven’t been lifted, but have been reportedly overblown after Jenkins measured in with arms longer than 33 inches. The Oklahoma State product is similar to Alijah Vera-Tucker in versatility and athleticism, and could prove some extreme value fitting into the Chiefs’ impending offensive line puzzle. Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Mike Remmers figure to occupy three of the four tackle and guard spots, and the Kansas City could look to someone who is proficient at both spots in order to allow these players to play at their best spots and provide optimal protection to Patrick Mahomes.
Alex Leatherwood, Alabama – Cincinnati Bengals
- Projected Pick: 38th overall
Alex Leatherwood lacks a bit of functional strength and mean streak, like Christian Darrisaw. However, the 2020 Outland Trophy winner has the desired length, athleticism, and polish to provide a team with a starter anywhere on the line save for center. Leatherwood excelled at guard earlier in his college career before seemingly improving at left tackle despite the difficulty of the position. While the Bengals have two capable offensive tackles in Jonah Williams and now Riley Reiff. However, Reiff was only signed to a one-year deal and the offensive line has holes along the interior. Leatherwood, if he falls this far, would be a perfect candidate for Cincinnati to snag and start at guard for a year until eventually pairing with his fellow ‘Bama alum.
Sam Cosmi, Texas – San Francisco 49ers
- Projected Pick: 43rd overall
Playing both left and right tackle at college, Sam Cosmi has the potential to turn into a franchise anchor down the line with some physical development. Issues with pass protection combined with the undersized frame will likely cause the three-year starter to move into the second day of the draft and/or force him over to right tackle permanently. A team with depth that doesn’t have to play the former Longhorn instantly would be the best fit overall for both the player and the franchise. Though, after a cap-strapped year in which many teams won’t be able to fill their roster with the same quality of depth as recent seasons and thus might choose to pass on developmental prospects, the 49ers might be an exception. They were able to keep their overall talent and depth despite signing Trent Williams to a mega-deal for six years. Mike McGlinchey, the incumbent right tackle, might not be as safe next season. Cosmi provides San Francisco with fantastic insurance in the increasingly-likely event that McGlinchey reaches free agency in the 2022 offseason.
Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame – Indianapolis Colts
- Projected Pick: 54th overall
Speaking of plug-and-play prospects! With Anthony Castonzo gone, the Colts should look for their longtime tackle’s replacement in the earlier rounds of the draft. Liam Eichenberg doesn’t have the same ceiling as any of the offensive tackles ahead of him, but has a higher floor than anyone outside of the top three tackles this draft has to offer. The solid, but not spectacular athlete is similarly skilled in protection, where he’s technically sound and coming from one of the better offensive line factories in college football. He’s not going to dominate Myles Garrett or Chase Young in the coming years, but could very well hold his own against some talented offensive linemen, especially on a team with as much O-line talent as Indianapolis has.
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