2024 LT class
 

We're about to the point where it's time to look at trading up for a long term LT.

Not just from an on field aspect, but from a financial spot.

Who we like this year?

Typically around 4-6 OT's taken in the first round of the NFL draft since 2018. Here are some ball park rankings rights now:

1. Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
2. Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)
3. J.C Latham (Alabama) *Right Tackle
4. Kingsley Suamataia (BYU)
5. Amarius Mims (Georgia) *Ankle surgery, to miss 4-6 weeks
6. Graham Barton (Duke)

Obviously lots of time for the rankings to change. I actually like Graham Barton quite a bit for a guy who I think might be reasonable to go after.

Joe Alt is an Andy Reid dream at LT>

Need a TE and WR more.

Yup - Alt seemed letter perfect.

But I ain't giving up 2 1st rounders for him and that's what it would cost.

I know the argument - it's do that or pay through the nose. I get it.

But lord, with the way this team uses its picks, I just can't get there.

We don't win the Super Bowl last year if we trade the McDuffie and Karlaftis picks for Ekwonu, Neal or Cross. And all those guys were seen as true blue-chip OT prospects.

And that's the kind of draft capital you're talking about here. Meanwhile Darrisaw has been about as good as any OT taken over the last few years and he was taken at 23.

I don't mind a 1st round OT - I don't like the idea of a top 10 guy at the cost of that kind of draft capital to get there.

I'm equivocally high on Graham Barton.

It would be interesting to see if they're able to tag and trade Jones (or Sneed) and recoup a pick or two.

Probably their best shot tbh. If Karlaftis really is this asskicker and FAU continues looking good then we might have a shot at it with a not so crazy drop off.

They could recoup some picks, use the money to go pay another DE and add some filler in the middle.

If Omenihu kicks ass then just up his contract, develop BJ Thompson and then draft more DL at some point in the draft.

I'm as pro keeping Chris Jones as anyone. I think it's easier to find the guys who' we would lose replacements than Jones.

But if I could parlay Jones into a young starting LT on a rookie deal, I would be very interested in it.

Like if I could have Alt and for arguments sake, Chase young (or Josh Uche) I think that's a pretty easy move to make.

Why am I watching Alt film cutups? There's no chance he's a Chief right?

Same issue as hoping we have a chance at Harrison Jr. I mean, Alt is the top LT prospect in the draft.

If we assume Chicago has two picks inside the top 5 with one as the top overall, as it currently stands, then I'm guessing they are going to roll with Caleb Williams and the top LT available and set a foundation offensively for the future. It's clear, at least to anyone with eyeballs, that their current QB is not the solution.

I don't follow much draft stuff this early, but I did listen to Dan Brugler's podcast about a month ago, and he and Nate Tice were lower on Alt. They had him as the 4th OT, and see him as a late 1st/early 2nd guy. This is the podcast, it's cued up to the section on Alt.

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Also he had the top 5 OTs as:

1. Olu Fashanu (Penn State)
2. Amarius Mims (Georgia)
3. JC Latham (Alabama)
4. Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
5. Patrick Paul (Houston)

Just hoping that Wanya develops into a LT then we move up slightly for Brock Bowers who drops after a video comes out of him kicking puppies.

If Alt lasts that long, he'll be a Chief. He's too perfect for what Andy looks for in a T.

The BYU LT may end up being another favorite of mine. Dude is an unreal athlete.

Are we sure we're going to need a new OT?

Why not Resign Danna, draft DT or LT in the first and second then draft another high upside developmental guy at DT later in the draft.

We are already looking at losing Sneed, Gay and Chris Jones this next off-season and with a sign and trade for Chris and then the compensational picks we should have plenty of ammo to trade up if we like someone and we can find someone who wants to trade.

We can't necessarily go out and sign a "big name" when we have Creed Humphrey, Nick Bolton and Trey smith coming up. We don't have a lot of overhang from dead cap money money coming available either because Veach has been doing a good job managing the cap.

We need to try keeping our guys and rebuilding the core as Kelce ages out and Chris jones probably won't be on the team.

Mims and Latham are probably RT only guys. Alt is an elite pass blocker and his run blocking has about caught up. He has pro lineage and does everything right. no sacks last year, with only 6 hurries and 2 hits. That's pretty good. He's going to be as rock solid a prospect as you're going to get. He might be right, he's not as athletic as some guys, but you know you're getting a good one.

I want absolutely nothing to do with any Alabama T. I don't know what they're doing to their guys there, but it isn't translating to the NFL.

The BYU kid with the tough to spell last name and Alt are the guys I have eyes for early on in the process.

I can see a franchise tag trade leading to having the ammo to get one of them, whether that's Sneed or Jones.

That’s the guy I bet we target, if Alt goes top ten.

He’s got a huge upside in this system.

Assuming Alt and Fashanu are outside of our range even to move up, I'd like Barton, Mims or even Patrick Paul if we stay put. I think we've really got to fix LT this year. Imo we're overpaying for Taylor and D. Smith isn't working. If we get a guy in and he takes a year to get up to speed, so be it if it gives us 3 or 4 years solid play

Keep Anthony Belton from NC State on your short-list IMO (if he declares, RJr). Probably will be a quality LG if not a swing early on day 3.

I'm curious about

Tyler Guyton LT/RT - 67, 327, OU
https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Tyler-Guyton-OT-TCU

Zion Nelson LT/RT/LG - 6'5, 315, MIA
https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...elson-OL-Miami

Before he tore his knee up last year, many thought Nelson would be a round 1 or 2 pick. I'd definitely take a shot in round 4. If he grades out at end of 3, I'd go for it then but medicals will be key for him.

I was wondering what happened, hadn't heard it was his knee.

I could see him becoming one of Veach's signature high value picks.

Kipers updated ESPN rankings:

Offensive tackles

1. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
2. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
3. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
4. JC Latham, Alabama
5. Jordan Morgan, Arizona
6. Amarius Mims, Georgia
7. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
8. Patrick Paul, Houston
9. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
10. Walter Rouse, Oklahoma

Been kind of plowing through bit on OT and here's how I'm starting to feel about Days 1 & 2...

LEFT TACKLE

R1.1 Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
R1.2 Joe Alt, Notre Dame
R1.3 Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma (/RT)
R1.4 Amarius Mims, Georgia
R2.1 Jordan Morgan, Arizona
R2.2 Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
R3.1 Zion Nelson, Miami
R3.2 Kingsley Suamataia, BYU (/RT)
R3.3 Javon Foster, Missouri (/RT)
R3.4 Patrick Paul, Houston

RIGHT TACKLE

R1.1 Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
R1.2 J.C. Latham, Alabama
R2.1 Blake Fisher, Notre Dame

TACKLES THAT NEED TO MOVE TO GUARD
R2 Graham Barton, Duke
R3 Jonah Monheim, USC (if he declares)

My overall feeling is this draft is going to look a lot like 2020 but sub in EDGE guys for all the LBs that were taken and push WRs up a tad.