Kelly: A breakdown of the NFL’s 2025 class of offensive tackles | Opinion
There’s a reason why good offensive linemen are now receiving $100 million contracts.
It’s because the collegiate supply doesn’t measure up to the NFL demand.
Edge rushers are typically the biggest, strongest and most athletic individuals on a football field. They can wreak havoc on a game by making the quarterback uncomfortable, and what we saw Patrick Mahomes struggle against in Kansas City’s Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year serves as proof of this.
The best approach to counteract a game-wrecking pass rushers is to make sure the offensive tackles they face measure up, figuratively and literally.
That’s why good offensive linemen usually go early, and often in the early rounds of the NFL Draft.
Eight offensive tackles were drafted in the first round of the 2024 Draft and that tied a record set in 2008. Oddly, that hasn’t even made a dent in the league-wide demand.
So don’t be surprised when the good tackles are gone by the end of the third round, and the mid-tier tackles go quickly on Day 3 of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Top Prospects
▪ Michigan’s Will Campbell — Campbell’s a fantastic athlete for his size (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) who is durable and battle-tested. His balance and agility allow him to climb to the second level, which makes him an ideal fit for a zone blocking scheme. Because his arm length is a little bit shorter than ideal there are some teams that feel he would be better suited playing offensive guard at the next level.
▪ Missouri’s Armand Membou — Membou’s phenomenal Combine performance (4.91 40-yard dash time, and 31 reps of 225 pounds) skyrocketed him up most draft boards. This college right tackle has a stout frame that allows him to anchor well, but there’s some technique that needs to be refined. And some teams believe his best position on the next level might be offensive guard.
▪ Texas Kelvin Banks Jr. — Banks, a three-year starter at Texas, is a polished pass protector who has the athleticism to become a valuable blocker in the run game. But he lacks length and brute strength, which is why some teams project the college left tackle will benefit from a move to left guard. His experience shows through in his patience and intelligent play.
▪ Ohio State’s Josh Simmons — Before Simmons sustained a knee injury that cost him the better part of the 2024 season, this San Diego State transfer showcased a fantastic blend of strength and athleticism. Simmons is technically sound and has a high comfort level working on the move. His injury and recovery from his torn patella tendon could lead to a slight drop, possibly putting him in the late first round.
▪ Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. — Conerly has all the physical components to become a reliable starting offensive lineman, but his ability to anchor against power is slightly below average. However, he mirrors defenders well and has a knack for redirecting rushers. He shined against high-level competition last season, but needs a coach who can help him improve on the technical aspects of his job.
▪ Sleeper: Purdue’s Marcus Mbow — Mbow, who played right guard his first two seasons before transitioning to right tackle last year, is a tone-setter as an offensive lineman. He has a nonstop motor that allows him to lean into his physicality. He has a light, high-cut frame, which impacts his ability to anchor at times. Still, this top-100 talent has the ability to become a starter in a season or two if he finds the right coaches and fit.
▪ Best of the rest — Texas’ Cameron Williams and Emery Jones Jr. could be second- or third-day steals. Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery and NC State’s Anthony Belton each has the frame needed to become an NFL starter. William & Mary’s Charles Grant and Rutgers’ Holland Pierce might be late-round steals who become multiyear NFL starters.
▪ Teams in need — Considering most teams run out of healthy offensive linemen by December, it would be a shorter list of which teams don’t need offensive tackle help. The Giants, Patriots, Jets and Dolphins are all expected to select offensive linemen early, and the 49ers, Steelers, Texans, Rams and Chiefs will likely add offensive tackles at some point in the seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. The smarter NFL teams draft offensive linemen every year and groom them to become eventual starters.
▪ Dolphins focus: Terron Armstead retiring, and the fact Austin Jackson is coming back from a season-ending knee injury sustained last November should make offensive tackle one of Miami’s top positions to address, especially since Patrick Paul’s play during his 337 offensive snaps last season was relatively uneven. Does Paul, a 6-foot-7, 332-pounder Miami selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, have upside? Absolutely, but the Dolphins need to be prepared just in case he falls short of meeting expectations, or sustains a season-ending injury. At the moment Kion Smith and Larry Borom are the top backups, and neither has proven he can be a decent NFL starter.
