2023 NFL Draft: Peter Skoronski, Joe Tippmann, O’Cyrus Torrence Lead Offensive Line Rankings

2023 NFL Draft: Offensive Tackle Rankings

OT11: McClendon Curtis (UT-Chattanooga)

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 3

OT10: Wanya Morris (Oklahoma)

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3

OT9: Blake Freeland (BYU)

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3

OT8: Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland)

NFL Draft Grade: Late Day 2

OT7: Tyler Steen (Alabama)

NFL Draft Grade: Late Day 2

OT6: Dawand Jones (Ohio State)

Full disclosure, Dawand Jones will be a starting right tackle for years to come. He is never going to be worse than average as a run blocker, and his potential in the passing game is worth betting on. Jones boasts the wingspan of a 7-footer, and his 374-pound frame is tough to handle as a defender.

That being said, Jones’ size is not always a good thing. He can be neutralized when the defender gets into his chest, as Jones is unable to shake free because of his long arms. Also, Jones is a good athlete for his size, but I would not call him a good athlete in general.

Jones allowed zero sacks this season and graded out with an 85+ run-blocking grade in each of the past two seasons. His floor is as stable as any, but his outlier size makes it tough to project a ceiling higher than the top 5 on this list. I would take Jones on day two and be happy with the investment.

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 2

OT5: Anton Harrison (Oklahoma)

Anton Harrison is slept on, and I might be sleeping on him too by placing him as the OT5 in this class. The Oklahoma alum is the best pass blocker in the 2023 NFL Draft, as things currently stand. He uses prototypical size to stifle pass rushers off the edge and his unbelievable footwork to recover when he is beaten off the snap.

Harrison is a capable run blocker, but this is the area he can stand to improve the most. He lacks the playing strength of others in this group, and at times, the Sooner leader is caught too high as he engages with a defender. Harrison needs some polish, but with 1,807 snaps under his belt at left tackle, few bring such a proven track record to the league.

NFL Draft Grade: Late Day 1

OT4: Broderick Jones (Georgia)

I am a fan of Broderick Jones, but he is rawer than anyone wants to admit. While he is oozing potential as a franchise left tackle, Jones needs to clean up a few things to reach that potential. He is oftentimes off-balance in the run game and lacks the consistency needed to be a difference-maker, at least right now.

Still, these negatives won’t push Jones out of day one on my Big Board. He is prototypical size, flashed elite play as a pass protector in 2022, and plays angry every snap. Jones overwhelms oncoming tacklers with his length and athleticism, using his otherworldly grip strength to snatch them up and pancake them into the dirt.

He allowed zero sacks in nearly 1,000 snaps last year, the only campaign as a full-time starter. Jones can mirror pass rushers on occasion, but NFL coaching should unlock the next level of his development as a pass blocker. There is a chance the NFL bets on Jones’ upside by taking him as the first lineman off the board, but he sits at OT4 in my rankings. Still a top-20 player overall.

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 1

OT3: Darnell Wright (Tennessee)

Darnell Wright is the best pure right tackle prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. He began his Tennessee career swapping back and forth from the right side to the left side. Wright offered rocky play on the blind side, but he found a home in 2022.

As the starting right tackle, Wright logged 507 pass-blocking reps and did not allow a single sack. He set a career-high grade as a run blocker, earning a respectable 65.0 grade via PFF.

Traits-wise, Wright’s arms are a smidge short but nothing to sound alarms over. He makes up for it with impressive lateral mobility and idyllic form as a blocker. I am confident in saying Wright is worth a first-round pick and should be a starter at right tackle for the next decade+.

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 1

OT2: Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State)

Paris Johnson Jr. is not far behind my No. 1 offensive tackle. He projects as an immediate starter at left tackle with the highest potential of anyone in the class. The OSU standout has experience at guard as well, but to get the most out of Johnson, he should stick outside.

Johnson is a top-tier pass blocker from the moment he is drafted. He is still growing in the run game, but his superb agility and mean streak will allow him to impact the game as a rookie.

Johnson is best fit for a zone scheme that allows him to use his athleticism in space. He is worth a day-one selection and could become a franchise cornerstone on the blindside as early as his rookie year.

NFL Draft Grade: Early-to-Mid Day 1

OT1: Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)

My top-rated offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft is Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. While others may try to push him inside, I see Skoronski as an elite offensive tackle on Sundays.

Whether it is on the right side or the left side, Skoronski immediately boosts the group he’s joining. He is the most refined blocker in the class, exhibiting exceptional technique and play strength on tape.

His shorter arms present the only real red flag. Skoronski does not meet the typical 34-inch threshold teams look for, but we learned from another former Northwestern Wildcat (Rashawn Slater) that this issue can be smoothed over with proper fundamentals.

Skoronski is capable of playing anywhere on the line at a high level. I would stick him at left tackle, but he has All-Pro potential at guard and center as well. A prospect with the floor of Skoronski usually brings a lower ceiling, but he is the rare exception. A safe pick and a high-upside pick all in one.

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 1

Honorable Mentions:
Nick Saldiveri (Old Dominion)
Ryan Hayes (Michigan)
Carter Warren (Pittsburgh)
Warren McClendon (Georgia)
Kadeem Telfort (UAB)