The offensive tackle position has continued to be one of the highest sought after year after year. It’s important for any NFL team to protect their quarterback from ferocious edge rushers and keep them upright.
This years group of tackles is as deep as we have seen it in the last few years. Let’s take a look at the top five players of that group before we get to pre-draft process.
1. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
A massive human who has the athletic upside and refined technique to be one of the best offensive tackles in the entire NFL. Joe Alt played near perfect last season and the former tight end projects extremely well to the pass eccentric NFL.
Expect Alt to go near the top of the draft and slot in day one as a starter at either tackle position. He’s going to be a good one.
2. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Another highly athletic and refined tackle who will start day one is Olumuyiwa Fashanu. This massive athlete is a stud at left tackle and can match any athletic level off the edge or inside.
Fashanu sits at the top end of a stacked class of tackles that could see a whole crop of starters in the first round.
3. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
If you were to build an offensive tackle in a labratory he would probably come out looking an awful lot like Georgia’s Amarius Mims who looks like a WWE wrestler out at right tackle.
Mims doesn’t have a ton of experience with just eight starts under his belt, but his sky high potential and ferocious nature may just land him at the top of the draft as a starting right tackle day one.
4. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
An underrated tackle in a class full of stars, Taliese Fuaga is one of the most complete players in the entire draft. With good size, athleticism, refinement, and balance Fuaga could take the draft by storm.
Possessing few flaws in his game during the 2023 season Fuaga played himself into first round contention as a potential starting left tackle at the NFL level.
5. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Another year and another Alabama offensive tackle that will likely go high in the draft. JC Latham is a massive mauler at the right tackle spot, and while he has a few things he needs to work on is still ultimately a day one starter at the next level.
With high levels of athleticism and excellent size, Latham projects well on the right side of the line. Latham is one of the better run blockers in this class and will be a game changer in the NFL.
