2. Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Size: 6-4, 304
The Good: He might not be the best offensive tackle in the draft, but he has the skills to be as risk-free and as good as anyone outside of the No. 1 guy. He’s a tough guy’s tough guy for the running game, he’s great in pass protection with outstanding feet and quickness, and he doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes.
It’s not always right to tag the Northwestern guys as the smart players, but … yeah. He plays smart, he seems to figure out the problem to win at what he needs to do, and he’s smooth for an NFL blocker.
He’s a tackle, but with his build and all-around skills, he could be moved inside to guard for a team that’s already set on the outside.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite as big as some might like.
It you’re looking for that 6-8, 330-pound massive human type – and there are a few of those in this draft – that’s not Slater. He’s not all that long – don’t be that guy who tries to look important by pretending that arm length is a thing – so some are going to freak out that he doesn’t quite have the frame of your typical superstar NFL tackle.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Take him in the first round, maybe in the top 15, and you’ve got a solid blocker for the next ten years. There’s almost no bust potential here, he’ll bring the effort every play, and he’ll be a no-worry leader of the line with a little bit of time.
Projected Round: First