McGlinchey tops charts at tackle
Notre Dame lineman has good technique and could be asset in locker room
The top offensive tackle prospects entering the NFL draft:
1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
(6-8, 309 pounds): He is quite athletic for his size and played tight end in high school. McGlinchey is a sound blocker but should probably add a bit more bulk. Not a dominant finisher, his best assets are proper technique and natural form. He has plenty of experience on both sides of the line. A two-time captain, he ought to be a valuable addition to his next locker room. McGlinchey is a cousin of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Projected: Round 1
2. Connor Williams, Texas (6-5,
320): A relatively short wingspan could cause some teams to consider moving him to guard. Perhaps more concerning was a dip in his play, evident on game film from 2017. Still, Williams provides plenty of power and excellent technique, displaying a solid understanding of leverage and hand placement to finish blocks. But he’ll have to quickly prove he can handle speedy edge rushers to make a living on the blind side at the next level. Projected: Round 1-2
3. Kolton Miller, UCLA (6-9, 309): He should reap the benefits after a strong performance at the scouting combine. Miller’s tape, however, sometimes shows him struggling against strong and quick pass rushers, and he might not have the athleticism — despite his nifty feet — to survive on the left side in the NFL. Projected: Round
1-2
4. Brian O’Neill, Pittsburgh (6-7,
297): A basketball player in high school, his football background includes stops at defensive end and tight end, providing an idea of the athleticism he brings. Pitt coaches even used him as a running back, and O’Neill scored two touch- downs in his college career. He has prototypical size for an NFL tackle but will need to get stronger. His best traits are most evident when he can get into space and use his mobility to engage blockers at the second level. What’s concerning, however, is O’Neill’s tendency to abandon his technique when he struggles. Projected: Round 2
5. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon (6-5, 325): Injuries limited him to three games in
2017, so there might be some rust to knock off when he gets to rookie minicamp for his NFL team. But Crosby is strong, boasts long arms (351⁄ inches)
4 and offers experience at both left and right tackle. Projected: Round 2
6. Orlando Brown, Oklahoma (6-8,
360): He labored through one of the worst combine performances ever, generating significant concerns about his subpar athleticism. After running a
5.85-second 40-yard dash and repping
225 pounds 14 times in Indianapolis, Brown managed only slight improvement to his depressed stock at the Sooners pro day. Still, he has ideal size and length — and he used them at times to compensate for poor technique and sloppy footwork. If he can redistribute his weight and take to NFL coaching, Brown could develop into a solid pro like his father, Orlando “Zeus” Brown. Projected: Round 2-3
7. Geron Christian, Louisville (6-6,
318): His 35-inch arms give him the requisite length to fend off pass rushers. Another former basketball player, Christian’s footwork is fluid and natural, and he’s well-balanced in his stance. Though he played on Lamar Jackson’s blind side for the Cardinals, Christian likely projects to start on the right side, with the potential to eventually blossom into a reliable left tackle in the NFL. However, his experience blocking for a mobile quarterback could serve him well in a place such as Seattle. And after snapping to Jackson during their pro day, maybe Christian can fill in at center in a pinch. Projected: Round 2-4
Teams in need of offensive tackles
1. Texans: They struck out in their bid to get Nate Solder in free agency. The need remains, especially with QB Deshaun Watson on the mend from knee surgery, but Houston might have to get creative given the team’s first pick is in the third round (68th overall).
2. Browns: With five of the draft’s top
64 picks, ample opportunity to find retired Joe Thomas’ successor.
3. Patriots: With Solder gone, good chance they use one of their two firstrounders on a new blind-side sentinel for soon-to-be-41-year-old Tom Brady.
4. Bills: Besides losing C Eric Wood and G Richie Incognito to retirement, Buffalo traded LT Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati to move up the draft board.
5. Jets: They’re certain to take a quarterback with the draft’s No. 3 pick. They’ll need to think about protecting their new franchise passer, though GM Mike Maccagnan’s next pick doesn’t come until the third round.