The Tennessee Titans have had their fair share of swings and misses on draft picks of offensive linemen in recent years, but they appear to have finally hit on one with left guard Peter Skoronski.
Pro Football Focus recently put together its “2023 All-Rookie Team” and the Titans left guard made the cut. Here’s what PFF’s Dalton Wasserman had to say about the Northwestern product:
Skoronski’s transition to guard certainly had some hiccups, including early-season injuries, but he showed enough in pass protection to be considered a foundational piece for Tennessee’s offensive line.
Among Skoronski’s highlights are two consecutive games, in Week 11 and 12, in which he posted an 85-plus PFF pass-blocking grade. He also committed just one penalty all season.
Skoronski ended up surrendering five sacks and 32 pressures during his first season, with four of those sacks and 12 of those pressures coming from what was undoubtedly his worst stretch of the campaign from Weeks 14-17.
However, if you take out that four-game stretch, Skoronski gave up one sack and 20 pressures in his other 10 games. Adding to that, the 22-year-old passed the eye test on several occasions.
Peter Skoronski blocked three dudes on this one Henry run…
(…also these used to be TDs…) pic.twitter.com/3DdcEuKcuB
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) November 7, 2023
Context is important and is needed in the case of the Titans rookie.
Not only did Skoronski have to learn a new position and recover from an appendectomy that sapped his strength and made him lose weight, he was also lining up next to the worst left tackle in the sport and a center who routinely proved to be subpar in pass protection.
Titans rookie Peter Skoronski takes the LB for a ride to help pave the way for Derrick Henry.
The first-round pick out of Northwestern has had some bright moments as a rookie. pic.twitter.com/K10VmI89iR
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) January 7, 2024
I also wonder if Skoronski simply hit a wall during the aforementioned rough patch. After all, the 14 games he played in this season were two more than he ever saw during his college days.
Skoronski finished the season very strong in Week 18 with what was one of his best performances of the year in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With more experience under his belt and a better situation around him, I fully expect a stellar sophomore campaign from Skoronski, who is the only 2023 starter locked-in for 2024.
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