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2020 NFL Draft: Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland drawing first round hype

By Sayre Bedinger

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Ezra Cleveland #76 of the Boise State Broncos runs on the field before the start of the Las Vegas Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Ezra Cleveland #76 of the Boise State Broncos runs on the field before the start of the Las Vegas Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland is one of many at his position who could be selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Every time you turn the page on the 2020 NFL Draft offensive line class, you find another guy who looks like a future starter in the NFL, and you find them at just about every position up front.

I’ve been here at NFL Mocks since 2011, and I have not seen an offensive line class as deep and strong at the top as the 2020 NFL Draft class is.

One player who isn’t getting talked about enough is Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland, a left tackle prospect who has emerged as a possible first-round player in recent weeks. Cleveland is an early entrant in the 2020 NFL Draft and he’s not just leaving Boise State because he’s sick of being there.

This guy is being coveted by NFL teams.

Cleveland is already hovering in or around the top 50 of some big boards out there, but Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network says that he’s heard multiple times in recent weeks that Cleveland is sneaking his way into the first round conversation.

The 6-foot-6 Cleveland was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2018 and 2019 for the Broncos and started 40 games over the past three seasons. Despite being a junior, he’s got a ton of experience as a starting left tackle and he’s technically very sound at this stage of his development.

Cleveland is one of about six or seven guys — seriously — who could get first-round consideration from NFL teams at the tackle position alone. He joins the likes of:

  • Andrew Thomas, Georgia
  • Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
  • Jedrick Wills, Alabama
  • Mekhi Becton, Louisville
  • Austin Jackson, USC
  • Josh Jones, Houston
  • Lucas Niang, TCU

All of these players are capable of earning first-round grades along with Cleveland, and the best part of this class is the fact that these guys are all flexible positionally. Some of these players were right tackles in college, some played a bit of guard, some played left and right tackle — there are options for teams to get guys who can contribute at a variety of spots.

dark. Next. 2020 NFL mock draft central

With so many stud pass rushers in the league right now, it’s exciting to see a class of players coming in who can help protect quarterbacks.

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