Tennessee Titans select Peter Skoronski in 1st round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Tennessee Titans have elected to select Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski with the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Skoronski is considered one of the top offensive lineman in the class.
He is the second Wildcats offensive lineman to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last three years following in the footsteps of current Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater.
Skoronski was a three-year starter at Northwestern at left tackle, taking over for Slater when he opted out out the 2020 season. Despite being a true freshman and not having a normal offseason due to the pandemic, Skoronski emerged right away as one of the best offensive lineman in the ground-and-pound Big Ten.
He earned All-Big Ten second team honors as a freshman as Northwestern made the Big Ten title game.
While the Wildcats struggled on the field the next two seasons, Skoronski continued elevating his game. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team each year. As a junior, he was named a unanimous All-American and the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year as the Big Ten’s top offensive lineman.
Skoronski was a highly-touted recruit out of Park Ridge (Ill.) Maine South. He was the No. 103 overall recruit and No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the 2020 On3 Industry Ranking. The On3 Industry is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking is the most advanced, complete and unbiased rating and ranking measurement in the industry.
What NFL draft analysts are saying about Peter Skoronski
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has high praise for Peter Skoronski, comparing him to one of the best guards of the past decade in Zack Martin.
The big question around Skoronski is about whether he is a better long-term fit at tackle — where he played in college — or guard, where many project him to be an elite talent right away.
“Skoronski spent his college years manning the quarterback’s blindside at tackle, but the body type and skill set are begging for a move to guard, where he can play his best football as a pro,” Zierlein wrote in his report. “He’s broad across his upper and lower body, but he has short arms. Skoronski plays with a deft blend of technique, feel and power as a run blocker and is capable of thriving in any run-blocking scheme. His lack of length can be a problem against stab-and-charge bull rushers and edge speed, but a move inside would mitigate those concerns. If Skoronski can get his protection anchor sorted out, he has the run-blocking talent to become an instant starter and a top-flight guard.”