Rankings and analysis for the top offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft
In this second tier of 2020 NFL Draft offensive linemen, you can still find a lot of starting-caliber players at all three positions. I would have these guys coming off the board on day two of the 2020 NFL Draft.
10. Nick Harris, Washington
What Nick Harris lacks in size as an offensive lineman, he makes up for in effort and athleticism. Harris is one of the most impressive movers in the 2020 NFL Draft. He gets out in space in a flash and is very effective at locating and hitting a target, and turning and sustaining his blocks to open lanes for the ball carrier.
In the run game and even if there isn’t any imminent threat for him to block in pass protection, Harris flies to the second level, always looking to make an impact. He is rather short for an offensive lineman and lacks the desired length as a pass blocker, but he uses his low center of gravity and quick hands to get a leg up on his opponent and keeps them at bay. He does struggle at times against size and power, which could be an issue as an interior lineman.
However, Harris has enough valuable traits to be a top center prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has experience at guard as well if a team wants to play him there, but his quickness and intelligence lead me to believe that he will find success as a center in the NFL.
11. Matt Hennessey, Temple
Matt Hennessey is an outstanding mover at the center position. He excels at getting out in space and being a big-play-springing blocker as a puller, on screen plays and at the second level. He does a great job of getting to the blocking point and getting horizontal to shield his ball carrier and open holes.
He’s not overly powerful, but as an effective mover who can gain some momentum to make very impactful and sustained blocks. He has good size, quick and strong hands and decent length to keep pass rushers at bay, but will struggle at times against powerful bull rushes. If he can add some more weight and strength to his frame while still maintaining his athletic ability, Hennessey could be a very reliable starting center in the NFL, one of the best in the 2020 NFL Draft.
12. Austin Jackson, USC
Austin Jackson is a young and very raw, but talented left tackle prospect. He is a pass-blocking left tackle with very clear potential, but some inconsistencies in his game currently.
As a run blocker, he can hold his own but isn’t overly effective or dominant. He has some good reps where he is able to use his athleticism to get out in front and make some big-play opening blocks, but he isn’t a down after down bruiser in the run game.
In pass protection, he generally has sound technique. He has good length and athleticism and has shown reps where he absolutely locks up his opposition. He has good hands, great feet and a lot of intangibles that will translate to the next level. But he is far from perfect. He has some head-scratching reps where he gets flat out beat to the outside or with a simple counter move to the inside.
He shows that he is capable of exhibiting sound technique, but lacks snap-to-snap consistency, often getting beat by some of the more talented and dynamic pass rushers he faced. But he seemed to learn quickly, seeing a move for the second time after getting beat the first and making the proper adjustments to stop it.
That is the sort of quick learning that he will have to continue to display as he transitions to the NFL. He is far from perfect right now but has a very high ceiling as a blindside protector at the next level in the future coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft.
13. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
Prince Tega Wanogho is a very young and intriguing left tackle prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. With a background in basketball and soccer, recently coming to the U.S. and even more recently beginning to play football, Tega is raw but shows a ton of promise.
While he is still learning the nuances of the position, Tega already shows that he is a cerebral player, recognizing stunts and adjusting accordingly. He has shorter than optimal arms for a tackle, but generally, he has good size and is a great athlete.
Even if he gets beat, Tega is athletic enough to recover quickly. He has great hands and rarely allows defenders to get into his body. He isn’t a bruiser in the run game, but he uses his athleticism to his advantage. He is a great mover and very effective in space. He is still effective as a straight run blocker and they moved him around a bit, usually to the strong side of a run as an extra tackle on that side of the line.
Prince Tega Wanogho still has a lot to learn, but if he is allowed to learn and grow and has good coaching, he could become a very good starting left tackle in the NFL.
14. Matt Peart, UConn
I am very intrigued by the potential of Matt Peart. Peart has incredible length and size, at 6-foot-7, 318 lbs and nearly 37-inch arms. While he played right tackle at UConn, Peart has the potential to be a very reliable left tackle down the road at the next level.
He is very athletic for his size (5.06 40) and can move his feet quickly to stay in front of speed rushers and the length to keep any defender at bay. At times he looks very smooth in his pass sets, showing great potential. He needs to be more consistent, sometimes getting beat with a variety of moves, but the flashes are there.
In the run game, Peart is very effective. He doesn’t have the strength to be overly dominant, but he uses his length to get his hands on defenders and effectively moves and turns them to open up running lanes. He is a good mover and effectively gets to the second level.
Peart has experience playing both left and right tackle at UConn and should be able to play either in the NFL. While he may need a little bit of time to fill out his time and develop the nuances of the position, Peart has a ton of potential and could become a very viable starting left tackle sooner rather than later coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft.
15. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
Starting every game at left guard for the Kentucky Wildcats for the past three seasons, Logan Stenberg is about as consistent as they come, especially as a run blocker.
He is both a dominant people mover and a sufficient mover himself. He has strong hands and a powerful base to grab and drive defenders backwards. He moves fairly well for a big guy, excelling as an occasional puller. He always seems to turn his defender just enough one way or the other to create a hole for the ball carrier.
Kentucky seemed to be a run-first offense with a mobile quarterback throughout Stenberg’s tenure with the program, so true pass sets were few and far between, mostly coming in 2017 in his first year as a starter. He did struggle at times against speed rushers, but he certainly has a workable anchor to hold his own against power rushers.
To me, Stenberg has a fairly high ceiling with a very high floor. He still has some things he can improve, but is already a starting-caliber guard, making him a very intriguing NFL prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.
16. Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas
Despite starting every game of his Kansas career at tackle (left and right), many evaluators think Hakeem Adeniji’s future in the league is at guard. I have to agree. Adeniji looks like a guard playing tackle, and I think in the right situation he could become one of the best guards in the league out of this 2020 NFL Draft.
He is very physical with great lower body drive, making him a real people mover in the run game. He isn’t all that effective as a puller and mover in a zone run scheme, but he can put a hat on a hat and dominate the person in front of him. He was asked to move a lot at Kansas so he is definitely capable, but that is not his strong suit.
As a pass blocker, Adeniji is effective, particularly when he is able to get his hands on the defender. His technique is a bit inconsistent but the flashes he shows will be very beneficial if he is moved inside. At tackle, he would get beat to the outside by speed and would struggle to get his hands out there, but against power rushers, Adeniji was great at standing his ground.
I really see a bright future for Adeniji inside at guard with his diverse background and great power. Now I’m not saying he is incapable of playing tackle at the next level. I just believe that he has the traits to be a really good guard very quickly in the NFL. Adeniji may fill a swing tackle/versatile sixth lineman role early in his career, but I think he has the makings of a starting NFL guard.
17. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Ezra Cleveland is a very athletic left tackle prospect who excels as a pass blocker and fits best in a zone run scheme. As a pass rusher with great athleticism, Cleveland exhibits impressive footwork to keep speed rushers in front of him.
He usually doesn’t get beat by finesse or counter moves, able to keep his defender in front of him with enough strength to hold his ground. Strength and power, however, are not his strong suit. He played with a very lean frame that did not provide the type of core strength needed to be a driving force as a blocker in the pass or run game. This is a large reason why Cleveland is not a force as a run blocker as it stands, and must add more weight and play strength to his frame at the next level.
At the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine, Cleveland weighed in at 311 lbs and put up 30 reps on the bench press, but that does not dispel my concerns with his strength. He had good pop with his hands both as a pass and run blocker, but again, he is not overly powerful with his lower body. He moves well as a run blocker, effective as a puller and getting out in space for screens. He even received a carry on a reverse, so his coaching staff seemed confident in his athleticism and movement skills at Boise State.
Cleveland has a lot of promising traits and has a solid foundation to build on at the next level. He has some pretty clear improvements he needs to make, primarily with his body, before I’m comfortable having him play left tackle down after down, but not far down the line I could see him as a legitimate starter.
18. Damien Lewis, LSU
Damien Lewis is a very thick and powerful guard, especially as a run blocker. He has the strength and power throughout his body to move mountains in the run game. He isn’t an overly effective mover, so he will thrive in a straight gap scheme in the NFL.
As a pass blocker, I am impressed from time to time. He is very good when he is able to get his hands on the defender and can control the point of attack. He has the hands and base to withstand concerted efforts from some of the best interior rushers in the nation when he is in that position.
But when he doesn’t land his hands and take control quickly, he can be a real liability in pass protection. Against blitzers and more explosive defensive linemen, Lewis can get taken off guard and get blown up into the backfield. His heavy feet don’t move well laterally, either, leading to struggles against speed and finesse moves.
Overall, Lewis’ upside and dominance in the run game outweigh his inconsistencies as a pass blocker, and will likely be a day two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft who will succeed in a gap run scheme with high-level blockers near him to help out in pass protection.
19. Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
After spending most of his college career at Rutgers, Jonah Jackson stayed in the Big Ten and transferred to Ohio State for 2019. Jackson is a very cerebral blocker, who always seems to know where to be. In pass protection, he is adept at recognizing and picking up blitzes and stunts, and if he doesn’t have someone directly in front of him he knows where to go to help.
He almost has some tackle traits in pass protection, with sound footwork and strong hands. He has played both guard positions at Rutgers and Ohio State, and I think he could be a very good center at the next level.
He is far from a bruising force in the run game, winning more as a finesse blocker with good range and reach. He is a quality mover, and with his football IQ, I could see him at center between two bigger and more dominant guards. Nonetheless, Jackson exhibits desirable qualities as a zone run blocker and especially as an internal pass protector and will likely be a day two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
20. John Simpson, Clemson
John Simpson is an absolute force in the run game at left guard. He excels at driving defenders back and turning them how he wants them with his powerful hands and strong lower body.
Even at 6-foot-4 and 321 lbs, the big Simpson moves very well for his size. He is a great puller, gets to the second level and even capable at getting out in front of screens.
Simpson uses his size and length well as a pass blocker, keeping defenders at a distance. He doesn’t always get a great burst out of his stance, but once he gets engaged he drives his defender back.
Simpson is a scheme diverse guard who is a mauler in the run game and effective in pass protection. Simpson looks like a legitimate starter to me at the next level, and probably will not be picked as high as he should be in the 2020 NFL Draft.