2. Jedrick Wills, Alabama
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 312
40-Yard Dash: 5.05
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 113 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.84
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A string of colleges, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Kentucky, were after Wills coming out of Lafayette High in Lexington, Kentucky. But as so many top recruits do, Wills chose the Crimson Tide. He managed 121 snaps as a true freshman, allowing no sacks, hits, or hurries on 34 pass-blocking snaps, and things just accelerated from there. When right tackle Matt Womack suffered an injury in 2018, it was time for Wills to step in, and he never left the right side after that.
“I took minimal reps at Alabama,” Wills has said of a potential switch to left tackle. “Leading up to this pre-draft process, I’m trying to do both because that’s something teams are asking about. I’m just trying to have that versatility. It’s something that’s new. Every time at a new position, it’s something you have to get used to. It’s something I’m trying to get comfortable with.”
What’s the biggest challenge with the switch?
“Probably the muscle memory. Being on the right side for so long, it’s something that feels a little bit different. You switch your feet up, using your right hand, your punch time is going to be different. It’s small things.”
Stat to Know: Wills allowed just one sack, five quarterback hits, and 27 quarterback hurries in 970 career pass-blocking snaps.
Strengths: Straight-up demolisher in the run game. Explodes out of his stance, and if there isn’t somebody right in front of him to damage, he goes looking for work in a hurry. Goes after his assignment as a defensive tackle would with an absolute attack mentality. Tremendous upper-body strength augmented by a wide base — good luck out-leveraging him. Has the hand speed and strength to keep defenders at bay with a simple swat. Traps and limits edge-rushers well, if not consistently, with his hands. Once he catches a defender, that defender had better have a second move, or he will quickly disappear. Has the base punch and power of a tackle 30 pounds heavier, and the agility that matches with his size.
Weaknesses: Wills’ wide stance and aggressive nature make him vulnerable to movement concepts in space — as agile as he can be, he’s also prone to flat-out missing people at the second level. Looks out of place at times in zone concepts; floating around when he could be locking on. Needs to clean up the tendency to reach both in the run game and in pass pro. Kick slide in pass pro is decent, but will need work against rushers who cross his face quickly. Gets grabby when his hand technique is left wanting.
Conclusion: Wills is probably going in the top 10, and if you’re surprised by that, you may want to catch up with the realities of the NFL as it stands. The most important offensive lineman for the Chiefs in their Super Bowl run was right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who pitched a near-perfect postseason and played at an MVP level against the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV against the 49ers. Wills doesn’t need to switch sides to be of franchise-level importance.
NFL Comparison: Lane Johnson. Wills is a natural right tackle with the ability to dominate in run sets and improve in his pass protection. Johnson has been an outstanding and highly valuable right tackle since the Eagles took him in the first round of the 2013 draft with similar traits.