While the offensive tackle position might not be an immediate need for the Los Angeles Rams, the pantry is not quite fully stocked. The Rams are set at tackle with Rob Havenstein and Alaric Jackson for 2025, yet there should still be some interest in drafting a tackle, even if it a developmental prospect.
Hav will be 33 years-old and has missed nine games to injury over the past two seasons. AJax is solid on the blindside and showed strong improvement in his second season as a starter, but had some injury problems early in his tenure. First off the bench, right now, would be Warren McClendon and a fair assessment of his game, thus far, would be “hit and miss”. Behind him is AJ Arcuri and KT Leveston. Arcuri is entering his fourth season and hasn’t broken through, while Leveston, drafted to be a guard but with tackle versatility, spent his rookie season on the Injured Reserve List.
This would not appear to be a deep unit, ready with a swing player, if the injury bug bites.
This year’s tackle class is interesting to navigate. There are good players sprinkled through the draft board like gold nuggets and they will likely find their way to the top on draft day. Many scout and pundit reports, particularly out of the Senior Bowl, were that this draft class doesn’t offer many “can’t miss” prospects, but is fairly deep in developmental projects. They feel that many would be best served by moving inside to guard. In fact, many of the top prospects were moved to the interior in field drills and did their best work there. They point to less than average physical measurables, height, weight, arm length, hands, and wingspan.
What are the measurements of an NFL offensive tackle?
The average NFL tackle stands 6’ 6” and weighs 317 lb. with 34” arms and although those parameters leave out most of the 2025 top prospects, that’s the baseline for this set of prospects. It offers a look at players that are lower down the draft board, but could have draft value as they fit the “true” tackle mold.
The Prospects
Cameron Williams – Texas – 6’ 6” 317 lb. 34 1/2” arms
21 year-old comes out as true junior. Over-weight (369 lb.) early in his career and just getting his body re-worked. Didn’t become a starter until 2024 and only saw action in 37 games, over half on special teams in his first three seasons.
Blocky build with wide hips, big butt and thick legs. Williams is not the phone booth mauler I expected. He shows good power on down blocks, but not as much on straight drive. Adequate feet for reach blocks, smooth climber and puller and a good striker in space. some of that power lack comes from playing too high, ducking his head, and pushing from a weakened leveraged position. Good pass blocker who patiently mirrors before throwing his punch. Needs to get his hands up/ready and better accuracy on those punches. but if he gets latched on he doesn’t come loose.
There’s a developmental aspect to his game, just hasn’t got the same on-field experience of other top prospects. I have a late Rd2/early Rd3 grade on Williams based on his size, length, and potential. Many draft pundits think he’s a better fit at guard, but I think he’s agile enough for right tackle and that some of his raw technical foot/hand issues can be cleaned up with work and game reps.
Anthony Belton – North Carolina State – 6’ 6” 345 lb. 34 5/8” arms
Not tendered any offers out of high school, Belton began his college career with a couple of JUCO years at Georgia Military Institute before the Wolfpack signed him for his final three. Started 34 of 39 games.
Massive, powerful frame, with an ornery play style. Known for his pancakes, Belton likes to sustain his blocks until his opponent is on the ground and grinds all the way through the whistle. Has good feet, change of direction, and lateral move skills for such a behemoth. Very good pass protector. Patient and powerful punch, has a good anchor, and quite frankly forces edges into a long trip around with his girth and length. Plus grip strength and torque power. Worked in a blocking scheme similar to the Rams zone/duo and as you would expect, is a powerful down and drive blocker. He climbs better off double teams rather than chasing down defenders at the second level.
Belton had a good week at the Senior Bowl, showing the run blocking skills to complement his advanced pass protection. I rate Belton as late 3rd/early 4th pick. Although he’s still raw in areas, particularly playing under control and not reaching, there’s a high ceiling. Played left tackle at NCST, although many pundits like him as a guard. Still working on his body composition, it will be interesting to see how he responds after time in a pro strength/conditioning program.
Charles Grant – William & Mary – 6’ 5” 311 lb. 34 3/4” arms
Began playing football as a high school junior, his background was as a wrestler. All-State wrestler before signing with the FCS Tribe. Grant was a three-time All- American and pocketed starts in 41 of 46 games. Suffered a sprained knee in his final year and although accepted to the Senior Bowl, did not participate on-field.
Twitchy off the snap with agility and balance. Played in a zone offense and showed the requisite lateral movement and footwork to lead or reach and seal off lanes. Will need to play with lower pad level, he won’t be able to simply dominate NFL competition. Good hand fighter and clamp-on strength. His punch is solid, but can get too wide and high, leading to lobster/hug reps. Although he has an aggressive style and natural power, Grant will strength work for the next level. Technical aspects need some polish, but are really pretty good for his level of competition.
Can Grant transition his game to the pro’s? He’s still learning the subtleties and nuances of the offensive line, but has the both the physical and athletic traits to go along with a known work ethic. Missing the Senior Bowl may have tempered his rise up draft boards, but he has plus traits and dominated lesser competition. I have a mid/late Round 3 grade on this prospect and with a dearth of true tackles in this draft class, Grant may sneak into Round 2.
Hollin Pierce – Rutgers – 6’ 8” 341 lb. 36” arms
Was once a 450 lb. player at military prep school. Walked on to Rutgers and after a COVID19 shortened 2020, began football in earnest during 2021. He was penciled in as a starter that year and went on to start 50 of 51 games, 26 at left tackle and 24 on the right. He was productive as well as durable, with only four penalties and 15 sacks over 3100+ snaps against Big10 competition.
Well put together, monolithic frame. Pierce shows sheer bully power in the run game and he’s been consistently successful all through college. He gets off quickly, locks on with a stellar grip and keeps legs driving through defenders. Good production in pass pro, but needs substantial polish for the next level. Heavy-footed when moving laterally, tends to rely on his length to force outside speed away. Can also be a bit slow to engage his hands which allows speed-to-power and bull rushers into his chest and collapse him into the pocket.
While Pierce needs to continue re-shaping his body and needs technical work on his pass sets, he has the reputation as a hard worker and voracious learner. Functional movement is the key word for prospects of this size, if he can show he can handle NFL speed, he’ll be a value. A late 5th/early 6th round grade is fair for his risk/reward, but his physical traits are highly desired by NFL teams. Dawand Jones, out of Ohio State in 2023, was a similar player and he went early Round 4.
Jalen Rivers – Miami – 6’ 6” 319 lb. 34 7/8” arms
Consensus four-star prospect out of high school, was also a state champion in the shot put. Began his Florida career at guard and switched to left tackle in 2023. All told, Rivers started 31 games on the left side, 10 at guard and 21 at tackle. A big caveat is that he missed parts of three seasons with injuries.
Blocked off frame with solid girth all the way down with a huge wingspan. Good pass blocker, doesn’t give a lot ground in the pocket. Stellar anchor from lower body/core strength and uses punishing, power punches. Not a fluid athlete, Rivers is a grinder, working hard to use decent feet and powerful long arms to stay attached to pass rushers. More of a mauler than driver in the run game, he latches on and torques defenders out of the path. Best in a downhill attack, he’s not a great lateral mover, but can certainly climb to the next level off double teams and has enough move skills to get out on screens
Turns 23 in September. Solid to stellar showing at the Senior Bowl, showed off his versatility by playing all five positions as well as over-powering defenders. Guard may end up being his best position, but should get a long look at right tackle. I originally graded him as a mid/late 6th prospect, but have since upgraded to the late 4th.
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson – 6’ 7” 316 lb. 34” arms
Transferred to Florida for his final college season and started 11 of 12 games at right tackle. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass block grade of 81.1 and 71.6 overall. BCD spent his first five years at San Diego State, Started 35 of 37 games played, 18 at left tackle and 19 at right.
Sets up very nice in pass blocking and has a heavy punch. He can easily re-direct or force things outside and the long way around. A bit heavy-footed when trying to mirror rushers and susceptible to inside cross-overs. Doesn’t seem to get the push you would expect in the run game, not aggressive and at times looks like he’s just going through the motions when the play’s away from him.
I originally rated Crenshaw-Dickson as a mid-5th rounder, but after further film study moved that downward to the cusp of draftable. There’s a possible high ceiling, but also a low floor around him. Although he has some pro-caliber traits, they haven’t meshed together. The 24 year-old will likely get a longer look because of his tailor-made tackle measurements.
Gerad Christian-Lichtenham – Oregon State – 6’ 8” 328 lb. 35 7/8” arms
Started all 12 games in his only season with the Beavers, over 815 snaps only gave up two sacks and earned a 84.6 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. The 23 year-old toiled three years at Colorado before transferring and although not playing much in Year 1, came on to start 19 of 21 games with 1300+snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him an 89.3 pass block grade in 2023.
Under the radar prospect has experience and although in possession of a tall, spindly look with thinnish legs, he plays with sneaky athleticism. While he plays a bit high and needs work on his pad level, GHC is quite balanced, fluid and has light feet for his size. Adequate base/anchor and patiently engages his hands. Good striker, and can lock out when he latches on. Uses his hands very well, but when he lets the defender land first and get his chest, his upright play style is exposed. In the run game he shows push downhill, climbs well, and has the feet to reach block.
Although he played on the blind side, GCL will likely play on the right as a pro. I like him as a sleeper in the mid/late 6th round area. He already has pass blocking skills to build on and could flourish with more lower body strength work. He had a solid Shrine Bowl week, often engulfing with his size and demeanor.
Carson Vinson – Alabama A&M – 6’ 7” 318 lb. 34 1/2” arms
Durable college career, racking up 48 games and 3400+ snaps. Garnered All-American accolades in his final season and earned invites to the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. At these draft showcases, Vinson proved his small-school pedigree could compete with all comers, both physically and athletically.
For Vinson, it all boils down to his ability to absorb coaching up his issues and transition to the pro game. While he has the prototype build and athleticism/agility to play left tackle, it was his size, length, and raw strength that dominated lesser competition. He now needs to polish up foot and hand technique. Had strong Senior Bowl workouts, but then struggled with problems in the game.
Although not included on my opening Top 300 due to limited exposure, I have re-calibrated Vinson’s score, putting him on the cusp of being drafted (mid/late 7th). He’s a high ceiling project certainly, and in a thin class, has the proper traits to be developed. In fact, his athleticism alone will likely get him the call.
Jalen Travis – Iowa State – 6’ 8” 339 lb. 34 7/8” arms
Came to the midwest as a graduate student from Princeton. A starter in 2022 and 2023, an injury late in his final Ivy League season lingered on through the first three games as a Cycloe. Started 11 of 14 games for the Cyclones.
Toolsy developmental project. Limited field time belies his need for technique work. A better pass blocker at this early point. Good punch and understands how to use his length. Although athletic for his size, he gets off to a heavy-footed start. Against the run, more of a screen blocker rather than driving off the ball. Like so many tall players, pad level/knee bend needs consistency or leverage is lost.
Showed out at the NFL Scouting Combine. Very athletic for his size with a strong basketball background in his pedigree. Not a particularly a high ceiling on Travis and I give him an undrafted rating, although his size/length/athleticism profile could garner a late selection.
What, if any, are the Rams trends at drafting offensive tackles?
Since Les Snead and Sean McVay paired up in 2017, L.A. hasn’t really had to worry about drafting tackle. With Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein, the bookends were stable and the Rams have never been put into a position to throw valuable draft capital at the position. Hav is still around and when Whitworth retired, undrafted Alaric Jackson won the left tackle role.
In total, the Rams have drafted 12 offensive linemen since 2017, but only three tackles. Six of the others had played tackle in college, but L.A. moved them inside to guard.The final three were centers with guard versatility. Joseph Noteboom was the earliest tackle pick at #89 2018, AJ Arcuri was #261 in 2022, and in 2023, it was Warren McClendon at #174. The common trend in these three is that all have arms over 34”.
If the Rams draft to form, they are as likely to grab a mid-round developmental project as anything else. One that brushes closely to the height/length/weight parameters set for this article.
