Part 3, OT: Inside the hunt for the next stalwart left tackle
Once again, the position is in high demand. Will Campbell is head of class in 2025. Count on teams rolling the dice throughout Rounds 1 and 2. NFL scouts guide you through all red flags inside.
This is the 41st year, and the fourth at Go Long, that Bob McGinn has written a position-by-position series previewing the NFL draft. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-2017), BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19) and The Athletic (2020-’21). Until 2014, many personnel men were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts.
Third of 12 parts: Tackles.
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By Bob McGinn
The golden age of offensive tackles in the NFL draft covered a span of five years three decades ago. Regarded as can’t-miss prospects as collegians, five players exceeded their immense expectations forging sterling pro careers that culminated with bronze busts in Canton.
In chronological draft order, the fivesome numbered Willie Roaf, No. 8, 1993; Tony Boselli, No. 2, 1995; Jonathan Ogden, No. 4, 1996; Orlando Pace, No. 1, 1997, and Walter Jones, No. 6, 1997.
The demand for dancing bears to block the ever-increasing explosiveness of edge rushers has never been higher. In the first 55 years of the common draft only once, in 2013, had as many as nine offensive linemen been selected in the first round. Desperate teams drafted nine O-linemen in the Round 1 in two of the past three drafts.
“You go through these rosters,” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said, “these linemen are pathetic that are playing in the NFL.”
To put it mildly, every team is digging for giants with agility. What they’re seeing this spring is a good, not great cluster of tackles, better than most years but, of course, teams always want more.
“This is a mixed bag,” an AFC personnel man said. “If you talk to 10 people you get 10 different orders, I’m sure. There are very few left tackles. There are some very good right tackles and there’s some tackles that will probably end up playing guard. There’s some depth in this group and a bunch of ‘em are gonna go because they’re hard to find.
“There are no Ogdens, Bosellis, Walter Joneses. But in today’s football these guys go in the top 10, top 15 or top 20.”
All 12 parts are exclusive to Go Long paid subscribers.
Links to date:
TACKLES
1. WILL CAMPBELL, Louisiana State (6-6, 319, 4.98, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s super talented,” one scout said. “Can do it all. He’s quick, has feet, he’s athletic. His technique’s really good. In the run game, he can position or jolt people. In pass pro, he can mirror. He’ll give up some (pressure) every so often on an inside move mostly. He’s got Pro Bowl talent. His arms are a little short. That’d be the only concern.” Arm (32 5/8 inches) and hand (9 ½ inches) measurements at the combine (regarded as the standard by most teams) were the shortest/smallest among the top tackles. “There’s always exceptions, there’s always outliers,” the scout said.