2024 Offensive Tackle Prospects

Kind of early for true rankings and we will know more after the combine finishes on March 4th, but never too early to start looking at the available prospects. In no particular order:

Joe Alt Notre Dame (6' 8", 322 lbs., JR., 20 years old)
Dad was a 1st round pick in 1984, made 2 pro bowls and is in the Chiefs Hall of Fame. As a true freshman, Alt started the final eight games. His sophomore year he was a 13 game starter and was a consensus All-American his Sr year.

From NFLdraftbuzz.com

quote:

---

STRENGTHS
Boasts a prototypical blindside protector build, marrying a towering and long frame
Exhibits former tight end-like athleticism with explosive first-step quickness, closing on defenders rapidly and mirroring edge rushers with ease.
Utilizes his wingspan and snap quickness to deliver jarring punches, displacing rushers with hip-generated torque and maintaining leverage against power moves.
Combines rare bend with his size and excellent pad level to dominate the point of attack, sustaining blocks with an ironclad base and active feet.
Employs a refined hand-fighting arsenal—successive punches and resets—to consistently gain the upper hand in trench skirmishes.
Adeptly picks up stunts and blitzes and shows an advanced understanding of pass-pro sets
Dominates in the run game with a mauler mentality, leveraging defenders’ momentum to wash them out and create alleys for ball carriers.
Dominating pass protector, showcasing a balanced set and a strong anchor, with the lateral agility to wall off speed and bull-rushers alike.

WEAKNESSES
While his overall footwork is adequate for his stature, lacks elite quickness in his kick slide, relying more on his reach than ground coverage to protect the edge.
Permits defenders too close to his frame, compromising his ability to leverage his wingspan; must sharpen hand technique to dictate engagements at the line.
Tends to lunge at opponents, leaving him susceptible to deft pass-rush moves; requires fine-tuning of punch timing to neutralize swim and push/pull maneuvers.
Despite his powerful build, occasionally falters in drive blocking and anchoring, suggesting a need to harness his strength more effectively in run-blocking schemes.

---

Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State (6’6”, 319 lbs. JR., 21 years old)
Played in high school with Caleb Williams where he was primarily focused on basketball. He redshirted his freshman year, played 4 games his next year and was injured his sophomore missing five games. He’s a freak athlete as Bruce Feldman wrote that he ran a 4.97 40 and a 4.63 shuttle time. A natural pass blocker with some room to grow as a run blocker before becoming an elite LT.

Taliese Fuaga Oregon State (6’6”, JR., 333 lbs.)
A mauling run blocker, possibly best suited as an elite RT and some project him as a guard. PFF says:

quote:

---

Fuaga is a true mauler of an offensive tackle. His dominance in the run game catches your eye first, as he displaces opponents and finishes them from the play. But he's also well-versed in hand usage in pass protection, making for a well-rounded prospect.

---

JC Latham alabama (6’6”, 360 lbs., JR., 21 years old)
Best fit might be RT. Penalty prone with twelve flags in 2022. NFLdraftbuzz says:

quote:

---

His size alone demands attention, as it provides a quintessential framework for an NFL offensive tackle. This sheer size, combined with his functional strength, makes him a daunting physical presence on the line. Latham's dimensions are not just for show; they translate to on-field dominance, enabling him to leverage his body effectively against defenders.

While his impressive stature is a significant advantage, the challenge for Latham at the next level will be to prove that his footwork and agility can match. His frame is an asset in stymieing bull rushes and anchoring against power moves, but it also comes with the expectation that he must maintain his balance and not become top-heavy.

---

Amarius Mims UGA (6' 7", 340 lbs., Jr., 21.3 years old)
Injured an ankle and missed time 2023 and injured again in the SEC Championship game. Physically gifted, but limited playing time in college. Walterfootball says:

quote:

---

In terms of physical talent, Mims would be up there with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. as having the best pure skill set of all the players in the potential 2024 NFL Draft. However, some NFL team sources said they believe Mims’ lack of playing experience and having missed time with injuries in 2023 could cause him to be a pick in the back half of the first round in the 2024 NFL Draft. Others shared they think Mims is going to blow up the combine and pro day workouts to climb in the first round and a shot at going as a top-10 pick.

---

Tyler Guyton Oklahoma (6’7", 328 lbs., Jr.)

2023 was his only season as a full-time starter for the Sooners at right tackle. In that season, he played well enough to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about Guyton as an NFL-worthy lineman.

Redshirted at TCU as a 3 star DT. Played 10 games at OT in 2022 for Oklahoma and started every game in 2023 at RT. He allowed zero sacks on 335 pass blocking attempts last year.

Jordan Morgan Arizona (6’4”, 312 lbs., SR.)
Played all 4 years at Arizona. Suffered an ACL tear in 2022, but returned in 2023 and earned first-team All-PAC-12 honors. NFLdraftbuzz says:

quote:

---

At 6'5", 325 pounds, his blend of size, athleticism, and skill, especially after bouncing back from an ACL injury, positions him well for the pro game.

Morgan's potential as an outstanding pass protector is evident, showcasing balance, strength, and superior leveraging abilities. However, his run-blocking skills, while decent, need refinement and expansion beyond basic zone concepts. Despite concerns about his arm length and medical history, Morgan's overall ability and adaptability make him a high-value pick, possibly transitioning successfully to guard if needed.

---

Troy Fautanu Washington (6’4”, 314 lbs., JR., 23 years old)
Started at LG his sophomore year and LT his junior and senior year. He gave up 3 sacks over that period. A better pass blocker than run blocker, Walterfootball notes:

quote:

---

Pro evaluators said they like Fautanu’s athleticism, which lets him move and be a nimble blocker. He moves well on the edge while having some quickness and strength in his build. Fautanu also has 35-inch arms. Sources note Fautanu is not real powerful, that his anchor is just okay, and he can have some mental lapses. As a shorter offensive tackle, Fautanu could be similar to Rashawn Slater, Dion Dawkins or David Bakhtiari.

---

Patrick Paul Houston (6’7”, 333 lbs., 5th year Sr., 23 years old)
From Bleacher Report:

quote:

---

Patrick Paul is a four-year starting left tackle inside Houston's RPO-heavy, balanced (53-47 run-pass split), zone-based run scheme with a tall, high-cut frame, excellent arm length and good athletic ability.

Paul gets into trouble against effective stutters and hesitations, drifting and oversetting, but he can at least slow down inside moves with his length. He needs to work on keeping his pads down at the top of the quarterback's drop to maintain leverage and prevent falling off blocks late in the rush.

Overall, Paul still needs significant technique work to play with better leverage, control and sustain skills. But he has ideal length with starter-level athletic ability, play strength and a nasty demeanor that can be harnessed into a starting role within his first few seasons.

---