Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report
The next stud offensive lineman to come out of Northwestern, how does Peter Skoronski stack up in the 2023 NFL Draft tackle class?
Name: Peter Skoronski
Position: OT/OG
School: Northwestern
Class: Junior
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 313 pounds
Hand: 10″
Arm: 32 1/4″
Background
Peter Skoronski was a highly-touted recruit out of high school, ranking as the number four center in the country and the number two player in the state of Illinois. Skoronski was listed as having 173 pancakes in high school, and was a key cog on the offensive line for Maine South. He lettered in both football and track and field in high school, and was also involved in National Honors Society. He chose Northwestern over Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Stanford.
Skoronski made an early impact with the Wildcats, starting in every game as a freshman, and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. He started all 12 games as a sophomore, earning a spot on the first team of All-Big Ten (coaches). Skoronski won the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the year, was named a unanimous All-American, and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, all in his junior season.
Peter Skoronski 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Strengths
When it comes to technique, no one in the 2023 NFL Draft currently matches Peter Skoronski. Skoronski has the quicks to get out of his stance, whether it be a two-point or three-point stance. His sets are quick and efficient to handle a variety of rushers.
What stands out is what happens in the contact phase. Skoronski doesn’t always two-hand punch and pray like some of the other tackles in the class. His hands can act independent to vary initial strikes to prevent edge rushers from getting to his chest and gaining any leverage or ground to the quarterback. He also can establish great leverage with great hand placement on defenders, and can fight to reset his hands to regain lost leverage. Once he gains control, Skoronski does a great job getting to extension and has great body positioning to handle technical counters.
Skoronski can prevent inside moves with great control and grip strength with his inside hand, and can stay with rushers who want to win the outside track. Against power, Skoronski has great ankle flexion and hip sink to anchor and prevent a pocket from collapsing on the outside. The footwork is also there with Skoronski, who mirrors rushers well that try to get to counter moves to find any answer. He doesn’t cross his feet, and has the quicks in the short area to prevent late pressure.
In the run game, Skoronski has the explosion and power to displace defensive linemen on down blocks. He does a great job unlocking his hips into contact, and he has the ability to sustain said blocks in space and at the point of attack. His athleticism shows in his ability to work to the second level and be an effective puller.
Weaknesses
While there are some reps where Skoronski struggles handling elite speed and explosive rushers with bend around the arc, his biggest weakness is something he can’t control. With 32 1/4-inch arms, can he stay outside at tackle? There are some reps where length creates issues with him creating leverage, and he loses to longer, more explosive edge rushers. Lukas Van Ness got him a couple times back in the fall.
If teams don’t believe he can and his best position is guard, it could dent his value and his stock could fall behind other tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Fit/Projection
Despite the hesitation with his arm length, Peter Skoronski has the best technique at tackle right now of anyone in the 2023 NFL Draft, and his film is very clean. The combination of hand technique, functional athleticism, balance, and power is devastating for pass rushers. He can be a factor in both phases and has the potential for rare versatility on NFL offensive lines.
Skoronski is a near-lock to go top 20 at this point, and potentially top 15. The conversation for him likely starts with the Chicago Bears at pick nine, if they want a more versatile player who can play inside at guard and at tackle. The Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and New England Patriots are other teams who could be in the mix. Skoronski has the scheme versatility to thrive in a zone scheme or a gap scheme.
One-Liner
Peter Skoronski blends impressive hand technique, power, and balance to thrive on an island in pass protection and dominate in the run game. His functional athleticism completes his first-round profile.