The quarterbacks and skill position player rankings are out, and now it is time to move on to the “big uglies”. The offensive line rankings start this week, and that begins with the offensive tackles. This is a deep and talented group, offering a multitude of options in the first round and through the first two days of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Take a look below as I rank the top-10 of the OT class for the 2021 NFL Draft, showcasing why this may be the strongest of the OL groups available. Teams always need protection up front, and the offensive tackles available in this cycle could provide stability on offense for years to come.
Penei Sewell top OT of 2021 NFL Draft
As a former top recruit and menacing presence at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Penei Sewell has dominated defenders on his way to top prospect status in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is an outstanding prospect and one that offers elite run-blocking ability with the ability to anchor on the left side for the next decade.
Like many others in 2020, Sewell opted to forgo this past college season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft early. Despite the abbreviated career in Oregon, Sewell has plenty of fan-fare as a complete player and instant starter at the NFL level. He could be in play as early as the third pick to the Miami Dolphins.
2. Christian Darrisaw – Virginia Tech
There is much debate among experts about the number two offensive tackle prospect behind Oregon’s Sewell. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater was considered here, but I gave the nod to Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw as the number two OT. He has the size and strength to start right away and should hear his name called early on day one of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Darrisaw really improved his draft stock this season, anchoring an impressive running game for the Hokies that finished top-10 in yards-per-game. He’s a top ten-caliber player that will start right away and anchor for the next ten years outside. Darrisaw was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech. He is a great technician for the position with true franchise left tackle potential.
3. Rashawn Slater – Northwestern
As I mentioned previously, Rashawn Slater is another top prospect at the OT position, with the likelihood of becoming a top-15 or even top-10 pick. At 6-foot-4, he is one of the shorter players outside but has the long arms and intelligence to be an effective offensive tackle at the next level.
Slater is scheme-diverse and could also slide inside to guard for an NFL club. This type of versatility will factor into the decision on where Slater is drafted in April. Just like Darrisaw and Sewell before him, Slater should become a day-one starter for an NFL club in 2021.
4. Jalen Mayfield – Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines were a major disappointment in the Big Ten during a shortened 2020 college season. One player that did not disappoint fans was left tackle starter, Jalen Mayfield. The 6-foot-5 redshirt-sophomore has held his own as a starter the past two seasons against some elite pass rushers in the Big Ten.
Mayfield has proven his ability time and time again as a future first-rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has a look of a future Pro Bowler at right tackle but could step in on the left side as well. Mayfield is extremely strong and moves very well for his size, guaranteeing himself a spot late in the first round.
5. Samuel Cosmi – Texas
Cosmi is another in the long list of first round-worthy offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft. The former junior for the Longhorns should start as a right tackle for the next decade in the NFL. He is a very smart player with good length and the perfect size for the position.
He has been a mainstay on the Longhorns’ offensive line, starting for the past three seasons and anchoring up front for quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Because of his lack of elite strength and movement skills, Cosmi could drop to the end of the first round. However, he has a bright future outside for an NFL club.
6. Teven Jenkins – Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins is the last of the first-round prospects at the OT position. And while I have him listed below both Cosmi and Mayfield, there is a distinct possibility he comes off the board first. He has experience at both OG and OT at the college level and carries considerable upside and experience into the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jenkins plays with great balance, footwork, and power for the position, and that will serve him well as we get closer to April. He does not have the desired arm length to play on the outside, which could force him inside eventually. If an NFL team deems him worthy to stick outside, he could become a top-20 pick.
7. Liam Eichenberg – Notre Dame
One team with a tremendous track record of NFL OT talent is the University of Notre Dame. Liam Eichenberg is the next in a long line of great OT and OL talents that includes guys like Mike McGlinchey, Quenton Nelson, Ronnie Stanley, and Zack Martin.
Eichenberg considered the 2020 NFL Draft before returning for the 2020-2021 college season. He has great size and looks like a future RT, with the ability to slide to the left side in a pinch. He needs work as a pass blocker, but he should contribute in the run game right away. Eichenberg’s upside isn’t quite as high as others on the list, but his pedigree and experience should get him drafted no later than the second round.
8. Alex Leatherwood – Alabama
Another former top recruit turned top NFL prospect, Alex Leatherwood has been a starter since stepping foot on campus in Tuscaloosa. Entering the 2020 season, Leatherwood looked like a potential first-rounder. However, a lack of overall athleticism could push him into the second frame.
Leatherwood is a massive human being and a great run blocker at the OT position. He helped pave the way for star RB Najee Harris and the Tide on their way to another National Championship win. The road-grading prospect from Alabama could end up with a career similar to former Alabama counterpart, D.J. Fluker.
9. Dillon Radunz – North Dakota State
The North Dakota State Bison have been extremely successful at the NCAA Division I FCS level for a long time. And a big part of their recent success can be attributed to their offense and players like OT Dillon Radunz. The ascending prospect performed well this season and continued that with a strong showing in the Senior Bowl.
Radunz carries considerable upside heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. He has the perfect size and length for a projected NFL left tackle. He’s more of an unknown than the rest of the players on this list but could end up among the best at the position in a few years. Radunz is squarely in the second-round mix as we get closer to April.
10. Jackson Carman – Clemson
The Clemson Tigers entered the 2020 college season with a slew of NFL hopefuls and tremendous talent all around. One of those players is standout OT, Jackson Carman. The versatile Trevor Lawrence protector made starts on both the right and left sides during his time with the Tigers.
While he didn’t perform at the elite level some expected, Carman should hear his name called before the end of the second day. He’s projected to start on the right side at first but could see time on the blindside in the right system. Carman has the size to be successful in a power-blocking scheme right away at either RT or even the OG position.