Tag: Trent Williams

Only 1 NFC West tackle cracks PFF top 32

Trent Williams is No. 1 and the only tackle in the division to crack PFF’s list.

The NFC West had a fantastic group of tackles for many seasons. That seems to have changed, at least according to Pro Football Focus.

PFF put together its rankings of the top 32 tackles in the league.

How many came from the NFC West?

Only one — San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.

Williams is No. 1. No other tackle in the division makes the cut.

Williams has been with the 49ers for three seasons now and has finished all three with the highest PFF grade among offensive tackles. From 526 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season and playoffs last season, he allowed 19 total pressures, just three of which were hits or sacks.

For the Seahawks, left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abe Lucas were rookies last season.

Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries played only eight games. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum is dependable but not a top-32 player.

The 49ers’ right tackle from last season, Mike McGlinchey, left in free agency.

Rams left tackle Joe Noteboom only played only six games last season and his replacement, Alaric Jackson, played in eight, starting six.

Both are expected to battle for the starting job this year.

Humphries for the Cardinals probably would be on this list, were it not for the back injury that ended his season after only eight games, but it is understandable why Williams is the only one on this list.

He is the best, while the rest are question marks.

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Trio of former Oklahoma offensive linemen among PFF’s top 32 for 2023 at offensive tackle

Oklahoma sees three former Sooners inside PFF’s top offensive tackles. Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, and Orlando Brown Jr. ranked.

Oklahoma’s track record over the last 15 years with the offensive line in the NFL is only matched by Notre Dame and Wisconsin. However, right now, when it comes to offensive tackle, no school is doing it better than the Sooners.

Pro Football Focus continued their rankings of the best 32 players at each position ahead of the 2023 season, and when looking at offensive tackle, Oklahoma has the top two.

[autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] slot in at No. 1 and 2 in PFF’s offensive tackle rankings, and it’s hard to argue with either. No tackle has been as dominant and consistent as Trent Williams, who, at 34, is comfortably one of the league’s best players regardless of position.

Here is what the curator of the list, Gordon McGuinness, had to say about Trent at the top spot.

Williams has been with the 49ers for three seasons now and has finished all three with the highest PFF grade among offensive tackles. From 526 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season and playoffs last season, he allowed 19 total pressures, just three of which were hits or sacks. – McGuinness, PFF

Williams’ consistency at left tackle has helped propel San Francisco’s offense in new ways. Trent’s ability to win against any opposition makes it much easier for head coach and play caller Kyle Shanahan to orchestrate his dynamic offense.

Elsewhere in the NFC, Lane Johnson holds down the right tackle spot for the defending NFC champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson came to Oklahoma as a quarterback and tight end. He switched briefly to defensive end before ending up on the offensive line. That switch changed his career. Since then, he’s been magnificent at right tackle.

Johnson dealt with injuries throughout the 2022 season but still put together his best season in pass protection since entering the NFL. His 90.1 PFF pass-blocking grade trailed only Laremy Tunsil at the position, with Johnson not allowing a single sack or hit through the regular season and playoffs. – McGuinness, PFF

Johnson has the responsibility of protecting former Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and Johnson held it down all last season. He didn’t give up a single sack or quarterback hit in 2022. Johnson also thrives as a physical and dominant force in the running game which is a significant part of the Eagles’ offensive attack.

Oklahoma’s list of talented offensive tackles does not end there. Orlando Brown also slots in on the list at No. 14.

Brown has developed into a high-floor NFL player, with his PFF grade sitting between 73.0 and 78.0 in each of the past four seasons. Five seasons into his NFL career, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever be a top-10 tackle. But at the very worst, he is a more-than-capable starting player on the left side.

Brown was a starter on the Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl last year and is a four-time Pro Bowler. He’s plenty been a really good player for the Ravens and Chiefs and now moves from protecting Patrick Mahomes to protecting Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. He signed a four-year, $64 million deal this offseason to head north to Ohio.

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Commanders will see several top 30 Players over 30 in 2023

The Commanders will face plenty of the NFL’s best in 2023.

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Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top 30 players who will be over 30 when Week 1 of the NFL season begins.

Instantly there was a Washington factor that was noticed, and secondly, Washington will face several of these players.

Two former Washington Redskins made the list. In fact, the top-ranked player on this list is former Washington offensive tackle Trent Williams.  Williams continues to roll, playing at a very high level. He earned a 91.7 overall grade in 2022, continuing his dominance as a run-blocker and allowing just 19 pressures and only one sack across 17 games.

Coming in at No. 16 of the top 30 players over 30 is former Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins did have a career-high 23 turnover-worthy plays but also a career-high 31 big-time plays.

No wonder the Eagles won the NFC East and then the NFC championship in 2022. They placed four on this list. Jason Kelce ranked 10th, Lance Johnson 11th, Brandon Graham 13th and Darius Slay 29th.

Other top 30 players over 30 that Washington will have the opportunity to play in 2023 are: Aaron Donald (2nd) and Cooper Kupp (6th) of the Rams, Von Miller of the Bills (8th), and Aaron Rodgers of the Jets (9th) round out the top ten of this category.

Bobby Wagner (12th) of the Seahawks and Zach Martin (16th) of the Cowboys rank in the next group of ten players.

Finally in the final ten, Washington will face Demarcus Lawrence (21st) Cowboys, Tyler Lockett (23rd) Seahawks, Stephon Gilmore (24th) Cowboys, Calais Campbell (25th) Falcons, Deandre Hopkins (28th) Cardinals, and Terron Armstead (30th) Dolphins.

Jay Gruden explains what Trent Williams meant to Washington during their time together

Gruden on Trent Williams: “I loved Trent.”

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Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden joined Chris Russell of The Team 980 Monday to discuss Dan Snyder selling the Commanders and other topics. As always, Gruden was a fun and informative listen.

While many Washington fans groan about hearing a former coach come on local radio and discuss the franchise, there is perhaps no one better to bring on to talk about some of those years. Gruden never places blame on anyone — and he could and should. He acknowledges often he didn’t win enough and always speaks glowingly about the Commanders.

He’s also hilarious, even at his own expense at times.

While we’ll have more on Gruden’s wide-ranging chat with Russell, one of the more interesting topics was his discussion regarding former Washington left tackle Trent Williams. Remember, Williams played his first nine NFL seasons with the then-Redskins, before missing the 2019 season due to a battle with former team president Bruce Allen.

Allen was fired after the 2019 season, and Washington hired Ron Rivera. Rivera eventually traded Williams to the 49ers, and he’s experienced further success, including a new record contract.

In looking back at that dreadful 2019 season — Gruden was fired after the fifth game in his sixth season with Washington — the former coach has nothing but positive memories of Williams.

“I loved Trent,” Gruden said. “Trent meant a whole lot not only as a player but in the locker room; he was a great leader. Any issues that occurred down there in the locker room, I knew Trent would take care of it. I know a lot of people had a lot respect for him. That hurt us a lot.”

Williams will be entering his 14th NFL season in 2023 — and fourth in San Francisco. Washington’s offensive line hasn’t been the same without Williams.

What round Oklahoma Football stars have been drafted since 2000

A look back at where each former Oklahoma Sooner was drafted since 2000.

The Oklahoma Sooners had five players selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Led by Anton Harrison’s selection in the first round of the draft, the Sooners had a player in each of the first three rounds of the draft.

Oklahoma’s history of success has led to a rich history of draft picks over the years. Since the year 2000, the Sooners have had 19 players selected in the first round, including three first-overall picks and eight top-10 picks.

The last non-quarterback to be taken in the top 10 of the draft was Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson also represented the last offensive lineman taken in the first round of the draft until Harrison was selected on Thursday night.

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Here’s a look at each Oklahoma Sooners draft pick since the year 2000 and what round each player was taken.

Bay Area Brayden Willis: Sooners tight end selected by the San Francisco 49ers

One of the program’s most beloved players and former captain, Brayden Willis was selected in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers.

Oklahoma’s final selection of the 2023 NFL Draft is last year’s captain and fan favorite, tight end Brayden Willis. Willis heads west to the Bay Area where he will look to secure a spot on one of the NFC’s best teams, the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco chose Willis with the 247th pick in the draft. He’ll begin his career as a corespecial teams player early on as he integrates into the offense and learns from one of the league’s best tight ends, George Kittle.

 

San Francisco also represents a perfect scheme fit for what Willis does best.

He came back to school for the 2022 season to show he could be a meaningful target in the passing game. He led Oklahoma with seven touchdown receptions in 2022. However, his best skill on the field is as a blocker, where he shows excellent athleticism, effort, and power as he displaces defenders.

For a team like the 49ers who run the ball as frequently as they do, his blocking ability could help him see the field sooner than many may expect for a seventh round pick.

The journey to this moment was a long one for Willis, but each year as a Sooner, he continued to grow and attack every game with, max effort. From his early seasons where he played H-back filling in for various roles in Lincoln Riley’s offense to Willis’ ascension as a leader and a 2022 second-team All-Big 12 selection, Willis gave his all to the Oklahoma Sooners. His work paid off. Now he’s in the NFL, where he will get to join another Sooner and one of the NFL’s best players in Trent Williams.

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Anton Harrison selected No. 27 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 NFL Draft

Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Anton Harrison was taken with the 27th pick in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Anton Harrison was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. He was drafted to help give Trevor Lawrence some protection, and they’ll get it with his size, athleticism, and technique at offensive tackle.

He was the fifth first-round pick over the last six seasons for the Sooners and the first Sooner taken by Jacksonville since the Jaguars selected Dede Westbrook in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Harrison adds to a growing list of offensive linemen from Oklahoma selected in the first round, joining [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag]. Johnson was Oklahoma’s last first-round offensive lineman selected in the first round back in 2013.

Williams and Johnson are among the very best offensive tackles in the NFL. It’s been a strong couple of seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive linemen at the NFL level. Creed Humphrey has become arguably the best center in the league, and Orlando Brown just got paid a handsome contract to move from Kansas City to Cincinnati to protect Joe Burrow.

Humphrey and Brown were both disciples of offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, but neither was a first-round draft pick. That is where Harrison sets himself apart. He’s another notch in the cap for Bedenbaugh, who’s had 10 offensive linemen get drafted during his nine years in Norman.

Harrison is the first selection in the first round of the draft since 2020 when Ceedee Lamb and Kenneth Murray were taken by the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Harrison had a monster career at Oklahoma and was one of the best offensive tackles in the draft overall. In 2022, he had a career, allowing just one sack and helped pave the way for Eric Gray to put together a career year of his own. Harrison was named to the Big 12 first team by both the coaches and the Associated Press.

One of the biggest things that stands out for Harrison is the sheer amount of power that he can exert in tandem with his size and athleticism.

Oklahoma has become synonymous with fantastic offensive line play during Bedenbaugh’s time in Norman. Harrison was a huge part of Oklahoma’s offensive success over the last three seasons. His ability, work ethic, and leadership paved the way for the Sooners to continue to have offensive success after the change in systems in the 2022 offseason.

Now off to the NFL, Harrison will look to build upon what he did at the collegiate level. Given his athletic profile and his work ethic, we’re looking at the next highly regarded offensive lineman to come out of the University of Oklahoma.

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Commanders host Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison on pre-draft visit

Could the Washington, D.C. native be the Commanders’ left tackle of the future?

The Washington Commanders continue to evaluate offensive linemen ahead of next week’s 2023 NFL draft.

On Tuesday, the Commanders hosted Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison on a pre-draft visit. The 6-foot-4, 314-pound Harrison is considered a borderline first-round prospect. However, playing a premium position, Harrison could go much higher than many previously anticipated.

In first looking at Harrison’s measurables, one thing stands out: arm length. Harrison’s arms measured 34 1/8″ at the NFL combine last month. For comparison’s sake, the NFL’s best offensive tackle, former Washington star Trent Williams, his arms measured over 34 inches in length back in 2010.

No one is saying Harrison is the next Williams. Yes, their sizes are similar, and both played at Oklahoma, but Williams was considered a generational talent at offensive tackle. Harrison has all the tools but isn’t the elite athlete that Williams was and still is.

It depends on what type of offensive tackle Eric Bieniemy is looking for in Washington’s new offense. If he wants a pass protector who isn’t as dominant in the run game, at least not yet, Harrison would be a good pick for the Commanders.

A bonus, Harrison is from Washington, D.C., having played high school football at Archbishop Carroll.

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Sooners make top 10 for 2024 4-Star OT Andrew Sprague

The Oklahoma Sooners were included in the top 10 for 2024 four-star offensive tackle Andrew Sprague.

In the midst of spring practice and a huge recruiting weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners are picking up momentum on the recruiting trail. Though they haven’t received a commitment in the 2024 class, the Sooners have been projected to land several commitments and, on Thursday afternoon, landed in the top 10 of four-star offensive tackle [autotag]Andrew Sprague[/autotag].

Sprague hails from Kansas City, Mo., where the Oklahoma Sooners had big-time recruiting success in their most recent signing class. Five-star EDGE [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] is the highest-rated prospect to come out of Kansas City in the modern recruiting era. Four-star offensive tackle [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] comes from the KC suburb of Lee’s Summit. The Sooners are also the trending favorite for another Lee’s Summit product, five-star defensive lineman [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag].

Though the Sooners have just recently joined in on the recruitment for Sprague, their influence in Kansas City and the success of Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh have already made significant headway.

“Oklahoma is in my top 10 because of how they develop their linemen,” Sprague told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “Big-name guys like [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag], and [autotag]Orlando Brown[/autotag] all went to OU, and I believe Coach Bedenbaugh can develop me to be one of the next greats.”

Sprague’s top 10 is a who’s who of college football programs. It includes Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU, Oregon, Missouri, Penn State, Nebraska, and Stanford.

Prototype tackle frame. Basketball player who showed really good coordination and ability on the court as a sophomore. His junior year in football, he filled in and grew into his body more and started becoming even more of a dominant force. He finishes his blocks and plays with aggression. Has solid bend for a taller guy. Can still continue to work on his footwork and general explosiveness. Has a lot of raw ability and is trending in the right direction judging on the strides made between his sophomore and junior years. Either tackle side is a possibility at this time although right now, he has played more on the left side and is comfortable there. – Allen Trieu, 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst

Oklahoma appears well-positioned in Sprague’s recruitment, but with so many heavy hitters, it’ll be a battle to the end.

Andrew Sprague’s Recruiting Profile

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Laremy Tunsil had the perfect reaction to becoming the highest-paid tackle in NFL history

This was so hilariously wholesome.

For a few years now, Laremy Tunsil has more than lived up to his status as a former mid-first-round draft pick. But now, as the Houston Texans enter a new era with head coach DeMeco Ryans, the franchise book-end has a handsome contract to match.

On Sunday, by signing a three-year, $75 million contract ($60 million guarantee), Tunsil became the highest-paid offensive tackle in NFL history. In fact, per Over The Cap, the three-time Pro Bowler (2019-2020, 2022) now makes nearly $2 million more per season than the second-best Trent Williams in San Francisco.

Moreover, Tunsil’s total guaranteed money is only eclipsed by the Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley ($70.8 million). Though Stanley’s overall deal is for five years, $98.7 million, meaning Tunsil has a more significant percentage of guaranteed cash. It’s undoubtedly another notch in the left tackle’s favor.

On Twitter, Tunsil had a perfectly succinct reaction to his new contract when he shared a famous meme video of a football coach saying, “bring me my money.”

Incredible, no further notes! It’s just absolute gold (no pun intended) from one of the NFL’s best players as he enters his prime on a lucrative contract.