Jets Wire takes a look at five tackles that the Jets could target in the later rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.
It’s likely that the Jets select an offensive tackle with the 11th pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but that will not deter Jets general manager Joe Douglas from continuing to address the position later in the draft.
Douglas told reporters on a conference call earlier this week, that “there is a shortage of quality offensive linemen in the NFL.” He did his best to revamp New York’s line by signing Greg Van Roten, Connor, McGovern and Josh Andrews, as well as re-upping Alex Lewis and retaining Brian Winters. However, the Jets still lack depth at tackle with only George Fant, Chuma Edoga and Connor McDermott on the depth chart.
Douglas has to address Gang Green’s depth problem at tackle. What better way to do it than by stockpiling talent at the position? With that being said, let’s take a look at some offensive tackle prospects the Jets could target in the later rounds of the draft.
Matt Peart, UConn
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Peart is a swing tackle prospect with outstanding size and length at 6-foot-7, 318-pounds. A former basketball player in high school, he made the switch over to the offensive line, just like George Fant did.
Peart spent his first two seasons at UConn on the left side of the offensive line. As a junior, he moved over to the right side, where he started all 24 games in his final two years playing for the Huskies. The transition was a seamless one, as Peart earned a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a senior.
The UConn product is a project with his raw skill set, but he could be worth taking a flier on considering Joe Douglas’ emphasis on finding athletic offensive linemen with positional versatility.
The Los Angeles Chargers might be interested in a small-school player as early as Round 2.
If the Chargers want to hit a home run in the 2020 NFL Draft, they are going to have to consider all options when choosing who will make their draft board.
Every year a prospect from a small school becomes an NFL star in the making. Whether it’s the early rounds or undrafted free agency pool, there’s plenty of players who always fly under the radar.
With that, we are going to take a look at five small school standouts who Los Angeles should consider later this month based on positional need.
Ben Bartch, St. Johns, OT
The Chargers need more help along the offensive line and Bartch is the one prospect that should be at the top of their board come Day 2. After a successful collegiate career for the Johnnies, Bartch put on a show against some of the top pass-rushers in the country at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. From his tape and his outing in Mobile, AL, Bartch showed everything that you could ask for in an NFL offensive lineman: Footwork, athleticism, play awareness, great hands, ability to anchor and strength at the point of attack. Bartch, the former tight end, played strictly left tackle during his time at St. John’s. He’s more than capable of competing for the starting left tackle spot, but he could slide inside to guard, too. Look for Bartch to finish in a similar situation as Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet — another former small-school standout, who went on to become drafted in the second round.
Clark, Charlotte’s former team captain and two-time All-Conference-USA member, went on to set to a school record with 48 games played. Clark is an aggressive player in the run blocking department and a smooth mover out in space, playing with the mindset of taking the game to his opponents. He has good athletic traits and solid movement skills in pass protection to keep defenders at bay. Like Bartch, Clark can play tackle or kick inside to guard at the next level. Given the new zone scheme the Chargers are expected to incorporate this upcoming season, Clark’s skillset would be perfect for offensive line coach James Campen to mold into a potential NFL starter.
The Rockford native played in 46 games for the Redbirds, starting 39 of them. After finishing his All-American season in 2019 where he rushed for 1,917 yards, Robinson raised eyebrows of NFL evaluators at the Shrine Bowl, finishing with 137 yards from scrimmage, including a 63-yard touchdown run. The 5-foot-9 and 219 pound back isn’t a burner, but he has a powerful running style to break tackles where he would be able to pick up yards on first and second-down situations, as well as the strength to pick up defenders on third-down in pass protection. Given his bruising style of play, he would be the ideal compliment to Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.
Dante Olson, Montana, LB
The Chargers will be looking to add more depth at the linebacker position, but also more special teamers after losing Derek Watt and Nick Dzubnar. Olson, the first-team All-Big Sky selection, led the FBS and FCS in tackles (179) for the second straight season. He raised some eyebrows at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine with a whopping 42-inch vertical. Olson is a smart, assignment sound defender in the run game and in coverage with NFL-level intangibles. While he may not start Day 1, he is capable of being a quality backup and special teams ace in his rookie season.
The Chargers need more depth at the wide receiver position to compliment Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Parker caught 30 touchdown in his career, and he led all Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) receivers in receptions and yards in 2019 when he was a team captain for Rhode Island, earning All-CAA honors at the end of the season. Parker has a rangy frame with above average speed, showing the ability to track, adjust and play above the rim. He needs to refine his route running at the next level, but he has the makings of a WR3/WR4.
Aaron Parker/WR/Rhode Island is one of the best-kept secrets in the 2020 NFL Draft. While he’s typically known for his ability to play above the rim, he has plenty of speed to win downfield. Said he expects to run between a 4.48-4.5-flat at NFL Combine. pic.twitter.com/WoCCxa5dt6
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow leads the way in this year’s draft class, followed by an abundance of impact wide receivers and linemen.
With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to start finalizing draft boards. Not just for NFL teams, but for the team here at Touchdown Wire. Here is Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 25 offensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The list begins with the player expected to be the first pick off the board when the 2020 NFL Draft begins. Joe Burrow led LSU to a national championship last season and rewrote record books along the way. But the reasons he is the top offensive player — in addition to positional value — are the traits he brings to the table as a prospect.
Competitive toughness. Accuracy. Pocket management. Plus the ability to do all the little things that matter at the position, such as manipulating defenders with his eyes and throwing with anticipation. The Cincinnati Bengals are this close to finally having their quarterback … unless a team breaks the bank to trade up to the first spot.
2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
In a talented and deep wide receiver class, the players clustered near the top might just be a matter of personal preference. Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are all potential game-changers at WR. Lamb edges out the rest due to his combination of explosiveness, catch radius, route-running and ability after the catch. Some might knock him for a lack of elite speed, but with his route-running, ability after the catch and how he sets up defenders on his cuts and breaks, the little things he has mastered make up for the lack of 4.4 speed.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Spo)rts)
Football is a game of angles. Listen to Bill Belichick talk about angles in the blocking part of the game, and you will understand. That also matters for a wide receiver, how you set up and then break away from cornerbacks, how you exploit their leverage advantages, and how you attack their alignment off the line. Jeudy is a master at that part of playing wide receiver. He also brings great deep speed, elite hands and an ability to turn any play into a touchdown regardless of route. He was used predominantly as a slot receiver last season, but he has the short-area quickness and explosiveness to beat press when he transitions to the NFL.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
Obviously the medical picture might cloud Tagovailoa’s outlook in the draft, but based on what he can do on the field, the Alabama passer has to be considered one of the top offensive players in the draft. He possesses a lightning-quick release with a compact throwing motion, drawing comparisons to Jimmy Garoppolo in that regard. He also has the athleticism to extend plays outside of the pocket and keep a defense honest with what he can do as a runner. Tagovailoa is an accurate passer in the short and intermediate areas of the field, ideal for most NFL offenses. There are things he needs to clean up, such as his vision in the post-snap phase of the play, but if the medicals check out, he is a solid prospect at the game’s most important position.
5. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Similar to the wide receiver position, the offensive tackle group has great talent at the top, so ranking the “Big Four” tackles might come down to a matter of scheme fit or team needs. We can start with Wills, the Alabama right tackle who has been a mainstay on their offensive line the past two seasons. He gave up a single sack and just five quarterback hits during his career with the Crimson Tide. Wills is also a dominant player in the run game, and he has the power to handle gap/man assignments but also the footwork and agility to function well in a zone blocking scheme. What might hurt him in the eyes of some is that he has spent his career at right tackle, and teams looking for a LT might look at someone with more experience at that spot.
6. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
If an NFL team is looking for that “plug and play” starter at left tackle, Thomas is likely their man. He was a focal part of the Bulldogs’ offensive line for the past three seasons and made the switch to left tackle prior to the 2018 campaign. Last year, his second at LT, he gave up just one sack and eight quarterback hurries, and did not allow a single QB hit. Thomas is also a force in the ground game. The Georgia offense did give him help, running a lot of play-action, and he often worked with a tight end aligned around him, but his traits and execution translate well to the pro game.
7. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“Speed kills.” “You can’t teach speed.” Whatever your favorite sports cliche about speed is, dust it off and bring it to your evaluation of Ruggs. The Alabama wideout has speed to burn and showed that both on film and at the Scouting Combine, where he posted a blazing 4.24 40-yard dash. Ruggs has more than just the jets in his toolkit; he is a solid route-runner, tracks the ball well in the vertical game and is unafraid to work over the middle. But when you have the potential to take a simple slant route to the house on any given snap, you’re going to be coveted in the NFL.
8. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
(Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)
The Iowa product is another dominant force at right tackle. Wirfs turned heads at the combine when he posted a 4.85 40-yard dash after weighing in at 6-5 and 320 pounds. For reference, that is a faster 40-yard dash than quarterback Jake Fromm, who ran a 5.01 40. Wirfs is another plug-and-play type of offensive lineman, coming from an offense at Iowa that ran a variety of rushing concepts and tasked him with a lot from a pass protection standpoint. He also has the chance to play both right and left tackle, having seen 161 snaps at LT last season. With his athleticism and strength, Wirfs could be a mainstay at tackle for the next 10 years for the team that drafts him.
What would a draft look like with a late-round QB?
The Indianapolis Colts made some big moves during the first week of free agency. From trading for a stud defensive tackle to signing a veteran quarterback to a one-year deal, those moves are likely to shake up the draft approach.
Though it is impossible to know for sure what the Colts will be thinking if and when the draft starts on April 23, we can run through some scenarios as to what those options might look like if they decide to use a certain process. For this, we will be taking the approach of a late-round quarterback after signing Philip Rivers in free agency.
No. 34 | Cameron Dantzler | CB | Mississippi State
Following the release of veteran cornerback Pierre Desir, the position has become a massive need. The Colts have to find a viable starter on the boundary to replace Desir, especially considering the rest of the room isn’t ready to be starters yet.
Dantzler is a sticky coverage corner who has length and height to go along with physicality that should intrigue general manager Chris Ballard. There is still plenty of work to be done in Dantzler’s game, but he’s a solid fit for a zone defense. He had five interceptions and 20 passes defended over the last three seasons at Mississippi State.
Everything NFL draft fans need to know about St. John’s offensive line prospect Ben Bartch
Ben Bartch | OL | St. John’s (MN)
Elevator Pitch
Bartch is a small-school converted tight end who will likely need to redshirt his rookie year, but his length, athleticism and power makes him an intriguing developmental prospect. Considering how far he’s come in just two years of playing as an offensive lineman, there’s no reason to think he can’t continue to develop and grow as a player.
Since Bartch stepped onto the campus at St. John’s, he has put on roughly 75 pounds of good weight, managing to add power to a skill set that has maintained some of that tight end athleticism.
Bartch packs a powerful punch at the point of attack and blocks with heavy hands overall. His grip strength is strong once he latches onto a defender, and he does a good job of sealing off running lanes for his teammates. He plays with a high motor and has shown the willingness to drive his opponents into the dirt. For a Division III player to be considered an NFL prospect, it’s important that they dominate their competition, and Bartch certainly did that. He also moves around well in pass protection, showing off solid overall athletic ability. He accelerates well when he climbs up to the second level.
Another surprising aspect about Bartch’s game is that he’s much more technically refined than one would expect for a D-III tackle with only two years of offensive line experience. His ability to process the given situation and understand key points like pad level, hand placement and angles to take at the point of attack is admittedly better than a handful of Power 5 tackles in this class who have much more experience at the position than he does. He’s not perfect, sure, but the significant progress he has made in such a short amount of time is definitely encouraging. He projects well as either a tackle or a guard, and that versatility could make him intriguing.
Weaknesses
Bartch spent his first two collegiate seasons as a tight end and only has two seasons of experience at offensive tackle to his name. That inexperience can show up on tape at times, and while he got away with it most of the time against lesser competition, that may be much tougher in the NFL. His set point approach coming out of his stance could use a little more variation, as his current approach is a bit too closed in and can leave him prone to speed rushes around the edge. While he’s a solid athlete, his footwork is a bit unpolished.
There have certainly been flashes of fundamentals like pad level and hand placement in Bartch’s game, but they haven’t been consistent quite yet. He can improve on placing his strikes inside of the opponents’ shoulders on a regular basis, and he doesn’t always sink his hips into contact to stay low and maintain leverage. There’s potential in that regard, but he’s still a work in progress.
The Indianapolis Colts saw the order of their picks change slightly in the 2020 NFL draft following the announcement of the compensatory picks on Tuesday.
As was to be expected, the Colts didn’t receive any extra draft capital and because of it, a few of their selections were pushed back to make room for others. The rounds most impacted came on Day 3.
With the new pick order for the Colts, here is an updated seven-round mock draft using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator:
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
No. 13 | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon
There were a lot of options on the board for the Colts, including both wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. Those two were difficult to pass up, but the Colts ultimately should be looking to draft a quarterback at the No. 13 spot if they can. In this simulation, Herbert is the choice.
Armed with a high upside and high character, Herbert brings just about everything the Colts could want in a potential franchise quarterback. He has immense arm strength, impressive mobility outside of the pocket and the work ethic, leadership and IQ to be an above-average starter in the league.
There are some concerns with his consistency on downfield throws. He will also need to work on his footwork within the pocket and when facing pressure. Timing and anticipation are also two aspects that will need improvement. Fortunately, all of those things can be improved.
There is a lot to like about Herbert and if he’s on the board at No. 13, it will be difficult for the Colts to pass him up.
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine has concluded in Indianapolis. Who won the week, and who leaves town with work to do?
The 2020 NFL scouting combine is now in the books. Over the course of the past week, more than 300 prospective NFL players were put through the paces during the world’s strangest job interview. After all, that is what the combine truly is: A job interview. Some will get jobs, others will not.
With the combine behind us, who improved their chances, and which prospects still have work to do?
Winner: Jalen Hurts
(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
The Oklahoma product came into Indianapolis known for his athleticism, and he did not disappoint in that regard. Hurts posted a 4.59 40-yard dash, one of the best numbers turned in by the quarterbacks and a number that backs up Hurts’ athleticism on film. (Only Cole McDonald ran faster, besting Hurts by 0.01 seconds).
But scouts and evaluators knew that the Oklahoma signal-caller was athletic. What they wanted to see was more evidence that he can develop into an NFL passer. That is where his throwing session comes into play. He impressed during his throwing session, displaying tighter and crisper mechanics. In addition, the ball popped out of his hand very well. For example, he delivered on a well-placed out route to Isaiah Hodges along the left sideline, as well and a great dig route to Antonio Gandy-Golden off of a deep drop into the pocket. Those throws highlighted some improved footwork from the quarterback. Hurts helped himself this week, especially when you consider how well he likely performed in his interviews with teams.
While Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa seem solidified in the top tier of quarterbacks, there is a lot of wrangling behind them for a spot in that second tier. With his performance in Indianapolis, Hurts might have moved into that group.
Loser: Jake Fromm
(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
To be fair to Fromm, the parts of the Combine that were visible to the public are probably not the areas where he is going to excel. The Georgia passer is not known for having a powerful arm, nor is he known for upper-tier athleticism. During the testing and the workout at Lucas Oil Stadium, those parts of his game were on display. Fromm managed just a 5.01 40-yard dash, the slowest time of any quarterback who chose to run. During his throwing session, Fromm’s passes lacked velocity and tended to dip as they approached their target.
However, the parts that we could not see, specifically the team interviews and the whiteboard sessions, are probably where Fromm shines. He is a very smart and experienced passer who was given a lot of responsibility at the line of scrimmage, and early in his career. From the neck up Fromm is one of the better quarterbacks in this class, and during those meetings he likely impressed coaches and general managers with his knowledge of the game and offensive/defensive schemes.
There is likely to be an NFL team – or more – that falls for Fromm during this process. Based on his film, it will likely be due more to what he does during the meetings than anything he displayed Thursday night on the Lucas Oil Turf.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez drops some of his takeaways from the offensive tackle’s measurements at the 2020 NFL Combine.
The offensive tackles were among the positional groups that measured in on Tuesday at the 2020 NFL Combine.
For the Chargers, addressing the position sits the near the top of their to-do list this offseason. Therefore, they will likely be in the market for one in the early rounds of the draft.
Here is a look at the measurements of the tackles courtesy of CBS Sports, followed by some of our takeaways:
Takeaways
Matt Peart was arguably the biggest winner. The former UConn product boasted the longest arms and wingspan, which is extremely beneficial at the position. At 320 pounds, he looks the part with an NFL frame. Peart put together solid tape at the right tackle position, stamping himself as a top-100 pick. He should help his stock even more after showing off his athleticism this week.
Standing at a whopping 6-foot-8 and 365 pounds, Mekhi Becton has an enormous frame with natural girth and a wide base, along with octopus-like arms. Becton has seen his stock rise throughout the past couple of months, and he should be picked within the top-20 selections.
There’s been plenty of chatter of kicking Tristan Wirfs inside to guard because of his arm length, but those talks were put to rest after coming in at 34-inch arms. At 320 pounds and an 80-inch wingspan, Wirfs looks the part as an NFL offensive tackle.
Robert Hunt has also been on the fence of whether or not he needs to move from tackle to guard, but after coming in with a solid 82-inch wingspan, it’s safe to say that he can stay on the outside.
Ben Bartch, the small-school standout, didn’t have the most ideal measurements for the position. Bartch came in with the shortest arms of anyone in his group and he fell short of 310 pounds. His tape suggests that he should be able to play tackle at the next level, but he will likely have to put on a little bit more weight.
There were concerns in regards to Ezra Cleveland’s arm length, but he came in at 33 7/8 inches with a wingspan of 80 7/8 inches. We currently have Cleveland stamped as an early-third rounder, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he moves himself into top-50 consideration after this week.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a formal interview at the NFL Combine with a small-school standout.
According to former St. John’s offensive tackle Ben Bartch, one of his formal interviews at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Texans Wire’s Mark Lane.
Bartch is a 6-foot-5 and 309 pound converted tight end who raised eyebrows at the Senior Bowl, stamping himself as one of the best tackles in Mobile, AL throughout the week.
From his tape and showing at the Senior Bowl, the small-school standout showed everything that you could ask for in an NFL offensive lineman: Footwork, play awareness, great hands, ability to anchor and strong at the point of attack.
Bartch played strictly left tackle during his time at St. John’s. He’s more than capable of manning one of the tackle spots at the next level, but he could slide inside to guard, too. Regardless, versatility is something that the Bolts covet in their offensive linemen.
If the Chargers take a quarterback in the first-round, Bartch should be in strong consideration on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
12 Offensive tackles for Browns fans to watch at the scouting combine
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Player workouts begin later in the week, with many of the drills now being performed in prime time for a wider television audience.
The Cleveland Browns and the new coaching staff led by Kevin Stefanski will be very active in scouring Indianapolis for talent that can help the team. With the biggest hole on the roster at offensive tackle, expect a big focus on the top tiers of tackles who can help the Browns immediately.
Here are the consensus top 12 offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft who will be working out at the combine. How they break down in order remains to be seen, but these are the names to watch during the week.
