2022 NFL Draft Preview: Offensive tackle sleepers and Broncos fits

The Denver Broncos still need to figure out the right tackle position on the offensive line. Yes, they have options – some good options in my opinion – but there is no long-term solution at the position on the roster. The 2022 NFL Draft may be where the Broncos address arguably their biggest need.

I was happy when the Broncos signed Billy Turner in free agency. Turner was with the Broncos back from 2016-18, but ended up leaving in free agency to the Green Bay Packers. While he was a reserve and part-time player in his first stint with the Broncos, Turner became a key member of the Packers – even filling in at left tackle to protect Aaron Rodgers.

He returns to the Mile High City a better player, and he’s going to be the best right tackle the Broncos have had since Tyler Polumbus. However, Turner is only signed to a one-year contract – meaning the Broncos still don’t have the long-term answer.

This tackle class has some elite-level talent near the top, and there are good players behind those few players. However, I think the talent dries up quickly – and that may prompt the Broncos to move up from their no.64 overall pick at the end of the second round.

In this article, I will look at the market for the position. I will also write about sleepers at the tackle position and some players who could fit what the Broncos need in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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Market Watch

There could be as many as five offensive tackles selected in the first round. This is a talented group, and the position is arguably the second-most important in all of football behind the guy tackles protect on the edge – the quarterback.

Ikem Ekwonu (NC State) is my favorite tackle in this draft class. A former wrestler from high school, and a track star, Ekwonu understands leverage and puts defenders on their backs regularly. He must love pancakes with the way he takes players down. Most maulers are not light on their feet, instead relying on their power to dominate. Ekwonu can use both strength and athleticism to win. I fully expect him to be one of the first players picked in this draft class.

Like Okonkwo, Alabama’s Evan Neal could go off the board in the top 10. He’s one of the most versatile players in this tackle class, with starting experience at left tackle, right tackle and left guard. Neal is a consistent player with a size/athleticism combination that few can match. He’s a flexible player who can still maintain his block while moving his man out of the way. Neal does lean a bit much at times against elite EDGE players, but he should be able to clean that up with pro coaching. He’s huge but not a road-grader as a run-blocker – even with experience at right tackle. Instead, Neal uses his size and hand placement to protect a quarterback’s blind side at a high level.

Had the Broncos still had their No. 9 overall pick, I would have been recommending them to draft one of the previous players listed or Charles Cross (Mississippi State) in that spot. Cross has a pro skill set and can start from day one. He came from an offense that averaged over 50 passing attempts per game, so you know he knows how to protect the passer. Cross has the ability to counter initial moves with hand fighting or proper footwork. He can add bulk and power in an NFL weight program and be a better pro than collegian – and he was a First-Team All-American in 2021.

Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa) really improved his draft stock earlier this year during the practices for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. I love how mean he is. On the football field, Penning wants to tear your head off, and he plays to the echo of the whistle. He’s not overcompensating for poor technique – that’s just the way he is as a football player. If you want to make a statement with physicality, then Penning is your guy as a late first-round pick.

There’s a chance that Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan) goes near the end of the first round. If not, he should be an early second-round pick in this draft. Born and raised in Austria, Raimann had to fulfill a sixth-month military commitment after high school and before he went to college. A tight end to begin his college career with the Chippewas, Raimann made the switch to offensive tackle in 2020 spring practices. He plays with great awareness and knows how to mirror his opponent’s moves. I see Raimann as more of a developmental player, but it may not take long for him to get up to speed and perform like a Pro Bowl player in the NFL.

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Sleepers

There is some interesting mid-round talent in this class (guys like Braxton Jones and Spencer Burford), but I want to focus on deep sleepers in this section. That means I will be highlighting players most have never heard of, but these guys have caught the eyes of the scouting community.

Matt Waletzko (North Dakota) is a huge prospect who is likely to be a late-round pick or priority free agent. A baseball and basketball star in high school, Waletzko was a smart left tackle as a prep and started almost 30 games at left tackle as a collegian. I saw him at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this year and came away impressed. He’s a nasty player who is technically sound. I believe Waletzko will benefit from NFL nutritionists and weight program to prevent his weight from fluctuating like it did in college.

Andrew Rupcich (Culver-Stockton) had 48 consecutive starts at left tackle in college after playing right tackle in high school. Some feel a move inside to guard is best for him in the pros, but I think he should get a chance at right tackle in the NFL before any move is considered. He’s one of the best and most consistent players to come from such a small program, and that’s why he’ll fall in the draft – likely out of the draft. However, I think the athleticism and nasty attitude is there for Rupcich to be a sleeper worth taking a chance on as a priority free agent.

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Broncos Fits

The Broncos are bringing in some tackles for top-30 visits, and they’ll continue examining who could be available for them in the draft. Bringing a player in to the facility isn’t a guarantee a team will select that player, but it’s something important to note.

Tulsa’s Tyler Smith has been to UC Health Training Center for one of those private visits. Smith was a defensive player in high school before injuries forced him to the offensive line where he took to his new position like a fish to water. His size and athleticism combination make him a great potential fit for the Broncos zone-blocking system.
Smith is a powerful and aggressive player – and he has violent striking hands. His punch can be devastating to opponents, and he knows how to hand fight with the best of them. Smith does need to work on his technique because he will too often rely on his aggressiveness, and this gets him in trouble with the referees. He had 16 penalties in 2021, 12 of them being holding calls. Obviously, that’s the part of his game that needs to the most work.

Adding Smith, moving him to the right side and having him learn behind Billy Turner sounds like a good plan to me.

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