Three-year starter at left tackle who is athletic enough to thrive in pass protection, but needs to add some strength to be an asset in the run game. Projected: 2nd round
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2020 NFL Draft preview: The top tackles and interior linemen
From the Everything you need to know for the 2020 NFL Draft series
Who are the top guards, centers and tackles in the 2020 NFL draft? Find out.
First up, Eddie Brown, a sports writer for the The San Diego Union-Tribune who has covered the NFL Draft for over a decade looks at the tackle position.
1. Tristan Wirfs (Jr., Iowa, 6-foot-5, 320 pounds)
Wirfs is a do-everything athlete (baseball, football, track and wrestling in high school). This coupled with his freakish strength makes him a potential star at every offensive line position besides center. Projected: Top 15
2. Andrew Thomas (Jr., Georgia, 6-5, 315)
The powerful, athletic left tackle is equally dominant in the run game and pass protection. He was a three-year starter for one of the nation's best offensive lines. A refined technique at the next level could mean many All-Pro selections. Projected: Top 15
3. Mekhi Becton (Jr., Louisville, 6-7, 364)
Imagine if your refrigerator came to life and could beat you in a foot race while also protecting your blindside. The weight concerns (he's approaching 370 pounds) were alleviated for most when his body fat was measured at a mere 17% in Indy. Projected: 1st round
4. Jedrick Wills Jr. (Jr., Alabama, 6-4, 312)
Wills has All-Pro potential at right tackle and guard. He allowed only one sack in 39 games protecting Tua Tagovailoa's blindside. He has never played a single snap at left tackle in high school or college. Projected: Top 15
5. Josh Jones (Sr., Houston, 6-5, 319)
Four-year starter (45 starts at left tackle) and team captain. He's currently a better pass protector than run blocker, but he's athletic enough to improve in the NFL. Projected: 1st and 2nd round
6. Austin Jackson (Jr., USC, 6-5, 322)
Jackson is a raw talent with elite athletic ability. He also has seven blocked kicks on special teams dating back to his sophomore year of high school in Phoenix. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
7. Isaiah Wilson (So., Georgia, 6-6, 350)
Former five-star recruit with elite size, strength and natural skill. His fundamentals are still a work-in-progress. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
8. Ezra Cleveland (Jr., Boise St., 6-6, 311)
9. Prince Tega Wanogho (Sr., Auburn, 6-5, 308)
His journey from Nigeria is Google-worthy. Wanogho was originally recruited as a defensive end (four stars), but he's adjusted to left tackle nicely and held his own in the talent-rich SEC. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
10. Ben Bartch (Sr., Saint John's (Minn.), 6-6, 309)
A no-star tight end recruit out of high school, Bartch is very raw, but clearly talented. He should be the first Saint John's player drafted since 1974 and the highest drafted prospect in school history. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Best of the rest
Matt Peart (Sr., Connecticut, 6-6, 318)
Peart split the difference between left and right tackle for the Huskies (24 starts apiece). A fine-tuning of his mechanics will serve this team captain well in the NFL. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
Lucas Niang (Sr., TCU, 6-6, 315)
Niang didn't allow a sack in his 27 starts for the Horned Frogs. He features the strength and athleticism to be an anchor on the offensive line when healthy (he suffered a labrum tear in his hip as a senior). Projected: 2nd to 5th round
Interior linemen:
1. Cesar Ruiz (Jr., Michigan, 6-foot-3, 307 pounds)
Ruiz was the consensus No. 1 center in the 2017 recruiting cycle. He's a three-year starter who is equally sound in pass protection or as a run-blocker. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
2. Lloyd Cushenberry III (Jr., LSU, 6-3, 312)
Team captain who has All-Pro potential at guard or center. Cushenberry dominated during Senior Bowl week. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
3. Tyler Biadasz (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-4, 314)
Durability (hip and shoulder issues) concerns overshadow an otherwise elite prospect. Biadasz is a technician who was awarded Wisconsin's first Rimington Trophy (top center in the nation) in 2019. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
4. Ben Bredeson (Sr., Michigan, 6-5, 315)
One of the few two-time team captains in Michigan history. Bredeson makes up for average athleticism with power, instincts and intelligence. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
5. John Simpson (Sr., Clemson, 6-4, 321)
Clemson hasn't had an offensive lineman drafted in the first 90 picks since 1979. Simpson has a shot. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
6. Matt Hennessy (Jr., Temple, 6-4, 307)
Hennessy is an athletic technician who has only allowed one sack the last three years. He's genuinely the hardest worker in the room. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
7. Robert Hunt (Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-5, 323)
A four-year starter (at right tackle and left guard) who has the ability to overwhelm defenders in the run game. He'll be 24 years old before he takes an NFL snap. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
8. Shane Lemieux (Sr., Oregon, 6-4, 310)
Lemieux started all 52 games the last four seasons for the Ducks. Projected: 3rd or 4th round
9. Jonah Jackson (Sr., Ohio St., 6-3, 306)
Versatile experience with college starts at all three interior positions of the offensive line. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
10. Solomon Kindley (Jr., Georgia, 6-3, 337)
Moves well for a 340-pounder and dominates when healthy. Durability is a concern (dealt with a left foot issue for most of his junior season). Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Best of the rest
Logan Stenberg (Sr., Kentucky, 6-6, 317)
Stenberg was the powerful anchor of an offensive line that helped the Wildcats average 278.8 rushing yards per game in 2019 (fourth-best in college football). His overaggressive nature attracted 14 penalties in 2019 (second-most at the FBS level). Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Damien Lewis (Sr., LSU, 6-2, 327)
Lewis lacks high-end athleticism, but he's a fierce competitor and physical finisher in the run game. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Jon Runyan (Sr., Michigan, 6-4, 306)
Two-year starter at left tackle with NFL genes (father was a 14-year pro). Runyan is a technician with a nasty streak in the run game who projects better inside. Projected: 5th to 7th round
Netane Muti (Jr., Fresno St., 6-3, 315)
Muti features World's Strongest Man-type power and top-50 ability, but his durability is a fluorescent red flag. He's suffered injuries to both achilles and a Lisfranc foot injury that required surgery in October of 2019. He's only played in five games the past two seasons. Projected: 4th to 7th round
Jack Driscoll (Sr., Auburn, 6-5, 306)
You're not going to outsmart Driscoll and he's already shown he can handle a jump in competition. He transferred to Auburn after earning his degree and playing three seasons with UMass. He played both tackle positions and left guard in college, but size makes him better suited for the interior. Projected: 4th to 7th round
Darryl Williams (Sr., Mississippi St., 6-2, 304)
Versatility is a plus (double-digit starts at center and left guard). Williams is a powerful, aggressive blocker who was nicknamed the "Big General." Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Nick Harris (Sr., Washington, 6-1, 302)
Harris is undersized, but he features an alpha attitude and was chosen first team All-Pac 12 the past two seasons. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
Keith Ismael (Jr., San Diego St., 6-3, 309)
Ismael is an aggressive bully in the run game at center or guard who wins with quickness, toughness and intelligence. Projected: 4th to 7th round
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