Mike's Second Take on the OT position ...
Who's stock has risen and why?
Walker Little, Stanford (6-8, 313 lbs.) - Little needed to re-establish himself as a prospect at Stanford's Pro Day, given how infrequently he's been on football fields in recent seasons. Little has played 72 snaps since the conclusion of the 2018 season (he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2019 season opener, opted out in 2020 and declined an invitation to the Senior Bowl, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic). So it was significant, in NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah's estimation, that Little "moved really well."
So are the position Little plays, his physical skill set and the program from which he's transitioning.
"In a league where we are starved to find offensive linemen, you've got a big, smart, tough guy who has a chance to be a solid player," Jeremiah assessed.
Little only played 22 career games at Stanford.
He ran unofficial times of 5.28 and 5.26 in the 40-yard dash at Stanford's Pro Day.
Brugler said Little had been "an NFL prospect on the rise as a sophomore in 2018."
The arrow is apparently pointing up again.
"Overall, Little lost two years of development and his core strength and timing issues need to be addressed before he is ready for NFL snaps," Brugler concluded. "But his balanced athleticism and smarts are attractive traits."
Other Notes: Alabama left offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood (6-4, 312 lbs.) might be better suited to play guard in the NFL. The 2020 Outland Trophy winner has had a relatively unremarkable pre-draft season, but NFL Network analyst and former NFL general manager and personnel executive Scott Pioli maintained Leatherwood has been well-coached at Alabama. Such is the level of respect Pioli has for the tough program run by former Crimson Tide offensive line coach Kyle Flood, who is now at Texas after two seasons at Alabama. "These guys are battle-tested," Pioli said. "These guys that come out of Alabama are usually mentally and emotionally ready to take on grown men on the other side of the ball." … BYU's Brady Christensen (6-52/8, 302 lbs.) had a "huge" Pro Day according to Jeremiah. Brugler projects Christensen as a second- or third-round pick. Jeremiah described Christensen as "athletic and nasty," and as a player who "jumps guys" in pass protection … East Carolina's D'Ante Smith (6-53/8, 305 lbs.) impressed Jeremiah as a prospect that's also capable of playing an interior offensive line position. Jeremiah cited Smith's "tremendous length" and assessed him overall as "a good football player" … Miami's Tommy Doyle (6-8, 320 lbs.) is a "raw, developmental offensive tackle," according to Jeremiah. Doyle is "quick out of his stance, good in the run game and nasty," Jeremiah said.
Mike's First Take on the OT position ...
#5 - Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame (6-5, 305 lbs.) - Eichenberg made every start at left tackle for the Fighting Irish over the last three seasons, and that's a position at which three first-round picks have been groomed in succession (Zach Martin, 2010-13; Ronnie Stanley, 2014-15; and Mike McGlinchey, 2016-17). So, in theory, at least, if you can make it for Brian Kelly there, you can make it anywhere. Or, at the very least, you can make it in Dallas (Martin went16th overall in 2014), Baltimore (Stanley was taken sixth overall in 2016) or San Francisco (McGlinchey was the ninth-overall pick in 2018). Eichenberg doesn't have quite the same pedigree, so the first-round streak may be in jeopardy. But Eichenberg's status as a highly-regarded prospect is not in question.
#4 - Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State (6-6 1/2, 320 lbs.) - It's in dispute in some circles as to whether Jenkins is better at run blocking or pass protection, and as to whether he's better on the left or right side. There are no such differences of opinion regarding Jenkins' strength. His head coach at Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy, has called Jenkins "uncharacteristically strong." Gundy has also spoken of watching Jenkins in the weight room, specifically on the bench press. "I think he hit 225 (pounds) like 35 times and they weren't even counting," Gundy has offered. "I mean, he was just doing it."
#3 - Rashawn Slater, Northwestern (6-4, 308 lbs.) - Slater opted out of the 2020 season but after the job he did against eventual No. 2-overall pick Chase Young the previous season, Slater might have done enough in 2019. His relative lack of length isn't ideal for tackle but Slater has the footwork to make up for it. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein has maintained Slater's combination of strength, athletic ability and quick processing should make him one of the safer offensive line picks in this draft and an early starter for the team that drafts him.
#2 - Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech (6-5, 314 lbs.) - Darrisaw was lightly regarded coming out of high school and went to a prep school before eventually landing at Virginia Tech. The three-year starter is no longer lightly regarded. "The thing that gives him a chance to be special is that he's so very intelligent," Hokies head coach Justin Fuente has said. "He just has a really good understanding of what we're trying to accomplish." Big, strong, athletic and smart. Check, check, check and check. Darrisaw is also dedicated to his craft. Rather than opt out in 2020, he used the season to cement his status as a first-round prospect. Mission accomplished.
#1 - Penei Sewell, Oregon (6-6, 330 lbs.) - Whoever hangs those thought-provoking banners in the upper deck at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati has been thinking about Sewell for a while now, at least since back in December ("Penei For Ur Thoughts"). Fifth overall wouldn't be too high for this guy. Sewell is a massive, hulking presence, and yet he does some of his best work on the move. He won the Outland Trophy the last time he played in 2019. He was a sophomore at Oregon at the time. Sewell has the look of a player who's already a Top 10-caliber selection and one who's going to continue getting better.
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