NFL Draft Hot Takes: Stanford OT Andrus Peat
One of the biggest anomalies in the 2015 NFL Draft is Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, whom nobody really seems to know where to appropriately slot in their rankings. Is he the best tackle in the draft? Is he somewhere in the middle?
Is he a top 10 pick, or will he fall to the bottom of the first round?
Depending who you ask, the answer to all these questions is ‘yes’ so we need to dig a little deeper and get some of the hottest takes possible on one of the best linemen in this year’s draft. We need answers, so let’s create them together on this Andrus Peat edition of NFL Draft Hot Takes.
First of all, Andrus Peat is a massive human being. You can see in the measurables above a physical comparison to Anthony Castonzo of the Indianapolis Colts, and unlike some of those comparisons that might turn out to be somewhat prophetic.
When I watch Peat play, his length and size are evident in his dominance over defensive linemen. He’s able to use his length to keep defenders locked far enough away from his body that they have no chance of getting to the quarterback, but then there are times where he will lose discipline in his technique and allow speed rushers to blaze by.
Those times aren’t overly frequent, but they will be addressed by an NFL offensive line coach, nevertheless.
Peat does a really good job in the running game, and despite his ‘leaner’ frame at 6-foot-7, he is a mauler, a punisher and plays with a nastiness that you don’t always see out of guys with his physical gifts. He does a good job of keeping his hands inside in pass sets and in run blocking, but what I like most about him is the aggressiveness with which he seeks out his assignment, especially getting to the second level.
It’s not difficult to come to a determination that this guy looks like a top flight tackle prospect, but is he best fit on the right or left side? I think he can play either if an NFL team wanted him to do one or the other. He looks like the type of player right now that could step into any NFL offense and start, so why is he not being hyped like a Greg Robinson from last year? Does a ‘fast’ 40-yard dash for a lineman really mean that much?
Despite Robinson’s straight line speed, he didn’t even play tackle as a rookie, which isn’t the end-all, but it’s pretty telling. For a position of paramount importance as, say, left tackle, a guy like Peat should be in the highest of demand, right?
Maybe not.
READ OUR SCOUTING REPORT OF ANDRUS PEAT HERE
I was reading my NFL Draft magazine from Pro Football Weekly, as has been mentioned in previous Hot Takes articles, and their opinion was that Peat was specifically a better prospect than Robinson and should be drafted as such.
And still, we find ourselves with the same determination — there is no consensus about this kid, one way or another.
Is it because of what guys like Jonathan Martin and other Stanford tackles have ‘failed’ to do in the NFL that has teams cooled off on Peat? Is it because he doesn’t project well to guard or tackle like Robinson or even Brandon Scherff from this year’s draft?
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, one of the best evaluators of linemen out there, had this to say about Peat.
“Big and powerful with a right tackle’s play strength and demeanor, but enough foot quickness to protect on the left side. Peat has the physical tools to be an upper-echelon run blocker with pass-protection ability, but he needs to improve his technique in order to protect with consistency. Peat has been well-coached and is one of the most game-ready offensive linemen in this year’s draft.”
I asked my cohorts on staff at NFL Mocks to sound off on Peat, and as fate would have it, reviews were largely mixed.
Nate Williams: “To be honest, I’m not entirely sold on Andrus Peat at the professional level and I have him as the sixth best tackle on my board. He’s a mountain so it’s hard to dislike him but, he needs to mature physically and get in much better shape. Hopefully the NFL conditioning program lean him out as necessary, and re-compose his physique for the pro rigors.”
Charles McDonald: “I’m lukewarm on Andrus Peat, but it’s hard to dispute the tools he brings on the next level. He’s a massive left tackle and what’s most impressive about him is his recovery ability to hold up on the edge. Sometimes he’ll get beat off the snap, but he shows the athletic ability to recover against speed and power rushers. My biggest problem was with him in the run game. He shows “pillow hands” in the run game at times and struggles to gain movement against more physical opponents. I have a late first round grade on him, but I think a team will fall in love with his tools and pick him earlier than that.”
Erik Lambert: “I think I’m in the minority here but I have a high regard for Andrus Peat. He has all the tools: size, feet, length and power. Goes to Stanford so you know he’s smart. What really got me on his side though is the fact he’s just 20-years old. He’s still just a kid and has so much growing to do. Once he really starts to mature, I think everything will fall into place and he’ll be a perennial Pro Bowler.”
Tyler Morales: “Peat is a massive and strong tackle. He possess all the physical tools you’d want in an offensive linemen. He can physically overmatch defenders and is powerful enough to drive anybody off the line. My only issue is that edge rushers seem to cause him a lot of trouble. Like Erik said, once he matures I think he can be a stud and turn into a consistent pro bowler. I have him as a late round selection who can help a good team become even better.”
Joe Wedra: “Andrus Peat is, in a word, tricky. He does some impressive things on tape, but I worry about his size and overall ability to play the NFL level. He has a lot of things you like in your typical NFL tackle but certainly fails to impress is a “first round pick”. He could be taken due to need, but I think a Day Two selection is much more likely.”
Jonah Tuls: “I’m not the highest on Peat, but I do think he possesses some physical tools that can’t be found in just anybody. For how massive he is, his technique is fairly sound. But on the other hand, he doesn’t necessarily take advantage of his massive frame. He doesn’t play with violent hands like I’d want him to. All in all, he is a late 1st/early 2nd on my board and I believe he will go much earlier because of the physical tools he possesses”
No matter what team selects Andrus Peat, I feel like they’re going to be getting a guy that can plug-and-play as a rookie and as this 1,200 word count post full of the hottest takes around exemplifies, I think we might be overanalyzing someone who’s just a good player. He’s not Joe Thomas, but he’s a good player that’s going to help a team.
And in the draft, that’s all you really have to care about.