Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia
Elevator Pitch
Thomas has the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive tackle at the next level. He’s a more-than-capable athlete for the position and offers plenty of upside as a pass protector on the blindside, and his experience in Georgia’s run-heavy scheme shows when he’s creating holes for his running backs. A technically-sound blocker who does a lot of the little things right, Thomas should be taken early in this year’s draft.
Vitals
Height | 6-5
Weight | 315
Strengths
Thomas is one of the most refined blockers in the 2020 draft class.
The way he sinks his hips into contact and maintains leverage through his pad level is fun to watch. His footwork is ideal for the position, and he keeps a balanced base when engaging with defenders. He has improved at getting his hands inside the shoulder pads of his opponents, and the timing behind his strikes is consistent. The three-year collegiate starter plays with active and powerful hands and constantly fights to get the upper hand, no pun intended.
Thomas is a nimble lineman who can keep up athletically with most of the defenders he goes up against. His acceleration coming out of his kick slide is admirable, and he has shown that he can play with lateral quickness when shuffling or when asked to accelerate to the second level. If you’re a team who utilizes its offensive linemen in zone-blocking or reach-blocking situations, Thomas would be a great fit in your system.
Weaknesses
While Thomas brings upside as a technically-sound blocker, he still has some cleaning up to do in his game. His pass sets can be inconsistent, which can make him prone to allowing inside moves to opposing edge rushers. He is a good athlete, but his footwork could be smoothed out a little bit.
Thomas could also stand to bulk up a little bit. His anchor strength hasn’t reached its full potential yet, and he can still struggle with explosive pass rushers who can convert speed to power well at times. Doing that could help iron out one of very few flaws in his game.
Projection: Top 15
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