2020 NFL Draft
Offensive Linemen
Which 2020 OL prospect has the best traits?
Pass Blocking
Alex Khvatov: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
Ed Hunt: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
Run Blocking
Alex Khvatov: OT Matt Peart (UConn)
Ed Hunt: OG Damien Lewis (LSU)
Hand Placement
Alex Khvatov: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
Ed Hunt: OG Shane Lemieux (Oregon)
Quick Feet
Alex Khvatov: OT Ezra Cleveland (Boise State)
Ed Hunt: OT Austin Jackson (USC)
Size
Alex Khvatov: OT Mekhi Becton (Louisville)
Ed Hunt: OT Mekhi Becton (Louisville)
Strength/Power
Alex Khvatov: OG Netane Muti (Fresno State)
Ed Hunt: OG Robert Hunt (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Athleticism
Alex Khvatov: OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)
Ed Hunt: OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)
Awareness/Football IQ
Alex Khvatov: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
Ed Hunt: C Trystan Colon-Castillo (Missouri)
Pad Level
Alex Khvatov: C Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)
Ed Hunt: C Lloyd Cushenberry III (LSU)
Toughness
Alex Khvatov: OG Robert Hunt (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Ed Hunt: OG Shane Lemieux (Oregon)
5 Burning Questions
How many offensive tackles will be selected in the first round? Identify them.
Alex Khvatov: This is a top-heavy class when it comes to offensive tackles. There are some very good prospects available in round one. I will go with six. Andrew Thomas (Georgia), Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Mekhi Becton (Louisville) are the top four OT’s. They all should be selected in the top 10. I also believe that USC Austin Jackson and Houston Josh Jones will be selected in the latter part of the first round.
Ed Hunt: I think there will be six offensive tackles drafted in the first round. This is a position and in the first round, offensive tackles get over drafted. I think the offensive tackles being drafted here are worthy of a first-round pick. The guys that I think will be drafted in the first round are Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas, Austin Jackson, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs and Isaiah Wilson.
Who is your No.1 OT on the board?
Alex Khvatov: Andrew Thomas from Georgia is my No.1 OT on the board. He has been a three-year starter during his career. He started as a freshman at RT and then the last two years at LT. He has played well against top level competition. He is a good athlete with extremely long arms and quick feet. He excels in pass protection. He fires off the ball quickly and shows terrific awareness against blitzes and stunts.
Ed Hunt: The guy I like the most is Jedrick Wills. Although he was the right tackle for the Crimson Tide, I think he projects better as an NFL left tackle and would have gotten the chance to play that role if it wasn’t for Alex Leatherwood. I actually have higher hopes for Wills. What I like about Wills is that he can do it all. He can pass block and kick slide in the passing game and he is a good run blocker. I look forward to his NFL career.
Who is the most underrated OL in this draft?
Alex Khvatov: I am a big fan of Matt Peart from UConn. He has outstanding size with extremely long arms. He is an outstanding run blocker. He sustains his blocks to the whistle. I know that Ed loves him. I will also mention Louisiana-Lafayette Robert Hunt. He played RT in college, but I project him as an OG at the next level. He is an aggressive blocker who moves people at the POA. He is a physical, nasty run blocker with quick feet. Every OL coach would love this guy.
Ed Hunt: I think Ben Bredeson is being vastly underrated. He played his position well at Michigan on the interior. As a left guard, he was a tenacious run blocker, a good pass blocker and had good technique. I also think he is a guard that can pull. His draft projection has him kind of falling in the background to the later rounds, but I think he can be a very good NFL guard when asked to play there.
Who will be the first interior offensive lineman to be drafted?
Alex Khvatov: C Cesar Ruiz from Michigan should be the first interior OL off the board. He is the top center in this draft. He plays with great pad level, displays terrific quickness off the snap and excels in pass protection. Teams like the Cowboys, Eagles and Seahawks should be interested in his services in the first round.
Ed Hunt: I think Matt Peart will be the first interior lineman to be drafted. I understand some see him as a right tackle, but I think he has more value as a guard. He is a good run blocker who plays with some nasty and moves well. He also has some pass blocking skills that he learned as a right tackle. I just think he can hide his weak kick slide in a phone booth at guard and really excel. I think he is a legitimate second-round pick and a good performer at the Senior Bowl. I also enjoyed interviewing him.
Which NFL team will be the first to select an OL in the 2020 NFL Draft?
Alex Khvatov: The Giants have to address their offensive line with the No.4 pick. They have to protect their young signal caller QB Daniel Jones. Something they didn’t do a good job of last year. LT Nate Solder didn’t play well in 2019. They can select Georgia LT Andrew Thomas and move Nate Solder to RT. Or they might draft Iowa RT Tristan Wirfs or Alabama RT Jedrick Wills Jr. It is always tough to figure out what Dave Gettleman will do, but selecting an OT is a logical choice.
Ed Hunt: The Giants have the fourth pick and an offensive tackle would really help them. They have Nate Solder, but he is getting up there in age. They also could use a right tackle in the short term to sure up their bookends. It is increasingly important that the Giants protect second-year quarterback Daniel Jones and an offensive tackle makes a lot of sense. Dave Gettleman really values winning at the line of scrimmage.
