1) Evan Neal, Alabama
The title of OT1 might’ve been up for grabs — if Evan Neal didn’t exist. Neal came into the season with arguably the highest upside at the position, and he’s done well to maintain his standing on our Consensus Top 300 Big Board. With top-10 grades from all three NFL Draft analysts, Neal comfortably takes home the top spot.
Neal is 6’7″, 350 pounds, but moves with unfair lightness in his feet. Yet, the ground tremors when he walks, and so do the lips of opposing defensive linemen. He’s athletic, extremely powerful, and developing a greater understanding of how to most efficiently channel his traits. For those reasons, Neal is OT1.
2) Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
Edge rushers don’t line up against literal mountains. It’s impossible. Mountains don’t have legs. But if you were to seek out the closest thing to a mountain in college football, Daniel Faalele would be the one. Listed at 6’9″, 380 pounds, Faalele is the biggest man on whatever field he steps on by default.
Size is what sets Faalele apart, but his profile extends beyond that. The Minnesota tackle can exert an insane amount of power with almost unfair ease. He’s a bit lumbering as a mover, which is to be expected for someone with his frame. But he can still reach the second level and block on the move, making his upside in the run game even more enticing.
3) Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Darian Kinnard is one of the most tantalizing offensive line prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class. As a pure physical specimen, he’s popped off the screen for a while. He was logging starts as a true freshman back in 2018, and now he’s morphed into an NFL Draft prospect with exciting potential. That potential, however, hasn’t been fully realized yet.
Kinnard has a massive, compact frame, and he’s explosive off the line. He can reach the second level with terrifying quickness, and his length provides an impressive conduit for power. Unfortunately, in a phone booth, Kinnard is somewhat stiff. His hands are also imperfect. He opens up his torso too often and doesn’t strike cleanly on a consistent basis. Still, his physical talent is enough to place him in the Day 2 conversation.
4) Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
If you want your offensive tackles mean, you won’t find a meaner one than Trevor Penning. The dude lives for driving defenders into the dirt. Although his off-the-rails style can backfire on him, Penning’s aggression is unmatched. On top of that, he has the necessary physical traits to dominate with that aggression at his peak potential.
Penning stands at 6’7″, 340 pounds, and has a very well-proportioned frame. He’s dense in both his upper and lower body and has great length as well. Moreover, Penning has the athleticism to get to the second level quickly and envelop defenders with his width. He’s a bit stiff laterally, but overall, he checks most of the physical and mental boxes you want. If Penning can cut down on reckless hand usage, he can be a very good starter.
5) Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Washington State has had its fair share of turmoil this season, but Abraham Lucas is one player they can count on to be steady. Lucas could’ve been a mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he chose to return to school for another year to potentially improve his stock.
So far, Lucas has remained close to where he began the year. Nevertheless, he still projects as a good investment with starting potential in the NFL. Lucas’ calling card is his pass protection. With athleticism, balance, and his 6’7″ frame, he can lock defenders down. His run blocking isn’t at the level of other tackles, but he has the traits to develop.
The title of OT1 might’ve been up for grabs — if Evan Neal didn’t exist. Neal came into the season with arguably the highest upside at the position, and he’s done well to maintain his standing on our Consensus Top 300 Big Board. With top-10 grades from all three NFL Draft analysts, Neal comfortably takes home the top spot.
Neal is 6’7″, 350 pounds, but moves with unfair lightness in his feet. Yet, the ground tremors when he walks, and so do the lips of opposing defensive linemen. He’s athletic, extremely powerful, and developing a greater understanding of how to most efficiently channel his traits. For those reasons, Neal is OT1.
2) Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
Edge rushers don’t line up against literal mountains. It’s impossible. Mountains don’t have legs. But if you were to seek out the closest thing to a mountain in college football, Daniel Faalele would be the one. Listed at 6’9″, 380 pounds, Faalele is the biggest man on whatever field he steps on by default.
Size is what sets Faalele apart, but his profile extends beyond that. The Minnesota tackle can exert an insane amount of power with almost unfair ease. He’s a bit lumbering as a mover, which is to be expected for someone with his frame. But he can still reach the second level and block on the move, making his upside in the run game even more enticing.
3) Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Darian Kinnard is one of the most tantalizing offensive line prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class. As a pure physical specimen, he’s popped off the screen for a while. He was logging starts as a true freshman back in 2018, and now he’s morphed into an NFL Draft prospect with exciting potential. That potential, however, hasn’t been fully realized yet.
Kinnard has a massive, compact frame, and he’s explosive off the line. He can reach the second level with terrifying quickness, and his length provides an impressive conduit for power. Unfortunately, in a phone booth, Kinnard is somewhat stiff. His hands are also imperfect. He opens up his torso too often and doesn’t strike cleanly on a consistent basis. Still, his physical talent is enough to place him in the Day 2 conversation.
4) Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
If you want your offensive tackles mean, you won’t find a meaner one than Trevor Penning. The dude lives for driving defenders into the dirt. Although his off-the-rails style can backfire on him, Penning’s aggression is unmatched. On top of that, he has the necessary physical traits to dominate with that aggression at his peak potential.
Penning stands at 6’7″, 340 pounds, and has a very well-proportioned frame. He’s dense in both his upper and lower body and has great length as well. Moreover, Penning has the athleticism to get to the second level quickly and envelop defenders with his width. He’s a bit stiff laterally, but overall, he checks most of the physical and mental boxes you want. If Penning can cut down on reckless hand usage, he can be a very good starter.
5) Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Washington State has had its fair share of turmoil this season, but Abraham Lucas is one player they can count on to be steady. Lucas could’ve been a mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he chose to return to school for another year to potentially improve his stock.
So far, Lucas has remained close to where he began the year. Nevertheless, he still projects as a good investment with starting potential in the NFL. Lucas’ calling card is his pass protection. With athleticism, balance, and his 6’7″ frame, he can lock defenders down. His run blocking isn’t at the level of other tackles, but he has the traits to develop.