OT Scouting Reports - 2023

Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis
The 2023 OT class is one of the deepest groups of top-level talent available at any position in the draft. And there are potentially more than a dozen quality OT prospects available in April’s draft, led by Peter Skoronski (Northwestern), Darnell Wright (Tennessee), Broderick Jones (Georgia), Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse), Cody Mauch (North Dakota State), Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones (Ohio State), and Ryan Hayes (Michigan).
Positional Grade: A-
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
6040 / 313 / 32.2” Arms
Good size but may lack some length. Demonstrates effective movement skills – being utilized pulling from OLT. Good aggressiveness and is effective blocking on the second level. Excellent feet. Nice punch placement – consistent technique but may lack some power and shock in his hands. Plays balanced and under control. Natural knee bender. Excellent technique. Dominates at times – neutralized Nebraska’s Edge Rushers throughout the game (8/27/22) and is a dependable and reliable blindside pass protector. Most complete OL available in April's draft.
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

Player Comparison:
Jonah Williams, Cincinnati
Dawand Jones, Ohio State

Player Comparison:
Orlando Brown, Cincinnati
Dawand Jones, Ohio State
6082 / 374 / 11.5” Hands / 36.7” Arms / 87.7” Wingspan
Massive man with extraordinary length, mass, and size. Incredible reach – when he locks out, it’s over. Strong and can manhandle opposing lineman. Natural knee bender but will play too high when tired. Surprisingly mobile and light on his feet – effective out to the second level. Mirror and slides well and moves his feet to ride defenders wide of the QB. Established a record for largest wingspan of any player ever measured at the Senior Bowl. For perspective, that is the same wingspan as LA Lakers center Anthony Davis!
Blake Freeland, BYU
6080 / 302 / 33.7” Arms
Outstanding height and length with grapevines for arms. Could add some mass due to his height. Plays with a wide base – balanced and under control. Quick out of his stance and shows the ability to work out to the second level. Natural knee bender and plays with leverage. Very good athlete who has the athleticism and length to match up with speed on the edge. Nice mirror and slide. Good balance with a wide base. Nice leverage – maintains it through the rep. Shoots hands quickly but needs to develop accuracy. Lacks power in his game and needs continued strength development but looks like a long-term, starting OLT in the NFL.
Blake Freeland, BYU

Player Comparison:
Brian O'Neill, Minnesota
Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

Player Comparison:
Laremy Tunsil, Houston
Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
6060 / 306 / 33” Arms
Prototypical size and length – looks the part of an NFL blindside protector. Long arms. Powerful hands and can control the defender with his mitts but placement is imprecise and often ineffective. Strong drive blocker who can effectively block out to the second level and sit and neutralize the bull rush. Naturally athletic and moves smoothly but sometimes over extends and can be beaten across his face by power or speed. Needs to play hard from whistle to whistle – sometimes loses focus and gives up on a block prematurely. Too passive on some pass sets and allows the Edge to set the tone – allowing pressure on the pocket. Needs to finish plays better and display more of a mean streak. Can be beaten by speed when he stops moving his feet – which happens too often. Needs to stay low – tends to stand up when facing speed. When he plays too straight legged, he is susceptible to both speed and power. When he shoots his hand with purpose, he is much more effective. Can sink his hips and neutralize the bull rush. Athletic enough to neutralize speed on the edge – when his technique is sound. Raw skills and athletic ability to be developed but is not as far along as hoped regarding technique and playing with required nastiness.
Ryan Hayes, Michigan
6060 / 298 / 32.4” Arms
Good size with adequate length. Plays with great knee bend and mirrors and slides well on the edge. Fundamental are solid and plays with good awareness and football IQ. Got put on skates in one Senior Bowl drill and flattened on another rep vs ND Edge Isaiah Foskey – needs to use hands better to protect chest. Handled Army Edge Andre Carter well by playing balanced and under control. Lacks some upper body strength and can be beaten with power – is susceptible to a strong bull rush. Sometimes plays too passively giving Edge Rushers an angle. When balanced, is very difficult to beat with speed.
Ryan Hayes, Michigan

Player Comparison:
Kolton Miller, Las Vegas
Broderick Jones / Georgia

Player Comparison:
Trent Williams, San Francisco
Broderick Jones / Georgia
6053 / 311 / 34.6” Hands / 82.6” Arms
Prototypical size, length, strength, and athleticism for a blindside protector. Displays excellent knee bend, a wide base, and balance. Mirror and slides extremely well and can adjust to games and blitzes in his area of responsibility easily. Shoots hands with purpose and force and can control opposing lineman with tremendous grip strength. Naturally powerful and when he locks out, it’s typically over for the defender. Athletic enough to lead on sweeps and outside runs. Demonstrates a “play to the echo of the whistle” mindset that the OL coaches will love. Needs to keep his eyes on the target – he has a tendency to drop his head on contact as he gets low and secures the block. This makes him more susceptible to counters and games at the NFL level. Has 15 games of starting experience in the SEC in 2022 and the lack of starting experience may be the biggest concern about Jones. But he has excelled throughout the 2022 season and he has tremendous upside as an NFL OLT.
John Ojukwu, Boise State
6060 / 309 / 10.6” Hands / 34” Arms
Good size, length, and wingspan for an OT. Fires out of his stance and displays quick twitch reaction skills. Physical and excels in the run game. Demonstrates a mean streak and toughness in the run game. Easily gets out to the second level, identifies, and engages the targeted defender. Better moving forward than backwards, displays choppy steps, and struggles to mirror and slide against speed. Strong hands that he utilizes well to control the defender. Very experienced and durable with 46 career starts. May project best inside in the NFL. Better as a run defender than in pass protection but has a skill set worth developing.
John Ojukwu, Boise State

Player Comparison:
Sam Ehlinger, Indianapolis
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State

Player Comparison:
Michael Onwenu, New England
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
6050 / 302 / 32.3” Arms
Good overall length and size. Former walk-on TE. Plays OLT for the Bison. Displays quick twitch explosiveness on run plays and controls and locks out his defender. Athletic and mobile enough to effectively reach and seal at the second level. Tends to bend at the waist, negating some power. Can mirror and slide well enough to possibly play OLT at the next level. Physical and displays a mean streak to finish plays. May project best to guard in the NFL. Very feisty and adept at hand fighting. Very good leverage and balance. Looked comfortable at center, guard, and tackle. Versatility is a strength. Excels at hand fighting and shoots hands with intent. Plays with a wide base and stays square to the defender. Fundamentally solid and well coached. Only had given up 2 sacks in 836 drop backs in his career in Fargo.
Anton Harrison / Oklahoma
6040 / 315 / 34.1” Arms
Looks the part of an NFL OLT with height, mass, and length desired at the position. Very strong player who anchors effectively against power. Does not play with optimal knee bend and his balance sometimes suffers as a result. Uses length well to neutralize speed off the edge. Mirror and slides well – hard to beat to his outside shoulder. Very good kick-slide and handles speed well. Susceptible to counters due to balance issues. Plays with a mean streak and goes after the defender with a nasty disposition. Should be able to man either OT spot in the NFL. Starter potential.
Anton Harrison / Oklahoma

Player Comparison:
Penei Sewell, Detroit
Darnell Wright, Tennessee

Player Comparison:
Cam Robinson, Jacksonville
Darnell Wright, Tennessee
6050 / 333 / 33.6” Arms
Excellent size and length with good mass throughout his body. Has experience playing both OT spots but seems better suited to the right side of the line. Strong grip and accurate placement of hands – shoots hands with power and purpose. Mirror and slides effortlessly. Nimble and athletic and handles edge speed well. Strong and anchors effectively against the bull rush.
Paris Johnson, Ohio State
6063 / 313 / 36.1” Arms
Excellent size and length – very long arms. Solid lateral agility and ability to mirror and slide the opposing defender. Strong. Effective jab. Tremendous athlete and moves like a TE in space. Plays with good balance and reacts well to games and movement across his face. Displays a Pro Bowl skill set and looks like a long-term NFL starter.
Paris Johnson, Ohio State

Player Comparison:
Lane Johnson, Philadelphia
Braeden Daniels, Utah

Player Comparison:
Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Braeden Daniels, Utah
6040 / 294 / 33” Arms
Excellent build with solid overall length. Smooth and fluid athlete who mirrors and slides well to negate both speed and power. Needs continued development in hand placement and using a more effective jab. Tends to catch too much in pass protection and needs to be more physical. Smart and aware to games and stunts being deployed by the defense. Could be a long-term starter at OLT or OG and has an athletic skill set worth developing.
Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
6050 / 318 / 33.6” Arms
Good overall size and length. Mirror and slides well against speed. Moves naturally and easily, even out to the second level. Plays balanced and under control. Shoots hands effectively and controls the defender with strong hands. Plays with good knee bend and uses leverage effectively in his game. Well coached, smart player. Light feet and excellent ability to mirror and slide. Understands protection concepts and executes them as designed.
Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse

Player Comparison:
Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota
Dalton Wagner, Arkansas

Player Comparison:
Teven Jenkins, Chicago
Dalton Wagner, Arkansas
6080 / 320 / 10.1” Hands / 34.3” Arms
Excellent size with prototypical height and length for an OT. Plays with good knee bend and plays balanced and under control. Plays alert and is assignment sound manning the right side for years in Fayetteville. Can mirror and slide but struggles the further the pass set. Needs to improve finishing ability – too often doesn’t dominate despite size, preferring to settle for stalemates.
Alex Palczewski, Illinois
6061 / 318 / 33.3” Arms
Good height and overall length. Tough and physical. Marginal movement skills for OT but has the mean streak and toughness to play in the NFL. Strong and handles power well. Is challenged by speed or movement. NFL future is most likely at guard. 65 career starts for the Illini – durable, dependable, tough, and reliable.
Alex Palczewski, Illinois

Player Comparison:
Mitchell Schwartz, retired NFL player
Connor Galvin, Baylor

Player Comparison:
Spencer Brown, Buffalo
Connor Galvin, Baylor
6070 / 293 / 32.3” Arms
Excellent size and length with grapevines for arms. Very good athlete and can work to the second level effectively. Plays with a solid anchor and can withstand a bull rush. Very good ability to mirror and slide and negate speed on the edge although he struggles the farther he is required to move. Extends, locks outs, and controls defenders with an effective punch.
Tyler Steen, Alabama
6060 / 321 / 32.6” Arms
Transfer from Vanderbilt. Excellent combination of size and length. Plays balanced and under control. Has a wide base and great natural bend. Mirror and slides well and matches up well with speed. Good power and technique effectively negates bull rushes. Light on his feet and adjusts to movement well – remained balanced while handling the speed, and spin move, of Iowa State’s McDonald during the Senior Bowl.
Tyler Steen, Alabama
