The Pac 12 and Big Ten are featured heavily in these preseason offensive tackle rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft.
The last two draft classes have been pretty spectacular at the top regarding the tackle position. In 2020, there were the four studs in Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas, and Mekhi Becton. This past April, it was Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater. It’s going to be tough to mimic those two classes at the top, but the 2022 NFL Draft has a chance to do so, if a couple guys take the next steps in their development.
It’s also a group with a couple toolsy young players with big steps to take, and a couple players who are moving positions this season. Plus, three players from the Pac 12 and Big Ten both? Let’s get right to it with the preseason tackle rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Previous Rankings:
1. Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
It might be a surprise to not see Evan Neal at the top, but Washington Huskies tackle Jaxson Kirkland deserves the top spot right now.
Kirkland has experience at guard but moved out to tackle for the 2020 season, and did an excellent job. He has elite size at 6’7″ and 310 pounds, and great athleticism to boot. His initial quicks are impressive, and he has great movement skills in space for his size. Kirkland has very good and efficient pass sets and reacts well moving laterally to mirror rushers. He could add a bit to his power profile but there aren’t many true weaknesses in his game.
2. Evan Neal, Alabama
Another player with elite size in these tackle rankings, Evan Neal is the consensus top guy for the 2022 NFL Draft. He falls at number two on this list, but is still oozing with potential.
His movement skills are very good for his size, and he has the explosion and change of direction skills to react well and handle blocks in space. His pass sets are efficient and he maintains a good base. Neal has the power to move people in the run game and rolls through with his lower half and a good leg drive.
Balance is the main weakness for Neal, and it’s one that needs a lot of work. He gets overextended a bunch in pass protection, leading to him ending up on the ground. Building more consistency with his initial punch and reaction skills to maintain leverage will be important as he moves over to left tackle this season.
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.
7. Abraham Lucas, Washington State
It feels like Abraham Lucas has been playing for a long time for the Cougars, and this is the year that he likely enters the draft. He lands at number seven in the tackle rankings.
Lucas is phenomenal in pass protection. He has great recognition skills and picks up stunts with ease, and has good footwork to mirror rushers. Lucas still lacks a lot in terms of power, and speed to power rushers will give him pause.
8. Rasheed Walker, Penn State
Rasheed Walker is one of the more intriguing tackle prospects because of his football intelligence. He has good initial quickness and great initial punch in the run game. Walker flashes the ability to displace defenders and takes good angles in the run game.
Athleticism is the one thing lacking in Walker’s game, as he struggles with reactive quickness and gets beat around the edge and with inside moves. Improving his footwork will help ease the concern and get him ready for Sundays.
9. Charles Cross, Mississippi State
Charles Cross is the second SEC player in the tackle rankings, and he has in spades what Walker lacks. His athleticism is very good, and he has the tools to react quickly and adjust to rushers with a very good plan of attack. His reactive athleticism against stunts is good, and he does well driving rushers beyond the arc.
Giving up ground in pass protection and losing reps at the point of attack comes with a lack of power. The lack of power causes problems with Cross’ anchor and he can’t recover. Putting all of his tools together in a tough SEC will get him on the 2022 NFL Draft track.
10. Nick Broeker, Mississippi
Nick Broeker rounds out the preseason tackle rankings. Broeker has one full season at tackle under his belt, and shows a good blend of athleticism in pass pro and a finisher’s temperament to rise in the 2022 NFL Draft. He could move to guard, but the upside may let teams give him a shot on the outside.