Often in the NFL Draft, offensive tackles are slotted into some of the top picks of the draft, usually as contenders for a No. 1 overall draft pick. Recent years saw Joe Alt and JC Latham taken in the top 10 in 2024, Paris Johnson and Darnell Wright in 2023, and Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal, and Charles Cross in 2022 alone. This year, while there are surely some candidates to be first-round picks in this year’s class, an elite, top-10 tackle seems to be absent among them.
LSU’s Will Campbell is seemingly the only offensive lineman who has been granted a consensus opinion as a first-rounder, but many doubt that he will continue to play tackle in the NFL. Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a perceived lack of strength has scouts shifting him inside to guard at the next level. Kelvin Banks Jr. at Texas held first-round potential for much of the year, but up-and-down performances throughout the year, accompanied by a rough performance against Georgia at home, have put that promise in doubt. Lastly, Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons likely held the highest chance at being a top-drafted tackle, but a torn patellar tendon will limit his availability until summer and diminish his draft stock.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid agrees with Breer’s sentiment, claiming that the entire offensive line group lacks the depth and top-end talent of last year’s group by a wide margin. He notes that Campbell, Banks, and Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea could all slide inside to guard and adds that most players in the class are getting Day 2 or 3 grades.
Here are some other rumors coming from the 2025 NFL Draft class:
- While the merit of early Heisman attestations is still to be determined, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders likely couldn’t care less. With several NFL teams in attendance to watch a drubbing of the lowly Cowpokes at Oklahoma State, Hunter and Sanders likely had eyes on late-April. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, one NFL executive claimed that not only are Hunter and Sanders going to be drafted in the top five picks, but he also believes they will go back-to-back at Nos. 1 & 2 overall.
- In support of that prediction, Breer noted that the Giants sent a bevy of executives — general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, director of player personnel Tim McDonnell, and special assistant Jessie Armstead — to Boulder for practices and the game this week to get looks at Sanders with quarterback Daniel Jones already gone. In our latest look at the most-updated draft order (if the season were to end today), the Giants slotted in at No. 2 overall, tied with the Jaguars and Raiders with a 2-9 record. Since then, the Giants and Raiders have both lost additional contests, moving them up to Nos. 1 & 2, respectively, but if the Jaguars also fall tomorrow, they would be reinstated at No. 1.
I like Sanders as a prospect and think he can be a good NFL starter, but I don’t think he’s a top five kind of prospect in a better draft. The top three picks from last year’s draft were all drastically better prospects than any of the quarterbacks in this one.
I think this whole draft is going to be forgettable
No draft is forgettable…each draft has provided talent being 7 rounds allows that. Unless you only watch round1 or don’t bother watching so you may not know who was picked in each year.
Sure, even 2013 had a few stars despite a wild number of first round duds. But sone drafts are still weaker than others. I think this draft might have more depth than last year but less elite talent.
Still have 6 weeks and you idiots are talking about this springs draft….more problems in this country…morons
Some of us are really into the draft and also root for teams that are already out of it. “More problems in this country”? By that logic don’t pay attention to sports at all.
Getting stronger is one of the “easier” things to accomplish.
I don’t see how taking a 6’6 guy and moving him inside against shorter, heavier, stronger players is the answer for a guy lacking strength.
It’s one of the things where people criticize because they’re looking for something to be critical on. Banks and Campbell have the movement skills to stay at tackle.