2020 NFL Draft: LSU OT Saahdiq Charles scouting report
A scouting report for one of the most intriguing offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft class, LSU’s Saahdiq Charles.
Ever since the Combine, there has been a ton of talk about the offensive tackles at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft class. Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Andrew Thomas have all impressive throughout the draft process and are top-tier prospects in the class. All four of these offensive tackles could easily land in the top 10 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
As great as those top four are, there are other offensive tackles in this class worth paying attention to. Today, we are going to look into a player who undoubtedly has long-term upside worth paying attention to, LSU offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles.
Name: Saahdiq Charles
School: LSU
Position: OT
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 321 pounds
Hand Size: 10 inches
Arm Length: 33 inches
40-Yard Dash: 5.05 seconds
Combine measurements and athletic testing numbers come via NFL.com.
Charles has a lean and athletic frame that will likely need some added weight at the next level. Weighing in at 321 pounds at the combine is promising, but Charles will have to prove that he can sustain that size throughout an entire season. He does have the necessary arm length to handle offensive tackle responsibilities at the next level.
He also shows fantastic natural athleticism for an offensive lineman. Charles is extremely quick off of the ball and shows off his high-level play speed when asked to get out and make blocks in space. Charles shines as a second-level blocker and particularly stands out in the screen game.
In pass protection, Charles shows a ton of natural upside. He is light on his feet and mirrors opposing rushers extremely well. He is also comfortable out on an island and recovers extremely well.
Based on athleticism and upside alone, Charles is an elite-level prospect. However, he is not a top-tier offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft class for a reason. Charles lacks ideal functional strength up front in all areas. He lacks power at the point of attack and can really struggle in anchor situations.
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Overall, Charles is an extremely exciting offensive tackle prospect who undoubtedly has massive upside at the next level. He is undoubtedly best suited in a zone rushing scheme, where he can use his obvious mobility and athleticism to excel in space. If Charles can put on and maintain some weight and clean up his technique a bit, the sky is the limit. He undoubtedly has franchise left tackle upside.