Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
See for yourself what Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater brings to the table as a 2021 NFL draft prospect
As we look ahead to the 2021 NFL draft, it’s time to get acquainted with some of the top prospects in this year’s class.
What does Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater bring to the table? Check out the film and see for yourself:
[vertical-gallery id=625918]
Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling released his latest three-round projections.
The Chargers will not only be looking to upgrade the offensive line this offseason. There are other things on the to-do list, such as preparing to find a successor to pending free agent Melvin Ingram.
Los Angeles accomplishes just that in Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling’s latest three-round mock draft, addressing the offensive line with their first two picks and taking an outside linebacker in Round 3.
With their first-round pick, L.A. goes with former Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.
I’ve said time and time before that this should be a no-brainer if Slater is on the board. He might be moved inside, but he has the athletic skill set and overall technique to be a premiere blind-side protector in the NFL.
With their second-round pick, the Bolts stay along the offensive line, selecting former Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey.
With Dan Feeney set to be a free agent, the Chargers could be looking to upgrade at the center position. Humphrey isn’t the most athletic lineman, but toughness, intelligence, instincts and consistency in pass protection and the run-blocking department are starter quality.
Finally, with the team’s third-round pick, Los Angeles takes former Oregon State outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr.
His pass-rush arsenal lacks variety, and his production is based more on effort and athleticism than technique. However, Rashed is only scratching the surface of his ability and shows the athleticism, competitive toughness and physical traits to be a productive NFL pass rusher.
Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater is the 49ers’ pick in Daniel Jermeiah’s mock draft, which only makes sense if Trent Williams leaves.
The San Francisco 49ers’ list of NFL draft needs doesn’t include left tackle at the moment. Trent Williams is slated for free agency, but the assumption is the 49ers have planned to retain him by resetting the market since they traded two draft picks to acquire him on Day 3 of the 2020 draft. However, if he does exit as an unrestricted free agent, left tackle jumps to the top of their list of needs. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah presents a pick for the 49ers in his recent mock draft that covers such a scenario.
With all of the edge rushers and two of the top wide receivers still on the board, Jeremiah sends Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater to San Francisco.
Slater is a touch undersized at 6-3, 305 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with experience, versatility and athleticism that fits the mold of what head coach Kyle Shanahan requires from his tackles. He played both tackle positions for the Wildcats including 26 consecutive starts at right guard over his freshman and sophomore seasons. He moved to left tackle as a junior and dominated, allowing just six total pressures and no sacks in 11 games according to the Northwestern athletics website.
Jeremiah’s analysis of the pick contains a caveat that turns a sound selection into a head-scratching one:
We’ll see what happens with Trent Williams in free agency, but even if the Niners are able to re-sign him, Slater could easily slide inside to guard.
It’s something just south of impossible to believe the 49ers would use the No. 12 overall pick on a player they intend to put at right guard. They’ve not prioritized that position at any point during Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as head coach, and while they need to solidify that spot, they’ll more than likely use a later-round pick or a couple of inexpensive free agents to foster competition there.
Ignoring needs at defensive back, on the defensive line and skipping on two of the draft’s elite offensive playmakers all make sense if Williams does walk. Getting a top talent to protect the quarterback’s blind side is extremely important. It doesn’t make any sense if Williams stays given the way the 49ers have prioritized right guard in the past.
An interesting wrinkle comes if the 49ers believe Slater can step in and be a long-term answer at center. Weston Richburg missed all of last season with a knee injury he suffered late in 2019, and his status for 2021 is uncertain. Getting a dominant, low-cost, team-controlled option at center will be a much higher priority than doing so at right guard.
Still, if Williams is back, the 49ers are probably aiming for something more than an interior lineman with the No. 12 overall pick. If not, filling their vacancy at left tackle will be their top priority.
The Chargers will be remodeling the offensive line this offseason.
The interior part of the offensive line needs to be addressed in the upcoming draft for the Chargers, considering Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney will be free agents and Trai Turner could be a cap casualty.
Luckily, this year’s crop has starting caliber talent from the first day of the draft all the way until Day 3.
With that being said, here’s an interior offensive lineman from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:
Slater chose to opt out of the 2020 season, but the season before that he was credited with allowing zero sacks, one quarterback hit, and just five quarterback hurries, from 787 snaps, including an impressive outing against former Ohio State and current Redskins edge defender Chase Young in 2019.
Slater is a good athlete and light on his feet. In the pass game, he is technically sound with his upper body. In the run game, he moves upfield quickly, squares up defenders in space. He has very good competitive toughness and works hard in through all four quarters.
His knock is that he lacks the height and arms necessary to remain at tackle in the NFL, but Slater’s agility and athleticism will allow him to kick inside and be an impactful player at guard from Day 1, with All-Pro potential.
Honorable Mention: Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Dickerson was named first-team All-SEC (league’s coaches) and first-team All-American (Associated Press) while earning the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy and being chosen as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.
While there durability concerns, Dickerson has great strength, hands, and awareness to flash dominance both in the run and pass game. While center is his natural position, he has played all five spots along the offensive line.
With his combination of power, length, high football IQ, versatility and leadership skills, Dickerson has enough traits to be an impactful contributor for a long time in this league.
Honorable Mention: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
Banks, the three-year starter at left guard was an anchor for the success of The Fighting Irish over that time span.
The first-team All-American allowed just two sacks in 844 snaps as a junior. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks was the only Power Five guard who earned a pass-blocking and run-blocking grade over 80.0.
At 338 pounds, Banks is a rugged, good-sized mauler as both a pass protector and run blocker who won’t lose many one-on-one battles. He uses his mitts like powerful vice grips to latch-and-control defenders.
In the NFL, Banks projects as a good starter at guard early on in his career.
Honorable Mention: Quinn Meinerz, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Green was recruited as a defensive tackle but switched to the offensive line as a redshirt freshman. Green started 33 games for the Illini, with 29 games at left guard and four at center. This past season, he was named USA TODAY second team All-America and All-Big Ten first team.
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Green has good movement skills, is as durable as it gets (33 straight starts) and plays with a nasty disposition. While his pass protection is still a work in progress, he has the foot quickness and explosiveness up front to be impactful.
Green projects to be a strong contributor inside, either at center or guard. It may take him a year to carve up a starting role, but given his reactive athleticism and run blocking prowess, he profiles well to the next level.
Honorable Mention: David Moore, Grambling State
Hainsey was a four-year starter and a two-time captain at Notre Dame, manning the right tackle position. During his performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl last month, Hainsey raised some eyebrows with his ability to play guard and center.
On the field, Hainsey shows a solid anchor at the point of attack. His handwork is precise to fend off counters and he is always on alert to recognize additional blitzers. In the run game, he seals well and runs his feet at contact, creating movement and widening run lanes.
Due to his lack of length and athleticism, Hainsey’s best fit is inside at the next level, but he has the ability to backup multiple positions across the offensive line. He might not be a Day 1 starter, but his consistency and versatility will go a long way.
Honorable Mention: Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan
Jones, the former two star recruit, started off as a JUCO-player before transferring to Middle Tennessee State in 2019. In two seasons, Jones never missed a game and was named All-Honorable Mention Conference-USA twice. He played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he performed well.
Jones is a massive, powerful lineman with surprising quickness and athleticism, but will be making a leap from a lower level FBS school, where his easy dominance, sufficient hands and overall technique in pass protection will take time to translate, projecting as a reliable backup.
Honorable Mention: Larry Borom, Missouri
In 2019, Newman started all 12 games at guard, allowing only one sack on 416 pass-blocking snaps. This past season, the 6-foot-6 and 310 pounder kicked back outside to tackle, where he shined again. Following the season, he participated in the Senior Bowl.
Newman needs to continue and get stronger and develop physically, but he has the frame, athleticism, technique and football character that makes him an ideal developmental player who offers versatility to play either tackle or guard, but offers more upside inside.
Honorable Mention: Tristan Hoge, BYU
With Valentine’s Day here, Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez shares his 2021 NFL draft and free agent crushes for Los Angeles.
‘Tis the season for finding or celebrating your perfect match, and the Chargers will be searching for their own when the 2021 offseason begins.
With the hopes of making a run next season, Los Angeles should push really hard to land six of these offensive players to compliment Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert.
Let’s take a look at which players the Bolts should love:
While Sam Tevi had a decent 2020 season, he will be a free agent this offseason. Williams was one the best offensive players for the 49ers in a injury-ravaged season. The 32-year old, who sat our all of 2019 due to a dispute with The Football Team, regained his All-Pro form with San Francisco. Williams earned a 91.9-grade this past season, the highest of any tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Even though he’s getting up there in age, he’s still proven to play the position at a high level, and he would serve well as a stop-gap option.
Scherff, the four-time Pro Bowler, allowed only one sack and was flagged for just one penalty in 13 games in 2020. A wall in pass protection, Scherff graded as the seventh-best guard in the league this year, per Pro Football Focus. The 29-year old was voted All-Pro in 2020, marking the first of his career. The former Iowa product has battled through some injuries, but he has overcame them and has managed to continue to still play at a high level. With Forrest Lamp and Trai Turner’s future up in the air, Scherff would be an immediate upgrade.
The Chargers should use their first-round pick on an offensive lineman and if Slater’s available at No. 13 overall, it should be a no-brainer. Slater’s production in his final season at Northwestern was eyebrow-raising as he only gave up five pressures in 787 total snaps. Slater opted out of the 2020 season to prepare for the draft, but the year before that he stymied Chase Young, No. 2 overall selection of the 2020 NFL draft en route to receiving a 90.1 grade, per PFF. Slater doesn’t possess ideal height or length and could be moved inside, but his athletic skill set and overall technique project well as a premiere blind-side protector.
Radunz only played in one game this past season, but he made 32 consecutive starts at left tackle to close out his collegiate career and the Bison went 32-0 in those games. While he needs to get better at finishing blocks, Radunz has the athleticism, range, foot quickness and run-blocking temperament needed for the NFL. With Los Angeles, Radunz is capable of playing either tackle or guard. While he develops more mass and add bulk to his frame, his skillset suggests a high ceiling. If he’s available when Los Angeles is on the clock in the second-round, it would be a home run selection.
Projected as a sixth/seventh-round pick coming into the Senior Bowl, the Division III product made his case to be selected within the top-100 picks. Against the nation’s top defensive linemen, Meinerz was a wall in pass protection and a road-grader in the run game, putting defenders on the turf. On film, Meinerz is a strong, mauling linemen who shows the awareness and power to deliver a blow to defenders. He projects as a center at the next level, but he has the versatility to fill in at every spot along the interior part of the offensive line.
The Chargers could afford to add another target for Herbert this offseason and a player like Powell could a long way. Powell, the 6-foot and 210 pounder, is coming off the best season of his career in 2020 as a redshirt senior. In 12 games, Powell recorded 53 receptions for 882 yards and seven touchdowns. Powell is a well-built receiver who has the route savvy and suddenness in his breaks to separate along with the good body control, awareness and solid hands along the sidelines.
See what the results of this simulation from Pro Football Focus gives us.
Now that the regular season is over, the long offseason for Arizona Cardinals fans has begun. Part of this long journey includes mock drafts, which for some give them an idea of who the Cardinals could draft.
Many sites offer some form of a mock draft machine. Pro Football Focus is one of those and theirs is quite robust – offering trades and a variety of lengths to use.
Today we will go through a three-round mock draft for Arizona with PFF’s mock draft engine.
Pro Football Focus hones in on the offensive line for the Chargers.
With the 2020 season in the rearview, all attention has shifted to what the Los Angeles Chargers can do to their roster this offseason to be as competitive as possible to dethrone AFC West rivals, Kansas City Chiefs.
The 2021 NFL draft is one of the biggest events where the Bolts can pull out a slew of young talent.
Pro Football Focus recently identified the perfect fits for every team in the early and late-round.
Sitting with the No. 13 overall selection, Los Angeles will have plenty of the top prospects available when they’re on the clock.
Given the huge need to address the offensive line, PFF has former Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater as the perfect fit for the early-round.
Slater is the dream scenario for the Chargers sitting at 13 overall. He’s versatile enough to play all five positions and the most technically advanced lineman in the draft.
Slater has the experience and athleticism to start early as a left tackle for Los Angeles. However, his body type and skill set translate very well to guard or center, and L.A. could certainly believe his more promising future is inside.
If the Chargers were to land Slater, it would be a home run.
The perfect late-round fit for the Chargers that PFF identified is former Tennessee guard Trey Smith.
Smith is more of a boom-or-bust player who, despite his hype, never earned above a 73.1 pass-blocking grade in four seasons at Tennessee.
If it weren’t for an injury history, Smith would be a candidate to go in the first-round. However, I still believe he is going to be a second-round selection.
Regardless, Smith would be a plug-and-play guard for the Bolts. While he is limited as an athlete, he has the measurables, strength in pass protection and run-blocking prowess needed at the next level.
Perfect “late-round” options would include Illinois’ Kendrick Green, East Carolina’s D’Ante Smith, Notre Dame’s Robert Hainsey, BYU’s Brady Christensen, among others.
The Cowboys have plenty of need for 2021, but most mocks have them eyeing Patrick Surtain or Rashawn Slater… with one notable surprise.
The sudden appearance of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford into the pool of acquirable talent may have shaken up the big boards of many teams around the league and caused some to rethink their draft strategy. But seemingly not the Cowboys. Despite the uncertain long-term employment prospects of Dak Prescott in Dallas, No. 4 isn’t going anywhere in 2021. And that means the front office’s objective with the tenth overall pick is unlikely to change.
Could Jerry and Stephen Jones trade out of that spot to a club eager to pay out, reach up, and snatch a top-ten-talent youngster? Of course, but the Cowboys’ needs are too glaring across the board to not view that early selection as a prime opportunity to bring an elite superstar-in-the-making into the fold.
While some of this week’s mock drafts forecast movement among teams based on a Stafford trade, none of the scenarios here had the Cowboys moving out of the tenth pick. Two names came up repeatedly- one on offense and one on defense- that would beef up areas of obvious weakness. Another mock entertained the familiar notion of a name Cowboys fans have had repeatedly this offseason. And one hypothetical draft went outside the box to add a playmaker to a positional group that is already top-tier in the league.
In the latest mock draft from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, the New York Giants select Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.
[jwplayer 9xxun23k]
Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has become the consensus pick for the New York Giants at No. 11 in most mock drafts, but there are still a few outliers who have stuck with Florida tight end Kyle Pitts and others.
Then there is USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, who has decided to go in a completely different direction for the Giants. In fact, he’s tossed a completely new name into the mix and it appears to have come out of left field.
In Davis’ most recent mock, he has the Giants selecting Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater in Round 1.
11. New York Giants – Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Despite investments they’ve made in the offensive line, it continues to be a weakness after a season when QB Daniel Jones was sacked 45 times in 14 games. Slater was a guard in high school but played both tackle spots for the Wildcats and could settle in opposite 2020 first-rounder Andrew Thomas.
Given the Giants’ dire needs at wide receiver and tight end, it seems unlikely they’d waste a first-round pick on another offensive tackle. And if they didn’t want a playmaker, the need for an edge rusher and a second cornerback also outweighs the need for another offensive tackle.
Although Cam Fleming may not return in 2021, the Giants do have Matt Peart waiting in the wings. He saw significant playing time as a rookie and flashed potential long-term potential. It’s likely he steps into the RT role next season.
Still, anything is possible, especially considering general manager Dave Gettleman is calling the shots. But don’t bank on the Giants going OT in Round 1.
[lawrence-related id=663957,663933,663931]
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s Mock Draft 2.0 brings the Dallas Cowboys their left tackle of the future in Rashawn Slater.
There’s room for optimism moving forward for the Dallas Cowboys. The disaster that was the 2020 campaign can largely be pinned on a rash of injuries not seen around the Metroplex in some time. To believe that the same kind of bad injury luck won’t rear its ugly head going forward would is fair, but not preparing for the worst would be foolish. This means there will be tough decisions for the front office come April’s NFL Draft.
The prevailing thought is that the Cowboys need to draft defense early and often. There’s no doubt that’s where the team has suffered the most over the years, but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has another position in mind in his Mock Draft 2.0. With pick No. 10, Dallas selects:
Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Many fans will disapprove of any pick that isn’t a defensive player, but the Cowboys’ offensive line woes were a constant theme all season. Not only does Slater have NFL-ready talent, he offers the versatility to play tackle or guard, giving the Cowboys much-needed flexibility.
The elephant in the room here is the status of Tyron Smith, perhaps the oldest 30-year-old on the planet. From 2016-2019 he missed three games a season. Last year he played in only two and underwent neck surgery. There’s been a growing undercurrent of concern throughout the season that Smith could hang it up for good. He wouldn’t be the first Cowboys player to retire unexpectedly, but even if he’s able to play the majority of the year, it’s not the worst idea to have a backup plan as talented as Slater ready to go.
Players still on the board at the time are tight end Kyle Pitts out of Florida and cornerback Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama. The age old question of best player available vs. need will be on full display for Dallas in the first round come April. In the second round, Brugler has the Cowboys addressing a hole in the defense that’s existed for nearly two decade.
44. Dallas Cowboys — Trevon Moehrig, FS, TCU
The last time the Cowboys drafted a safety in the first two rounds was when they took Roy Williams in 2002, so Moehrig would go counter to the organization’s drafting history. But he would give Dallas a much-needed upgrade over free safety Xavier Woods.
Adding a safety with a top-50 pick seems like a pipe dream. One would be hard pressed to find another team that’s ignored a position as badly as the Cowboys have ignored free safety. For years it’s been a potpourri of mediocre free agents and mid-to-late-round draft picks manning the spot. This pick is almost too good to be true.
[vertical-gallery id=661889][listicle id=661855][lawrence-newsletter]
