2023 NFL Draft Rankings: Offensive Tackles
Josh Frey
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We continue to progress through the initial 2023 NFL Draft rankings, and today, we cover the offensive tackle prospects for this upcoming spring. We have the usual blue-blood prospects that every list features, but perhaps there will be a couple surprises by the end. If you need to catch up, here are all the rankings we’ve covered so far:
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1. Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)
The argument can be made that Peter Skoronski has a smaller frame and shorter arms than you would like from an NFL left tackle. That being said, the same argument was made against his former teammate, Rashawn Slater.
Despite his small stature, #77 is larger than life on the football field. It’s hard not to notice him blowing up pass rushers coming off the edge. Skoronski does a terrific job of using an explosive first step to meet defenders, and once engaged, his hands and feet are very active. Expect him to be off the board in the first 10 picks.
2. Paris Johnson (Ohio State)
Paris Johnson immediately stands out for his NFL-ready size. The Ohio State offensive lineman stands at 6’6 and 315 pounds, a true behemoth of a man. This size combined with terrific length allows him to dominate opponents with leverage. On top of that, don’t be surprised if he dominates the athleticism tests at the combine this spring.
Johnson brings the entire package as an offensive lineman in terms of physical skills. However, you can have all the physical gifts in the world, but without solid technique, it’s going to cause problems. A Ferrari without keys is just a hunk of metal taking up space in the garage.
Now, to be clear, Johnson isn’t just a “hunk of metal”. He has flashed the ability to use his powerful hands to throw opponents off-route, but he needs to do it consistently in order to overtake Skoronski for the top spot in this class.
3. Broderick Jones (Georgia)
Similar to Skoronski, Broderick Jones won’t wow anyone with size. His 6’4 frame may be considered problematic by some NFL teams this spring. However, it helps that he has vice grips for hands. Once he gets his mitts on a defender, there is a very small chance that they are going to find a way loose. Jones is extremely athletic and strong, making him an obvious fit in the NFL because of that.
That being said, like Paris Johnson at Ohio State, the young offensive tackle must improve his technique. This is unsurprising seeing as coming into the 2022 season, he had just four starts to his name. His blocks oftentimes end up too high, cutting off his ability to create leverage. There’s certainly a chance that a team takes a chance on him early in the draft because of his upside.
4. Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland)
If nothing else, Jaelyn Duncan looks the part for an NFL tackle. It may be strange to see a potential first round prospect coming out of Maryland, but the Terrapins’ left tackle is the real deal. Duncan is light on his feet, moving side-to-side with ease as he engages defenders. He absorbs pass rush like a pro, and his awareness in both run blocking and pass protection is elite.
The problem with Duncan, though, remains his length. For someone that stands at 6’6, you’d expect that not to be a problem, but his arms simply are not very long. Because of this, he can find himself with some trouble against the faster EDGE rushers as they get around him, and his grip is not as strong as that of Jones above him.
5. Cody Mauch (North Dakota State)
If you’ve never heard of Cody Mauch prior to today, I can’t blame you. That being said, it’s time to learn about the redshirt senior left tackle for the North Dakota State Bison. It seems like a yearly occurrence where a player from NDSU bursts onto the NFL Draft scene (Trey Lance 2021 Draft, Christian Watson 2022 Draft).
This year, I believe that Bison player will be Mauch. The FCS product has all the makings for an NFL tackle: size, strength, athleticism, and a fierce competitive fire. However, Mauch can work on improving his technique, and level of competition will always be a topic of conversation surrounding FCS players. He’ll be an interesting prospect to watch as the draft gets closer.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.