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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Jeff Risdon

2024 NFL draft: Preseason OT watch list and early rankings

NFL USA TODAY Sports Mark J Rebilas Olu Fashanu Amarius Mims Graham Barton Javon Foster JC Latham Joe Alt Jordan Morgan

Up next in the preseason 2024 NFL draft positional rankings and players to know: the offensive tackles. The initial impression is that this could be a very good draft year for NFL teams to need OT help from the college ranks.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the offensive tackles in the NFL draft class of 2024.

1. Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Fashanu might have been the first offensive tackle off the board in 2023 had he declared early. His movement skills, advanced technique and high-end athletic potential position Fashanu in the top 10 of nearly every preseason mock draft — for good reason.

2. Joe Alt, Notre Dame

The latest in a long line of high-end Notre Dame OL prospects, Alt brings exceptional length to the table. He’s 6-foot-8 with long arms. Often that leaves tackles at a power or leverage disadvantage, but Alt sinks his weight well and has proven to be a top-shelf people-mover in the run game too.

3. Amarius Mims, Georgia

He’s only started two games at Georgia, but Mims displayed elite athletic tools and a quick-learning demeanor that belies his inexperience. If there’s one player in this list who can rocket into the top-5 overall (aside from Fashanu), it’s the one-time five-star recruit in Mims.

4. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

Sometimes a picture conveys a lot. That’s Suamataia, BYU’s 315-pound right tackle, leaping off the ground in celebration of a touchdown. It’s a good indicator of his relative athletic prowess. The Oregon transfer didn’t allow a sack in 2022 and could rise–or fall–with his anticipated move to the left side in 2023.

5. JC Latham, Alabama

When you play right tackle at Alabama and don’t allow a single sack in your first season as a starter, that certainly grabs attention. That’s what Latham’s baseline stems from, and why it’s easy to get excited about the 330-pounder. His reactionary quickness and run-blocking technique need some polish, but Latham is a worthy first-round inclusion in preseason mock projections.

6. Graham Barton, Duke

A converted center, Barton brings that interior lineman strength and finishing mentality to tackle. He’s still learning how to feel and move on the edge, but the length and athleticism give Barton a chance to be a first-rounder if his game continues to develop.

7. Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh

Goncalves is a good example of a player continuing to get better the more he plays. The length and demeanor are great, while the power and footwork have grown. Could wind up with a similar arc to former Pitt OT Brian O’Neill, now a Pro Bowl RT for the Vikings.

8. Javon Foster, Missouri

Foster is a function-over-form type of tackle. It’s not always pretty or textbook technique, but he’s very effective at keeping his QB comfy in the pocket and can also seal open wide holes in the run game. Foster might project better at guard at the next level.

9. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

The right tackle transferred from TCU and took a little time to adjust in his first year with the Sooners. His lack of experience obscures a very talented and quickly developing technician with outstanding power on the right flank. Guyton began his Horned Frogs career as a TE and that athleticism is still evident too. This preliminary ranking might wind up being laughably low in time…

10. Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Morgan would start higher on this list based on his level of play, but he’s coming off a torn ACL. While indications are he’ll be ready to roll in September, it’s prudent to wait and see if everything still check out once the Wildcats wunderkind gets on the field.