Evan Neal, Alabama; 6-6.5, 350, 5.40, JR … Experienced third-year junior with 41 career starts who progressed from LG in 2019 to RT in 2020 and LT this year. He’s a massive guy with exceptional length who is quite simply a long, long way around. And while he’s no gazelle, Neal is a surprisingly good athlete for someone that size. He’s a dominating run blocker with a quick get-off, devastating punch and uncommon lower-body strength who simply engulfs defenders in front of him and just wears them down. Also plays with a bit of edge and goes hard to the whistle. Can also get out and reach second level blocks, although he will lunge at times and lose his balance. He’s also an accomplished pass blocker who as noted is just a long way around. He’s relatively nimble on his feet with a smooth slide step and can cut off the edge; also uses his long arms effectively to redirect pass rushers away from the pocket. However, has some issues with lateral quickness and doesn’t plant and change direction all that well and has struggled with counter moves by quality speed rushers in the past. Also has somewhat limited range in blitz pick-up. There will also be some concerns about weight control for a big guy who actually weighed close to 390 in high school, although he reportedly played at closer to 345 this past season.
Bottom line: Legitimate top 5 prospect with an uncommon combination of size, strength, athleticism and intensity, but at least on paper, may look better suited to playing RT at the next level where his lack of pure foot-speed won’t be exposed as much as it might on the other side. Indeed, it does not appear that there are a lot of Pro Bowl LTs in the NFL who run in the 5.40 range, although truth be told, there just aren’t that many pro LTs who are 6-7, 350 who can jump on top of a 48-inch box from a standing start.
Ikem Ekwonu; North Carolina State, 6-4, 320, 4.95, JR … AKA Ickey is a third-year junior with 32 career starts and top 5 potential; lacks prototype length but otherwise is the total package; he’s a good athlete who was a high school wrestler and actually ran anchor leg on his high school relay team; he’s also strong and powerful with a mean and nasty disposition on the field; also a super-smart kid in the classroom who is the son of a doctor and had offers to go to both Yale and Harvard, and it appears those smarts translate to the field where he has a high football IQ. Dominating drive blocker who explodes out of his stance, packs a devastating punch and plays with great leverage and body control. Can also make a block in space and is effective pulling; can also get to the second level and there is plenty of tape showing him knocking one man to the ground and going looking for another; only issue in the run game is that he can be over-aggressive at times and will occasionally lose his balance going for a pancake that isn’t necessarily there. Also a good pass protector who anchors well and just can’t be bull-rushed; has a smooth slide step and while he isn’t as tall as some OTs, still has long arms and generally gets the most out of his extension. However, he lacks elite lateral agility and has struggled at times against speed edge rushers, especially when trying to deal with cutback moves as he tends to overset and is slow to redirect.
Bottom line: Going to be an interesting guy to grade in that physically he’s best suited to play inside where he’ll likely get an elite grade, whereas most teams are going to be looking at OT where he’s good but does have some holes in his game. That versatility, though, also makes him one of the safer picks in this year’s draft class because if he doesn’t really work out at OT, he can kick inside where he’ll still have Pro Bowl potential.
Charles Cross, Mississippi State; 6-5, 310, 5.05, RSO … Third-year redshirt sophomore with 22 career starts at LT. Cross is arguably the best pure pass blocker in the 2022 draft. Indeed, he allowed just two sacks playing over 900 snaps this fall in the rugged SEC West. He is an exceptional athlete with a great first step and superior balance and body control who is very light and nimble on his feet; he also generally keeps his feet moving through the play even when engaged. He also has elite lateral agility, is very fluid in space, and can plant and redirect with ease. Also has good range and does a nice job identifying and cutting off blitzers and loopers. Doesn’t possess the most powerful punch, though, but is still effective redirecting opponents with his hands based on advanced timing and placement. Cross, though, isn’t all that big or physical. He’s a bulked up 310 pounds, but is still somewhat lean and will struggle at times to anchor against straight bull rushes. He’s also likely never going to be a true roadgrader drive blocking; in fact, playing in the Bulldogs’ Air Raid offense, he actually doesn’t get a lot of snaps in the run game. However, he is a willing run blocker who gets a hand on people quickly and does a nice job sealing off opposing tacklers; can also get to the second level and make a block in space.
Bottom line: Cross is a prototype LT prospect with decent length and outstanding feet and athleticism who is an excellent pass blocker. However, he’s not overly strong or physical and is only an average run blocker. Still, pass-blocking LTs are worth their weight in gold in today’s pass-oriented offenses and shouldn’t slide very far outside this year’s first ten picks if he isn’t selected sooner.
