The Tennessee Titans have a massive offseason ahead of themselves, as new general manager, Ran Carthon, will have a lot of tough decisions to make over the coming months.
One of the most important items on the upcoming agenda will undoubtedly be to fix the Titans’ disastrous offensive line from a season ago. Fortunately for them, the Titans should have plenty of available options at their disposal when they’re officially on the clock in the 2023 NFL draft.
Tennessee is currently slated to have the No. 11 overall pick this spring. However, as we all know, an unforeseen trade can suddenly change everything.
Nonetheless, this article is going to cover the top-five offensive tackle prospects as ranked by Pro Football Focus.
In fact, we will be covering different position groups over the coming days and weeks until every spot has been hit. Then, shortly after the combine, I will be releasing my own personal rankings to compare and contrast them to the universal consensus.
Now that all of that has been covered, let’s go ahead and dive right into PFF’s top-five offensive tackle prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, and then talk about some of their strengths and weaknesses.
No. 1: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Measurables:
- Height: 6’6”
- Weight: 315 lbs.
- Arms: 35-1/2″
- Wingspan: 85-5/8″
PFF grades and stats:
- 2022 overall grade: 83.1
- two-year average grade: 81.1
- Pass Blocking grade: 77.9
- Run Blocking Grade: 80.9
- Zone blocking Grade: 80.0
- Gap Blocking Grade: 71.5
- Sacks Allowed: 2
- Hurries: 12
- Quarterback Hits: 0
- Run Block Snaps: 378
- Pass Block Snaps: 449
Today’s OL prospect of the day and my personal preference for the #Titans: LT Paris Johnson Jr. (#77) pic.twitter.com/3yNQXpmwBN
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) January 10, 2023
Johnson’s Strengths
- Prototypical size and length for a franchise left tackle.
- Fluid blocker when working in space.
- Impressive lateral movement skills.
- Uses a quick get-off that make it hard to beat him to his spots.
- Can mirror twitchy defenders with relative ease.
- Mentally aware of what’s going on around him at all times (stunts, twists, etc.).
- Has only allowed two sacks over his last 910 pass-blocking snaps.
- Has started at guard and tackle over his impressive collegiate career.
Johnson’s Weaknesses
- Only has one full season of experience at left tackle.
- Must improve overall play strength.
- Not always consistent with his ability to anchor against physically-superior defenders.
- Pad level can get high at times, which allows defenders to gain leverage on him.
- Inconsistent with his hand placements.
No. 2: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Measurables:
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 315 lbs.
- Arms: 32-2/8″
- Wingspan: 79-1/8″
PFF grades and stats:
- Overall grade: 89.5
- Two-year average grade: 86.65
- Pass Blocking grade: 93.0
- Run Blocking Grade: 81.7
- Zone blocking Grade: 88.0
- Gap Blocking Grade: 69.8
- Sacks Allowed: 1
- Hurries: 3
- Quarterback Hits: 2
- Run Block Snaps: 407
- Pass Block Snaps: 474
Starting today, I will be bringing you prospect rankings for the upcoming #NFLDraft.
Each week I will highlight a position group that will include overall rankings and daily breakdowns for Top Prospects with continued updates up til the draft.We’ll kick things off with The OL: pic.twitter.com/Djp54XYW6N
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) January 9, 2023
Skoronski’s Strengths
- Fluid technician that had better footwork in high school than some professional tackles.
- Cerebral player that is rarely caught out of position.
- Consistently fundamentally sound from the top down .
- Powerful enough to displace strong defenders in the run game, while also being athletic enough to block agile defenders out in space.
- Precise with his aiming points and angles.
- Excels when he’s allowed to complete double-team blocks and/or climb to the second level of the defense.
- Complete anomaly at left tackle for his size, deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
Skoronski’s Weaknesses
- Has sub-33-inch arms, which would only be in the third percentile for NFL offensive tackles.
- He may physically be better suited at guard due to his length concerns.
- Could struggle to reach longer, twitchier defenders that are savvy enough to capitalize on their natural advantages.
- Must be technically sound at all times if he’s going to survive on the edge against the league’s elite.
No. 3: Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Measurables:
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 315 lbs.
- Arms: TBD
- Wingspan: TBD
PFF grades and stats:
- Overall grade: 72.6
- Two-year average grade: 74.8
- Pass Blocking grade: 83.3
- Run Blocking Grade: 67.7
- Zone blocking Grade: 68.1
- Gap Blocking Grade: 64.9
- Sacks Allowed: 1
- Hurries: 8
- Quarterback Hits: 0
- Run Block Snaps: 415
- Pass Block Snaps: 447
Today’s OL prospect:
LT Anton Harrison, @OU_Football (#71).🚨Reminder: Tomorrow will be my final OL prospect of the week and starting on Monday, I will begin covering the top WRs in the 2023 NFL Draft.#Titans pic.twitter.com/j0eTduqK6V
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) January 12, 2023
Harrison’s Strengths
- Impressive lateral movement skills.
- Thrives whenever he’s allowed to put his athleticism to good use.
- Easily gets to the second level when climbing on zone blocks.
- Allowed only four sacks over his entire Oklahoma tenure (1,002 pass-blocking snaps).
- Ideal length and build for an NFL left tackle.
- Has the athletic fluidity to mirror twitchier defenders along the edge.
Harrison’s Weaknesses
- Must improve his ability to hold his own against physically-superior defenders.
- Overall play strength has to improve if he’s going to maximize his skill set to the fullest.
- Inconsistent footwork in pass protection.
- Has to do a better job at understanding leverages and knowing how to use it to his advantage.
No. 4: Broderick Jones, Georgia
Measurables:
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 310 lbs.
- Arms: TBD
- Wingspan: TBD
PFF grades and stats:
- Overall grade: 78.2
- Two-year average grade: 78.5
- Pass Blocking grade: 84.1
- Run Blocking Grade: 71.7
- Zone blocking Grade: 72.9
- Gap Blocking Grade: 61.4
- Sacks Allowed: 0
- Hurries: 7
- Quarterback Hits: 2
- Run Block Snaps: 463
- Pass Block Snaps: 470
Today's OL prospect: LT Broderick Jones, @GeorgiaFootball (#59)
🚨 NOTE: grades have officially been updated following the National Championship Game#NFLDraft #GoDawgs #Titans pic.twitter.com/jXS23InqG0
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) January 11, 2023
Jones’ Strengths
- Legitimate physical specimen at left tackle.
- Not many humans on earth wear 310-plus pounds the way he can.
- Athletically-fluid mover in space that looks to punish you when he gets his hands on you.
- Possesses an alpha mentality at the position (how could you not when you look like him?).
- Has the ability to mirror any defender when his technique is on point.
- Phenomenal lateral and vertical movement skills.
- Welcomes physical confrontation in the trenches.
- Powerful enough to anchor against aggressive defenders.
- Plays with an admirable nastiness and wants to finish each rep with an emphatic win.
- Arguably the highest ceiling of all the tackles in the class.
Jones’ Weaknesses
- At the moment, he is more of an athletic freak with unreal long-term potential rather than a plug-and-play technician.
- Can be overly stiff with his technique more than you would ideally prefer.
- His overall fundamentals will need to be polished at the professional level.
- Currently relies too much on his physical assets instead of focusing on the nuances of the position to sharpen his game .
- Must improve his ability to play with proper pad level.
- Needs to do a better job of using his natural leverage to his advantage.
- Boom-or0bust prospect.
- Lowest floor amongst all of the top offensive tackles.
No. 5 Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
Measurables:
- Height: 6’6”
- Weight: 301 lbs.
- Arms: TBD
- Wingspan: TBD
2022 PFF grades and stats:
- Overall grade: 90.8
- Two-year average grade: 89.85
- Pass Blocking grade: 81.7
- Run Blocking Grade: 90.1
- Zone blocking Grade: 71.7
- Gap Blocking Grade: 90.4
- Sacks Allowed: 1
- Hurries: 6
- Quarterback Hits: 2
- Run Block Snaps: 552
- Pass Block Snaps: 304
Mauch’s Strengths (via Draft Network)
Note: The Draft Network’s Brentley Weissman was used for Mauch because I have not watched enough of the former NDSU star to have an adequate opinion on him yet.
Easy movement skills and lateral agility.
Toughness and play temperament.
Balance.
Mauch’s Weaknesses (via Draft Network)
Note: The Draft Network’s Brentley Weissman was used for Mauch because I have not watched enough of the former NDSU star to have an adequate opinion on him yet
Length.
Lack of knock-back power in his lower half.
Hand placement in pass protection.
