Even after the addition of Jack Conklin, it is obvious that the number one concern for the Cleveland Browns needs to be adding protection for Baker Mayfield and finding a suitable left tackle is the main priority heading into the NFL Draft. There are more than a few candidates for Cleveland as this is one of the strongest classes in recent memory and below are my rankings.
I grade players extremely generous and like to think with an open mind. Most writers only rank 20-25 first-round grades and that is probably more indicative of their talent rather than where they are selected. I rank prospects based on the highest I could possibly see them be snagged.
1st Round
1. Andrew Thomas, Georgia, 6-5, 315 pounds
Thomas is a devastating run blocker with impressive length to go with the ideal athleticism to handle the meanest edge rushers in the NFL. The biggest weakness in Thomas’ game is his pass blocking. He’s good but once he gets beat, it’s typically game over as he rarely recovers.
2. Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama, 6-4, 312 pounds
Like Thomas, Wills is an elite run blocker and impressive athlete, but Wills also takes immense pride in putting the defender in the dirt and finishing his blocks. Also like Thomas, Wills needs to work on his pass protection as he has a propensity to get beat inside.
3. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa, 6-5, 320 pounds
Wirfs was a freak of a right tackle at Iowa, but can make the switch to the left side. At worst he will be an elite guard in the NFL. Out of the 17 former Iowa offensive lineman drafted under the Kirk Ferentz regime, Wirfs is likely the best one of an impressive group. The issue with Wirfs is that his ceiling might be at its highest on the interior in the NFL.
4. Mekhi Becton, Louisville, 6-5, 364 pounds
Becton is still a fairly raw player and this should translate in him having the highest ceiling in this class. His insane agility and even more insane size make it easy to envision him being an elite tackle in the league. Becton is not the most polished blocker and his technique including hand placement will need more finely tuned.
5. Austin Jackson, USC, 6-5, 322 pounds
Jackson has the ideal arm length needed in the NFL and his body has a good distribution of weight. He also has very quick feet, which is ideal when taking on elite pass rushers in the league. Like Becton though, Jackson is extremely raw and even more so than Becton as Jackson has a lot to work on as far as his technique goes.
6. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia, 6-6. 350 pounds
Georgia obviously had the best duo of tackles in the country and Wilson is one of the strongest of the group and also has ideal foot speed for the position. At only 21 years old, Wilson still has a lot more room to grow. The problem with Wilson is he may only be a right tackle in the NFL.
7. Josh Jones, Houston, 6-5, 319 pounds
Jones is already a great pass blocker with ideal length. Despite being a four-year starter at left tackle for Houston, Jones still has a ton of room to grow considering his technique needs serious work. The biggest issue with Jones is that his finest film is against the lowest tier of the FBS and that doesn’t instill a ton of confidence.
2nd Round
8. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn, 6-5, 308 pounds
Wanogho is extremely quick off the snap and rarely loses the leverage battle. He also has showcased impressive athleticism, especially in the screen game. The biggest issue with Wanogho’s play is lack of hand speed as defenders often get access to his chest. He also gets beat by countermoves more often than you’d like to see.
9. Lucas Niang, TCU, 6-6, 315 pounds
Niang has ideal size and the capabilities to start on the right side immediately with a lengthy resume of three-year starring experience as proof. Niang is not higher on the board due to a torn hip labrum injury that ended his season prematurely. He only got to play seven games before the devastating injury and this warrants deeper investigation.
10. Matthew Peart, Connecticut, 6-7, 318 pounds
Peart is a great athlete with the quick feet you would expect from a Jamaican born player that grew up playing basketball and soccer. He didn’t start playing football until high school and still has a lot of untapped potential, but he already has the look of a prototype offensive tackle. He is not ranked higher on this list because he is so raw. Peart will likely need at least one red-shirt season and possibly more.
11. Trey Adams, Washington, 6-8, 318 pounds
Adams has a phenomenal anchor and rarely loses the leverage battle. He also possesses the ideal foot speed in an NFL tackle. Adams is not ranked higher because of his lengthy injury history. Despite once being considered a first-round lock, an ACL tear and back issues have taken their toll.
12. Saahdiq Charles, LSU, 6-4, 321 pounds
Charles likely would have been a first-round selection had he stayed another season, but instead he decided to ride the wave of the National Championship and take a premature exit. He has all the tools you want and maybe the best in the class when tasked with moving in pulling or trapping situations. The biggest issue with Charles is he needed another season in college. He was widely inconsistent and never put all of his tools on tape at the same time.
13. Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas, 6-4, 302 pounds
Like Charles, Adeniji has the requisite quick feet needed at the next level and he is especially successful in the run game as he understands what angles to take when working in space. Adeniji would be higher on this list, but he lacks the ideal anchor you want in your starting tackle.
3rd Round
14. Jack Driscoll, Auburn, 6-5, 306 pounds
Driscoll is extremely quick off the snap and thrives when setting up in pass protection. He is also extremely impressive when looking for work on the second level, but he does not have the foot speed to hang with elite edge defenders or superior counter moves. Driscoll also needs a lot of work in the run game.
15. Alex Taylor, South Carolina St., 6-8, 308 pounds
Taylor is insanely huge for all the right reasons. He was the tallest offensive lineman at the combine with the second-longest arms at 36 1/8 inches, the longest wingspan at 88 inches and largest hands at 11 inches. Despite having extremely large features, Taylor is thin and plays with a lack of power required in a starting offensive tackle. Taylor is often compared to former Browns 2017 NFL Draft pick and current Texan, Roderick Johnson. It is not the most flattering comparison and honestly Johnson looked more prepared coming out of Florida State than Taylor does currently coming from the FCS.
16. Justin Herron, Wake Forest, 6-4, 308 pounds
Herron’s basketball background is evident in his play as he has extremely quick feet and overall impressive athleticism, which should allow him to hang with speed rushers. What does hold Herron back is his sloppy technique, which is most evident in his set as he is rarely in position to dominate defenders.
17. Colton McKivitz, West Virginia, 6-6, 306 pounds
McKivitz has the ideal powerful initial punch necessary to jolt aggressive defenders and he loves to play until the whistle blows taking great pride in finishing his blocks, unlike Herron above. Unlike Herron, McKivitz lacks the foot speed to hang with speedier edge defenders.
18. Charlie Heck, North Carolina, 6-8, 311 pounds
You can tell Heck is the son of former NFL player and current Chiefs’ offensive line coach, Andy Heck. He walks and talks like the perfect offensive tackle. Someone is going to fall in love with Heck as he has an impressive resume of 33 starts to go with the elite intangibles that typically come with being a coach’s son. The problem with Heck is he lacks the ideal athleticism you want in a starting tackle.
19. Tyre Phillips, Mississippi St., 6-5, 331 pounds
Phillips is just scratching the surface of his potential after only playing one season of high school football before dominating at Last Chance U, East Mississippi Junior College. After being highly recruited to Mississippi State he sat the bench for two seasons, before breaking out during an outstanding senior campaign. He started 13 games on the left side and only allowed two sacks on 398 passing attempts. He also has the requisite size needed to hang in the NFL. Phillips is not higher on this list because he is still so raw and may have to take a redshirt season or two to contribute.
20. Yasir Durant, Missouri, 6-6, 331 pounds
Durant is a behemoth with a powerful first punch and it takes a connecting flight to get around him. He utilizes his size well especially in pass protection. Durant does lack the ideal athleticism you look for in a tackle and has been susceptible to getting beat by counter-moves.
4th Round
21. Cameron Clark, Charlotte, 6-4, 308 pounds: Experienced fifth-year guy with 31 starts to his name.
22. Jared Hilbers, Washington, 6-7, 316 pounds: Started on left side in 2018, before being moved to right side after Trey Adams returned to line-up.
23. Branden Bowen, Ohio State, 6-7, 320 pounds: Came back from gruesome leg injury to earn second-team All-Big Ten.
24. Darrin Paulo, Utah, 6-5, 315 pounds: Brings experience and versatility as he started in 40 games and played both sides during his career.
25. Drew Richmond, USC, 6-5, 315 pounds: Consistently finds best blocking angle, but needs to as he lacks ideal athleticism.
26. Blake Brandel, Oregon St., 6-6. 308 pounds: Started 48 games with 39 on the left side.
27. Julian Good-Jones, Iowa St., 6-5, 308 pounds: First-team All-Big 12 with 49 consecutive starts under his belt.
5th Round
28. Alex Givens, Ole Miss, 6-6, 308 pounds
29. Victor Johnson, Appalachian St., 6-4, 285 pounds
Priority Free Agent
30. Javon Mosley, New Mexico, 6-7, 325 pounds
32. Matt Womack, Alabama, 6-7, 325 pounds
33. Jake Benzinger, Wake Forest, 6-7, 295 pounds
34. Brady Aiello, Oregon, 6-7, 311 pounds
35. Brandon Walton, Florida Atlantic, 6-4, 311 pounds
36. Kamaal Seymour, Rutgers, 6-6, 319 pounds
37. Evin Ksiezarczyk, Buffalo, 6-5, 305 pounds
38. Nick Kaltmayer, Kansas St., 6-7, 313 pounds
39. Matt McCann, Purdue, 6-6, 310 pounds