Chargers 2020 NFL Draft Target: Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez puts Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, a potential draft target, under the microscope.

Over the next few months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up into the 2020 NFL Draft. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Today, we are taking a look at Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland.

Honors and Awards

  • All-Mountain West First Team (2018-19)
  • All-Mountain West Honorable Mention (2017)
  • Academic All-Mountain West (Fall 2017)

Strengths

  • Tall, proportionate frame.
  • Athletic feet in pass protection to reset and react to movement. Efficient kick slide, sliding very smoothy and getting to his destination point with ease. Initial quickness to cut off wide speed.
  • Uses his long arms to lock out, slow rushers and maintain space.
  • Strong mirroring skill and agility skills to be able to hold his own against the most athletic edge rushers.
  • Patient hands. Mixes up how he throws pass-rushers off balance. Has the grip and core strength to hold his own at the point of attack.
  • Alert to recognize blitzers and reorganize his assignments.
  • Quick to climb and comfortable in space, taking out second-level defenders with clean angles and sustain skills.

Weaknesses

  • Marginal recovery anchor, playing too much on his heels and in an upright position.
  • Late or wide hands, allowing rushers to attack his chest and walk him backwards.
  • Several bad habits like ducking his head and lunging.
  • Rarely snaps his hips through when blocking in the run game. Hardly ever the low man in this area. Doesn’t always match the power of nasty of defensive linemen.

Summary

Cleveland, the 6-foot-6 and 315 pounder, started all Boise State’s 40 games since redshirting as a freshman. The Washington native has an athletic frame, who is a coordinated mover who’s comfortable in space, flashing the instincts and smarts required for the next level. While he isn’t necessarily overpowering strength player in the run game, he quickly finds his landmarks and uses his natural coordination to stay between the defender and pocket.

Chargers Fit

Cleveland needs to improve his play strength in the run game, but his balanced athleticism and loose movement skills allow him to stymie different types of rushers off the edge. He is capable of filling in an immediate void at right tackle, but also has a skillset to provide depth inside.

Projected Round: Early-Mid Third