Welcome to the BSJ 2024 NFL Draft positional primer series, a collection of the most comprehensive draft projections compiled by intel gathered from within the NFL scouting community. In this edition, we examine the offensive tackle position, arguably the strongest group in this year's class and an area of significant need for New England. Be sure to bookmark our NFL Draft index page for draft weekend and get caught up on all of our positional previews here:
Guards | Centers | Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties
Patriots Projected Offensive Tackles
Left Tackle: Conor McDermott / Chukwuma Okorafor / Tyrone Wheatley Jr. / Andrew Stueber
Right Tackle: Mike Onwenu / Vederian Lowe / Calvin Anderson
New England needs to identify a new left tackle to begin the 2024 season. With Mike Onwenu receiving tackle-type money during the offseason (three-year, $57M deal, with $38M guaranteed), he is permanently entrenched at the right tackle spot for now. At 26 years old, Onwenu is one of the key pieces on the Patriots offense. At left tackle, the team currently has Conor McDermott, who was elevated from the practice squad late last season, along with Chukwuma Okorafor, whom they signed in free agency. Chukwuma started 59 games in six seasons with Pittsburgh and is an adequate stop-gap, while swingman Vederian Lowe offers versatility as a backup on the left or right side. An upgrade is clearly needed and could be in store for the NFL Draft.
Urgency Level: An upgrade at left tackle is a major need.
NFL Draft Positional Overview: Offensive Tackles
This year's offensive tackle class is loaded with future next-level starters. The dilemma lies within the supply and demand around the league. Since, offensive tackle is such a dire need for so many organizations, we could see anywhere from six to eight chosen in the first round alone. Teams waiting until the second day of the draft could be left on the outside looking in, so projecting this position requires a bit more strategy during draft weekend. Yet, it's quite possible that we still see about two dozen additional tackles selected on the final two days of the draft!
Holding the number three overall selection, New England is still determining the best approach on how to construct their roster under the new regime and their first-round pick is expected to set the tone.
Notre Dame blue-chip prospect Joe Alt is amongst those prospects in consideration, as New England sent a strong team contingent to the South Bend pro day. They also met with Fighting Irish right tackle Blake Fisher while they were in town. Another name to keep an eye on is Caeden Wallace of Penn State, whom the Patriots hosted for a 30-visit. An under-the-radar player who may fall to Day 3, Texas four-year starter Christian Jones is another player who visited Foxborough that draws high intrigue. He allowed just one sack this past season and was very formidable during Senior Bowl week. New England has done some deep investigation at the offensive tackle position, even meeting with Darrell Simpson of Tulsa, a projected undrafted free agent.
Note: HPFA = High Priority Free Agent | PFA = Priority Free Agent | FA = Free Agent | HPFA usually results in higher signing bonus, while FA types tend to be rookie camp / tryout types.
RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
1. Joe Alt, Jr, Notre Dame, 6-9, 321, 5.05, Rd1
A projected top-five selection, Alt remains a dark horse option for the Patriots at number three. He checks all the boxes with his ginormous size, length, technique and agility. Alt is the whole package, one of the youngest prospects in this year's draft (will be 21-year old rookie) and is an instant plug-and-play starting left tackle for the next decade. He looks to follow in the steps of hid father, John Alt, a first-round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.
"My dad did the same thing, tight end his first two years of college [at Iowa} and ended up playing on the O-line," Alt stated. "He's the one who told me to play tight end to keep the game fun and get my foot speed. We kind of knew my game was going to be transformed to tackle, just the way my body was growing."
2. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, 6-6, 312, 5.11, Rd1
Many were surprised a year ago when Fashanu opted to return to Happy Valley. He posted another All-Big Ten campaign and has allowed just one sack on 680 pass-protection snaps over the past two seasons. However, a tweaked hamstring injury, which occurred on his first forty attempt at the combine slowed Fashanu during the draft process, as he was limited at pro day. His lack of availability may have hurt his stock some but Fashanu owns all the tools to be a starting left tackle on the big stage. Expect to hear his name called within the top half of the first round.
"In the NFL, I could point out a guy like Maxx Crosby [of Las Vegas] who will get a lot of wins with his first pass rush," Fashanu said. "A lot of success comes with the second move. They get off the ball, the O-lineman has hands on him, he gets the hands off and finishes the play or makes the sack. The way I counter those high-energy guys has to do with my grip strength. Once I get my hands on the D-lineman, the play is not over until that ball's in the air."
3. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, 6-6, 324, 5.13, Rd1
An uber-aggressive blocker who plays with a mean streak, Fuaga needs to learn how to harness some of his emotions, as he was flagged for six false starts this past season and eight penalties overall. Known as a pure bully in the run game, Fuaga held up well in pass protection at the Senior Bowl, solidifying his status as a bonafide first round talent. He owns the skill-set to start at any tackle or guard spot in the NFL, so his versatility brings added value.
“All my siblings went here,” Fuaga told the Tacoma News-Tribune in 2019. “It’s like a home for me. The losing, it’s difficult to overcome. I come from a school that doesn’t win a lot, but I’m trying to change that.”
4. Troy Fautanu, Washington, 6-4, 317, 5.01, Rd2
Initially, most evaluators believed that Fautanu would be better suited to play on the interior due to his lack of height and girth. He proved most doubters wrong down in Mobile, measuring in with 34.5" arms, while flashing brilliance of dominance throughout Senior Bowl week. Fautanu should get every opportunity to start at tackle but would also make for a rock-steady guard in the pros. His nastiness and mobility have drawn comparisons to former NFL All Pro Duane Brown.
“We watch a lot of film at U-Dub. Personally, I like to watch Rashawn Slater from the Chargers,” Fautanu said, via MLive. “I just think that me and him are kind of built the same, with me and him being like similar size. I watch him just because it always feels like he’s always in control in everything he does. He’s never outside of his body. Another guy is Penei Sewell. Man, that dude’s just got that dog in him and I feel like that’s something I got. And it’s something I can bring to any team.”
5. JC Latham, Alabama, 6-6, 342, 5.21, Rd1
The stout, wide-bodied Latham is a massive mauler who finished his Crimson Tide career making 27 consecutive starts. He allowed just two sacks in 680 pass protection snaps during his collegiate career but questions remain about whether he'll be an effective pass-blocker at the next level due to his subpar quickness and footwork. There's a sense that Latham could slip into the late first round, or even early second based on NFL feedback.
"Obviously it's a question mark, I'm a right tackle,'' Latham said. "So, you know, usually tackles taken extremely high are left tackles. I feel I can break that kind of narrative, and also it would help me showcase my ability to play left [tackle]. I have the ability to be dominant regardless.''
6. Amarius Mims, Georgia, 6-8, 340, 5.07, Rd2
One of the more raw highly-rated players in this year's draft, Mims looks as if he just walked off a plane from heaven with his prototype size, innate athleticism and brute strength. He possesses a seven-foot wingspan and his hands measure one foot each! However, concerns about his lack of playing experience (only eight games started at right tackle) and injury history continue to persist, which could cause him to slide come draft night.
“I know I don’t have the amount of starts and snaps as many guys here but I feel like I’m just as good and just as prepared as anybody in the class,” Mims said.
7. Jordan Morgan, Arizona, 6-5, 311, 5.04, Rd2
A four-year starter who wins with great technique and savvy experience, Morgan might be the most polished offensive lineman in this year's draft. His measurements come in on the opposite end of the spectrum when stacked up against his peers. While he has been miscast due to his lack of arm length, look for Morgan to outplay many of the players chosen ahead of him at the next level. Morgan elaborated on how his time at Arizona prepared him for the pros.
"I’d say the playbooks and stuff — pro-style. Schedules, fall camp, in the weight room," Morgan said. "Also, we did everything like a pro team. You watch these shows like Hard Knocks and you see teams do all these meetings. We do the same stuff, it’s pretty cool."
8. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU, 6-5, 332, 5.04, Rd2
Blessed with a massive frame, Suamataia is strong like bull and charges his opponents like an angry hippo. A weight room warrior, he can bench press 485 pounds, squats 605 pounds and deadlifts 700 pounds. In addition, he has been timed at a max in-game speed of 18 mph. He was in Foxborough for a pre-draft visit and could be a potential Day 2 target for New England. Suamataia needs to improve his fundamentals but his athleticism is rare.
"Shoot, gotta stay light on my feet. I love dancing, I'm not gonna lie to you," he said. "Just gotta stay light on my feet. Be versatile, be able to move ... I just want to come out and smack some heads."
9. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma, 6-8, 322, 5.19, Rd2
Another potential Patriots target, Guyton was also in for a pre-draft visit. He possesses exceptional athleticism and agility, along with quick feet. However, his footwork tends to find him a bit out of place at times, as he can be a bit too slow to his mark more often than you would like to see. A former tight end at TCU, Guyton has just 15 career starts under his belt and remains raw. He has battled injuries and will surely need to be coached up.
“I will say that I’m a raw tackle as far as timing-wise,” Guyton said at the Senior Bowl. “A lot of the O-linemen here have played [the position] for a long time. But I’m long. I’m athletic. I have a different type of build, I think. I don’t have a gut. I can move a little bit. I can bend. And I like to learn."
10. Dominick Puni, Kansas, 6-5, 313, 5.35, Rd3
A late bloomer, Puni began at little-known Central Missouri, appearing in just one game at one point during a two-year stretch due to the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries. He since started 22 games over the past two years at Kansas. Puni stood his ground at the Senior Bowl and proved he can play offensive tackle, although the majority of observers seem to prefer him at guard. He was dominant against projected first-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton this past season.
“It feels good knowing that we started something here and we're leaving it in good hands,” Puni said of the culture change in Lawrence. “I can't wait till two or three years, come back and just see a whole new Booth. It's going to be crazy. I look forward to it, though. I know they're going to kill it even after the seniors leave, but we got to handle business Saturday.”
BEST OF THE REST
Roger Rosengarten, Washington, 6-5, 308, 4.92, Rd2
A fast-riser, Rosengarten has been a hot prospect within the scouting community after a riveting Senior Bowl performance. Lean and limber, he plays like a wild horse. He'll need to harness some of that aggression when making the transition to the pros and fill out his frame a bit more but his best football is still ahead of him. Rosengarten has thrived in the Cougars zone blocking attack and projects as a long-term starter at right tackle.
"It starts with coach Ryan Grubb. He has a high standard, and he’ll let you know about it, too," Rosengarten said of Grubb, now the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks. "You can’t slack. He’ll call it out in meetings. He doesn’t let any small detail slide by him."
Javon Foster, Missouri, 6-6, 313, 5.30, Rd3
Brandon Coleman, TCU, 6-4, 313, 4.99, Rd3
Patrick Paul, Houston, 6-8, 331, 5.13, Rd3
Christian Jones, Texas, 6-5, 305, 5.04, Rd4
Blake Fisher, Notre Dame, 6-6, 318, 5.20, Rd4
Kiran Amegadjie, Yale, 6-5, 323, 5.08, Rd4
Walter Rouse, Oklahoma, 6-6, 313, 5.28, Rd5
Garrett Greenfield, South Dakota State, 6-6, 311, 5.22, Rd5
Caedan Wallace, Penn State, 6-5, 314, 5.15, Rd5
Gottlieb Ayedze, Maryland, 6-4, 308, 5.01, Rd6
Julian Pearl, Illinois, 6-6, 312, 5.19, Rd6
Tylan Grable, UCF, 6-6, 306, 4.95, Rd6
Travis Glover, Georgia State, 6-6, 317, 5.31, Rd7
Delmar Glaze, Maryland, 6-4, 315, 5.21, Rd7
Andrew Coker, TCU, 6-7, 315, 5.36, HPFA
Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh, 6-6, 317, 5.22, HPFA
Anim Dankwah, Howard, 6-8, 349, 5.44, HPFA
Josiah Ezirim, Eastern Kentucky, 6-6, 5.15, HPFA
Ethan Driskell, Marshall, 6-8, 313, 5.26, PFA
Darrell Simpson, Tulsa, 6-6, 335, 5.35, PFA
Theo Benedet, British Columbia, 6-7, 295, 5.14, PFA
Prince Pines, Tulane, 6-4, 322, 5.34, PFA
Cameron Wire, Louisiana Tech, 6-6, 302, 5.48, PFA
Willie Tyler, Louisville, 6-6, 310, 5.28, FA
Lorenzo Thompson, Rhode Island, 6-6, 307, 5.02, FA
Giovanni Manu, British Columbia, 6-7, 352, 5.06, FA
PATRIOTS SLEEPER CANDIDATE
Travis Glover, Georgia State, 6-6, 317, 5.31, Rd7: A combine snub, Glover has gained traction as we approach the NFL Draft in Detroit. With 57 career starts under his belt, he excelled in an offensive that was very inside-zone based. He also boasts vast experience on special teams with nearly 400 snaps on units and the flexibility to play tackle or guard. It's worth noting that Glover met with Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters at pro day.
UDFA CANDIDATE
Josiah Ezirim, Eastern Kentucky, 6-6, 5.15, HPFA: A developmental project who began his career on the defensive line, Ezirim was one of the Patriots 30-visits prior to the draft. He has just 20 career starts at the FCS level, so the step up in caliber of competition could make him a practice squad candidate.
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