2022 NFL Draft: Jaxson Kirkland, Evan Neal Lead Preseason OT Rankings
3. Sean Rhyan, UCLA
Sean Rhyan should be a big riser in the 2022 NFL Draft once Pac 12 after dark gets rolling again and more find out about the skill set he offered. Rhyan is a good athlete who displays great reaction skills and quickness in pass protection, and has a good anchor to recover when losing leverage initially. He has the athleticism to maneuver in space, but needs to work on better angles and resetting the line with power against the run. Still, the upside is very good for first round potential next April.
4. Nicholas Petit-Frère, Ohio State
Moving over from right tackle to left tackle has looked good so far for Ohio State’s Nicholas Petit-Frere, as he possess great athleticism like the rest above him to this point. Petit-Frere has a great combo of quickness, explosion, and linear speed to be a dominant zone tackle. He can cut off defenders by getting to the outside shoulder, and does a good job staying engaged while on the move. He’s rock solid in pass protection as well. Better angles versus the run will help him succeed in space more.
5. Zion Nelson, Miami
Zion Nelson is a tackle with all the tools, and has the size/athleticism combo to become dominant. He will become the left tackle full time this season, and will deal with plenty of pass rushers in a top conference.
Nelson has the anchor and mirroring skills in pass protection, but lacks the good hand placement and initial punch to be dominant in that area right now. More reps and a strong season will alleviate concerns that he’s a project, and could get him to the top of the 2022 NFL Draft as a tackle.
6. Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
Daniel Faalele is back this season after opting out in 2020, and has dropped some weight as he slides in at right tackle for 2021. Faalele is tough to get by in pass protection because of good hand placement, and he showed the ability to snatch and get defenders on the ground on Thursday night against Ohio State. He’s a people mover in the run game as well, but needs to work on angles and initial quicks to get to his spots to realize his full potential.