2021 NFL Draft rankings: Penei Sewell leads strong offensive tackle group
By John Blair
3. Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
6-foot-5, 314 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: First round
Despite being only a two-star recruit Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw has made an impact from day one at Virginia Tech. Darrisaw was one of only nine true freshmen offensive linemen to start week one in the FBS in 2018. He has since gone on to start 34 games for the Hokies and was named to the All-ACC team in both 2019 and 2020.
The main reason Darrisaw was able to make such an impact for Virginia Tech is his overall athletic ability. He does a great job of making all different types of blocks and is one of the better cut blockers in the draft. He also has the quick feet to play left tackle in the NFL, which is one of the reasons people are so high on him. One other positive with Darrisaw is he has good length and the long arms teams look for.
While there is no doubt Darrisaw has the athletic tools to play in the NFL, his mentality might scare off some scouts. He is not the most aggressive offensive tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft and seems to lack the finisher mentality you want to see from an offensive lineman. Part of the problem with his lack of mentality is that he was asked to play in a two-point stance most of the time instead of firing out of a three-point stance.
When it comes to the final evaluation of Darrisaw I grade him as a late first-round pick. I have him rated lower than most people who project Darrisaw as a top-15 pick due to my concerns with his overall aggressiveness. However, his impressive athletic ability and potential makes me think he could develop into a solid left tackle in the NFL.