QBFS 2021 Big Board: The Offensive Lineman Edition

Well it is that time of the year, the most wonderful time of the year for draftnik's. Over the next few weeks we will be doing position by position big boards and analyzing the players. This will all culminate in the assembling of the first ever QBFS Top 100 big board.

In this edition of the QBFS big board we will be covering the foundation of a great offense, the offensive line. The saying says that games are won and lost in the trenches, that was never more apparent than in the Superbowl this past year when Kansas City’s banged up line was dominated by Tampa Bay’s front seven. The Bucs made Pat Mahomes look average in a rout that was decided by the “big uglies”. This draft is pretty deep, but there is only one transcendent level talent on the offensive line. Every year you see a late riser but with no combine, and limited attendance at pro-days don't expect to see much movement in these rankings. So without further ado, let's get into the unsung heroes of the offense.

1. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon, Jr

Sewell attracted the attention of scouts across the nation by his senior year of high school. The absolute mountain of a young man stood at 6’6 and 340 pounds, he bullied any and all competition and was rated as the top offensive guard prospect in the state of Utah. He was pursued by every blue chip football program in the country before committing to the Oregon Ducks. Due to his size and length he was moved to left tackle almost immediately, and started from his first day on campus. Despite missing six games due to injury as a freshman he was still named a Freshman All-American and made the all conference team.

He came back in his sophomore year even better, he trimmed 20 pounds and added tons of muscle to his frame. He was a tour de force, he didn't allow a single sack in Oregon’s 14 games, and didn't even allow a pressure or hurry in nine of those 14 games. He asserted his dominance in every single facet of the game helping Justin Herbert become a top 10 pick, and helping The Ducks run for over 177 yards per game. Sewell is one of the few offensive line prospects who is refined in both aspects of the game, pass blocking and run blocking

. Sewell has excellent get-off at the line of scrimmage as a run blocker, and he carries so much momentum into his blocks. There’s an expression for when an offensive lineman moves his defender called “taking a ride” well Sewell consistently takes his guy on road trips. Additionally, Sewell has otherworldly balance amidst contact. Some linemen take themselves out of plays if they can’t control their body, but Sewell is controlled and calculated; always looking for the next defender to hit.

Lots of Sewell’s elite run blocking traits also show themselves in the passing game. Just as Sewell carries exceptional balance as a run blocker, his balance and footwork as a pass blocker is exceptional. Sewell plays with unmatched leverage despite his 6’6 frame. His fast and powerful hands allow him to neutralize blockers on the outside. He displays surprising amounts of explosiveness and balance when recovering from an initial punch. There are several instances on tape where Sewell gets beat initially, then recovers with insane quickness and locks down his man again. He is a nearly perfect prospect and would have a shot at going number one in almost any other draft, but if you have to nitpick Sewell isn’t necessarily an elite athlete.

He doesn't have amazing straight line speed getting downfield on screens, and his hand fighting could stand to improve a bit; but overall he looks to be one of the best tackle prospects I have ever scouted and is a top 5 lock. When I look at Sewell I see Joe Thomas, a future Hall of Famer is one hell of a comp.

2.Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL/OT, USC, RS Jr.

Alijah Vera-Tucker is the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft, excelling at both guard and tackle. Unlike Sewell the 6’4 315lb Tucker didn't start right away at USC, he was actually considered to play defensive line when committing to The Trojans. Tucker waited two years to get his shot, but when he did he immediately showed why he was such a highly sought after recruit.

He started 13 games for USC at left guard and was rewarded with a first team all-conference nomination. His athleticism paired with his size  on the interior made him a matchup nightmare. He was able to bully defensive tackles heads up in power formations, while also pulling with exceptional speed on sweeps and draws. With Austin Jackson going to the NFL in the 2020 draft, Vera-Tucker filled the void at left tackle and USC never missed a beat. He displayed the same strength and athleticism as he did on the interior while holding down the blind side. He played so well over USC’s six games that he was on the All-American team and won the Morris award, given to the best trench player in the PAC-12.

Vera-Tucker is an athletic, strong, and smart offensive lineman. He shows great agility, getting out to the second level in the run game, while also moving well laterally in pass protection. He has exhibited great strength playing guard against interior defensive lineman, not allowing himself to be moved in pass protection, while also showing a “mauler” mentality in the run game. Vera-Tucker’s best fit in the NFL is probably at guard. He displayed a more natural fit at guard in college and it would better utilize his speed and agility. It is also due to his arms being on the shorter side and his footwork not always being as concise as you would like to see from a tackle. He could be Brandon Brooks level good as a guard in the pros if he reaches his full potential.

3. Rashawn Slater, OT, North Western, Sr.

Rashawn Slater is a scheme diverse and positional flexible prospect who should offer a little something to everyone depending on what specific needs and traits are prioritized for any given franchise. Slater, like many of these prospects, opted out this past season. Leaving a gap in his tape and leaving some scouts with question marks. Questions aside, there is tons to love about Slater.

His production in his final season at Northwestern was truly remarkable as he only gave up five pressures in 787 total snaps. That works out to about 0.64% of his snaps that year. If that sounds mind-blowing, consider Sewell allowed a pressure of 0.75% of his snaps; and Sewell didn't have to face Yetur Gross-Matos, AJ Epenesa, and Chase Young like Slater did. Slater is a great athlete and his mobility shows up the most in the run game. His ability to get off the line of scrimmage and move into the second level is extremely impressive.

The most impressive aspect of Slater’s game is his technique. He is extremely intelligent and understands how to use his hands and work the angles in order to win in pass protection. Slater’s mobility and technically sound hand usage make him a formidable match up for any defensive lineman. Now there has been some speculation about Slater possibly moving inside at the next level. He is only 6’3, doesn’t have the longest arms and does not have the pop in his punch you would like to see in your offensive tackle. He would be a very good tackle, but he has potential to be an elite guard in the NFL Given his quickness and strength, he could be a force to be reckoned with on the interior; while also having the experience and flexibility to move to the edge in a pinch.

Whoever drafts Slater, and wherever they play him will be getting a seasoned, intelligent and diverse football player who will be a starter for years to come. Slater compares well to Eric Fisher on the outside and Zach Martin on the inside.

4. Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas

Sam Cosmi looks more like a professional wrestler than an NFL tackle. Coming in at 6’7 with freakishly long arms he towers over a majority of his competition. Cosmi is a three year starter for the Longhorns and has shown tangible improvement in every year there. Putting the cherry on top of his illustrious career at Texas, he only allowed one quarterback hit and one sack earning himself first team Big 12 honors.

Cosmi is one of the most experienced and versatile linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has started 34 career games for the Longhorns. The majority of his starts were at left tackle, but 13 of them did come at right tackle. Although he projects to play left tackle in the NFL, there is no reason why he couldn’t start at right tackle immediately for a team before heading over to protect the blind side once he has honed his craft in the NFL.

As well as being versatile and experienced, Cosmi may be one of the more athletic offensive tackles in this class; and it shows up in the run and the pass. He shows excellent athleticism in the run game, bursting up field and hitting the first thing that crosses his face mask. It shows up in pass protection with how he can recover quickly from mistakes to ensure he isn’t beaten. He is one of the most well rounded prospects in the draft. At 6’7,” Cosmi has great size for the offensive tackle position. However, it isn’t just his height, but also his length, that makes him an attractive proposition. Smaller defensive ends will find it difficult to get a beat on him as he uses his long arms to easily keep them at bay. He could stand to add a little weight coming in just over 300 pounds at 6’7, but is plenty strong to withstand even the meanest power rush. Cosmi shows incredible football intelligence out on the field. He demonstrates a good understanding of angles, putting himself in a position to win whether in pass protection or blocking in the run game; and rarely is caught giving up a tell to the defense.

One of his downsides is that he often relies on his freakish size and athleticism rather than technical refinement to win. While he will be more physically imposing than most humans it will be harder to get by without technique in the NFL. The downside to being a 6’7 offensive tackle is that you naturally play with a high pad level. Although Cosmi’s long and powerful arms allow him to lock onto a defender, as the saying goes; “low man wins.” Cosmi’s frame and playing style reminds me of Saint OT Andrus Peat.

5. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Standing in at nearly 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds, Darrisaw has the type of size you love to see out of an NFL tackle. Darrisaw broke into the starting lineup in 2018, and over three seasons, he became a stalwart at left tackle for the Hokies. Darrisaw has improved every year as a starter.  and his skill set earned the attention of NFL scouts. He has the physical talent and attributes to be an early-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft some even projecting him to go in the top 25.

As a pass protector Darrisaw has a lot of qualities that NFL teams look for in starting tackles. He has good size, length, and athleticism to block on the edge. Darrisaw is quick out his stance to get in position to pick up edge rushers, and his size makes it tough for defenders to get around him. Thanks to Darrisaw's quality hand placement and great arm length, edge rushers struggle to avoid contact with him. Once he gets a hand on his matchup, it is hard for them to shake Darrisaw. The skill/size combo sets him up to win a lot of his assignments quickly, allowing him to help out on any potential delayed blitzers. Darrisaw has a quick first step and has good reflexes. With his agility and movement skills, Darrisaw has the ability to neutralize speed rushers off the edge.

Darrisaw is solid but unspectacular as a run blocker. He uses his big body to tie up defenders and lean on them, but he does not appear to have the aggressiveness required to play in a power run scheme. Darrisaw is more of the type to turn defenders and tie them up from getting to the ball-carrier, rather than knocking them off the ball. While he can improve his technique, having a lack of a mean streak is extremely concerning in the NFL. He is more content with blocking his assignment out of the play as opposed to finishing his blocks all the way through, which has resulted in quite a few plays where big gains were stopped on a second effort by his assignment. At his best he can be a Laremy Tunsil or Russell Okung type of player. Both of them are supremely gifted but lack the aggressiveness on an every down basis.

6. Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan,

Jalen Mayfield checks a lot of the boxes that scouts want to see when it comes to physical traits. Mayfield comes in at 6’5 315 pounds, and it is all muscle. He is built like a freight train and has shockingly quick feet, allowing him to assert his dominance in the run game. He is a two year starter for the Wolverines, and his sophomore season in 2019 really signaled his arrival as a legit prospect.

He faced off and held his own in the pass game against Shaka Toney, Yetur Gross-Matos, Chase Young and AJ Epenesa. Mayfield has the skill set to be a starter at the NFL thanks to having quality size, athleticism and quickness. In pass protection, he has enough quickness and athleticism on the edge to hold his own against speed rushers. While he is not an elite athlete or especially fast, Mayfield is quick out of his stance and always seems to have good position against defenders. When taking on bullrushes, Mayfield gives up a little ground, but his raw strength and power keep him from getting pushed into the quarterback. Mayfield uses solid technique to get good depth in his drop and is able to play the typewriter with his feet to mirror speed rushers. Mayfield possesses quality feet, and while they're not elite, they're above average.

In the ground game, Mayfield is a solid contributor at the point of attack. He is a smart football player who is dependable to execute his assignment. He has the strength to control, turn and manipulate defenders at the point of attack, while also having the ability to hit blocks on the second level and kick out to the perimeter. He has a mean streak in him that you love to see in the run game. He consistently blocks through the whistle and sustains his blocks. There are aspects of Mayfield's game that need improvement. At times he lets his aggressiveness get the best of him and he will lunge after defenders causing him to whiff. He can also be a bit too dependent on his natural strength and get caught off guard by a bull rush, it won't be as easy to recover against NFL edge rushers.

If he can clean up his technique while maintaining his mean streak he can become a very good tackle for a team. He compares fairly well to Taylor Lewan.

7. Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State

Six players into the big board and we finally get our first pure guard. Wyatt Davis is the cream of the crop in a not so great draft for guards. The big fella from Ohio State comes in at 6’4 315lbs, a little tall for a guard but he plays low and behind his pads. Davis, like many prospects, skipped the shortened 2020 season so he doesn't have any game tape from this past year. He earned a starting spot on Ohio State's offensive line as a redshirt sophomore and put together a strong debut. He did a good job of opening a lot of holes to produce a prolific season on the ground for Ohio State in 2018. Davis had some issues in pass protection early in the 2019 season, but the junior improved as the year progressed.

In the ground game, Davis is a tough blocker who has the ability to bully defenders in space and create gaping running lanes. Davis fires off the ball and has the power to blow defenders backward and push them out of their gaps. Davis brings an attitude to the field and blocks through the whistle, looking to punish defenders on every snap. He has heavy hands that punch with purpose and does a good job of sustaining blocks to prevent second efforts. For short-yardage and goal-line situations, Davis is a real asset using his powerful frame to move defenders off of their spot.

Davis could use some refinement in pass protection, he is not a natural and can get worked over by a speed rush. In the run he can occasionally lunge, especially when facing linebackers in space; which can cause him to lose his feet. He should be able to fix the issues in the run with more coaching, but his issues in the pass game could be a concern. When I see Davis play it reminds me of Davin Joseph.

8. Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama

The first center of our big board is Landon Dickerson from Alabama. The only thing keeping him from being higher on the board is his very concerning injury history. He is a natural talent and when healthy is undoubtedly the best center in the nation. Dickerson started out his career at Florida State and looked poised to be a good player for the Seminoles. He started seven games for them in 2016 before a knee injury ended that season. Another injury took him out of 2017, and he played in one game in 2018 before an ankle injury ended that year.

Dickerson received a medical redshirt for that season while transferring to Alabama. He ended up earning the starting center position for the Tide in 2019 and played like the best center in the country. In the 2020 SEC Championship versus Florida, Dickerson tore an ACL, ending his senior year and preventing him from participating in the College Football Playoff games and the Senior Bowl. It is a shame he has been so mired by injury, otherwise he would be a first round lock.

Dickerson is rock solid in pass protection. He has great fundamentals that make him a very technically sound blocker. He bends at the knee, stays low, can handle even the biggest of nose tackles one on one and is very good hitting combo blocks with guards. Dickerson is not the fastest or most athletic guy, nobody will mistake him for Jason Kelce but his athletic shortcomings are masked by his intelligence and his technique. Dickerson's top notch technique also serves him well as a  run blocker. He excels even though he lacks the heavy hands and raw power to man handle defenders. While Dickerson struggles to maul bigger defensive tackles off the ball, he beats them to spots and he ties them up with excellent hand placement.  Dickerson can get out in space and is adept at getting to his defender on the second level. There is a lot of concern surrounding his injuries and what type of effect they will have on his already limited athleticism, but that is his biggest knock. If a team is willing to take a chance on him and he can stay out of injury trouble he could become a top level center in the NFL. He compares well to Alex Mack.

9. Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Eichenberg was a three year starter for The Fighting Irish, stepping in to replace Mike McGlinchey after he was drafted in 2018. He started off slow after taking the reins at left tackle but once he settled into his spot he became a stalwart on Notre Dame’s offensive line. He was steady throughout his first two years but really broke out in 2020, helping his team reach the college football playoffs without surrendering a single sack.

As a run blocker, Eichenberg is solid but not a bulldozer. He lacks elite strength but makes up for it with good technique. Eichenberg is a scrapper who ties up defenders and turns them away from getting in on tackles. While he is not a power run blocker, he does a good job getting downfield or to the perimeter and is effective at hitting blocks on linebackers and safeties at the second level. In pass protection, Eichenberg has solid feet and quickness to cut off edge rushers. He’s got a nice ability to bend at the knee, in combination with his smooth footwork, he can hold his own against most speed rushers. Sometimes he overcompensates for his lack of strength, but generally Eichenberg shows good technique.

Eichenberg does not have the strength or the weight you would want to see at tackle in the NFL so he could stand to hit the weight room. He can get taken for rides by power rushes, his excellent technique will only take him so far against one of the Bosa brothers or Khalil Mack; so adding strength and good weight will serve to help him out. He can  be a little less aggressive than you would like in the run game, and defenders have gotten second effort tackles on quite a few occasions. He will occasionally set up a little too deep and get burned on an inside move but that can easily be coached out of him.

All in all Eichenberg does not project to be a perennial pro bowler, but he can be a very steady tackle for an NFL team who might sneak into one or two pro bowls throughout his career. He reminds me of a slightly less polished version of his predecessor at Notre Dame, Mike McGlinchey.

10. Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

Alex Leatherwood is another offensive lineman from the factory that is The Crimson Tide. As a sophomore in 2018 he was on the interior playing the season at right guard. In 2019 he kicked out to the left tackle position and has been as steady as anyone in the nation, winning the Outland trophy this past season. NFL teams are always looking for potential elite left tackles. It can be very difficult to find players with Leatherwood's natural size and athleticism, so the physical traits make him an intriguing prospect for the pass happy NFL game.

Leatherwood has been one of the most effective pass blockers throughout his three years as a starter. His size and length are ideal, making defenders really struggle to get around him. On top of his sheer size, Leatherwood has special burst and athleticism. He has nimble feet for a man of his size and is able to get depth in his drop to cut off the corner. That quickness combined with his arm length make it a tall task for any defender to beat him to the outside. His bulk at over 330 pounds, allows him to set his feet and stop bull rushes while giving up minimal ground. Leatherwood is consistent and reliable in pass protection and needs minimal polish to translate that part of his game to the next level.

Despite Leatherwood’s size he is not nearly as imposing in the run game. Whether it is from a lack of aggressiveness or a lack of strength, he struggles when the time calls for him to get nasty and knock defenders off the ball. Leatherwood is not a bull in the ground game who will push defensive linemen around and drive defenders back. He can be a bit of a liability in short yardage situations when you really need that push, and the Tide consistently ran away from his side in goal to go situations.

Leatherwood being so far down the list is based on him being heavily scheme dependent. He is one of the best athletes in the draft when it comes to the trenches, but he is a niche type player. For a pass happy team that employs a zone blocking scheme in the run, he could be a great piece on their line; but he is not the plug and play prospect the way some of his peers are. If Leatherwood can reach his full potential he could be a Trent Brown level starter.