Mel Kiper ranks Top 10 offensive tackles ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
One of the most important positions is the offensive tackle. That’s why so many tackles are drafted early in the NFL Draft and get massive contracts. After all, these are the players who protect a team’s quarterback. However, fans don’t always know much about these players. That’s where people like Mel Kiper come in.
Mel Kiper is a long-time NFL Draft expert for ESPN. One thing that he does is break down the talent on the offensive line and at the tackle position more specifically. He has done so, even though bowl season isn’t even over yet, by ranking the Top 10 offensive tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mel Kiper’s Top 10 tackles
Here are Mel Kiper’s 10 best offensive tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft:
- Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
- Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- Broderick Jones, Georgia
- Blake Freeland, BYU
- Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
- Jordan Morgan, Arizona
- Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
- Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
- Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
- Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Among those who Mel Kiper said just missed out on making his list of Top 10 offensive tackles were Darnell Wright of Tennessee and Ryan Hayes of Michigan.
The next thing that jumps out is that both of Ohio State’s tackles are on this list. That’s pretty impressive and it will help the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff. Of course, on the other side of the CFP semifinal that Ohio State is in will be Broderick Jones of Georgia.
Another notable player here is Cody Mauch of North Dakota State. It’s rare for FCS players to have the size to succeed in the NFL as offensive linemen. However, he is clearly a special player in Mel Kiper’s opinion.
So far, Mel Kiper and other NFL Draft gurus are basing all of their analysis on game film. However, there is time for that to change as the NFL Draft process continues in its process. That includes events like the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.