NFL Draft: Super Six Packers Prospects at Offensive Tackle
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers don’t have an immediate need at offensive tackle that absolutely must be handled in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, a draft isn’t always about immediate needs. It’s about addressing future needs so they don’t become immediate needs.
That could be the case at offensive tackle. The Packers will feel good about lining up in Week 1 with David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman as the starting tackles. Fast forward to 2024, Bakhtiari’s cap number will soar past $40 million and Nijman will be an unrestricted free agent.
If the Packers want to pre-emptively address offensive tackle, they’ll be tempted by our Super Six group of prospects. Really, we could have cut this down to the Fabulous Five because that’s where there’s a substantial drop-off. The Packers prefer athletic blockers so Ohio State’s mountainous Dawand Jones is not in this story.
1. Paris Johnson, Ohio State
Measureables: 6-6 3/8, 313 pounds, 36 1/8 arms. DNP drills.
Stats and accolades: After redshirting in 2020, Johnson started at right guard in 2021 before moving to left tackle in 2022. It was quite a debut, with Johnson winning consensus first-team All-American honors. Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he ranked 20th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed two sacks and was flagged one time – a false start. Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, he ranked 11th with a blown-block rate of 0.8 percent. He was third with a run-behind rate of 35 percent and fourth with 3.5 rushing yards before contact on runs to his gap.
How he fits: Johnson is a Day 1 starting left tackle with the athleticism and power to excel in any run scheme. The winner of the Anthony Munoz Award as the top lineman in high school. An All-American in college. He could be an All-Pro in the NFL.
“I feel like I’ve proven that in my film already,” Johnson said at the Scouting Combine “And at this time, it's me being able to show them in the interviews, being able to get on a board. I’m able to explain my technique, what went right, what went wrong, things I can improve on? What are the things, what’s the mindset, how quick am I doing my memory? Trying to remember a play installed, I think with stuff like that, I think all that stuff's been great.”
Athlon says: He's a natural on the outside, a big, fluid athlete with nimble feet and outstanding balance. He has the heavy hands to win with relative ease when he times his initial punch properly; even when he doesn't, his recovery athleticism is special, with the quick feet, length and flexible core to regain an edge.
Personal touch: Maybe Johnson should have written this segment. He majored in journalism at Ohio State. In a story for The Players Tribune, he wrote about his first exposure to Ohio State – its football camp as an eighth-grader.
“I was like, “Mom??? Ohio State??? Really???” I almost took it as punishment. And the funniest part was that this was 2015, when they were coming off the national championship, so I don’t even have a good excuse. Literally, the first thing they had all the campers do was go and take a picture with Urban Meyer next to the trophy. I swear to you, I had no idea who this man was.”
He can speak Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese. “Education is extremely important in our household,” his mom told The Columbus Dispatch. “There's an expectation to be a scholarly athlete, not just a student-athlete, to be scholarly in everything that he did.”
When he was born, Johnson was just shy of 2-feet tall. As a freshman in high school, he got his first scholarship offer.
2. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Measureables: 6-foot-4, 313 pounds, 32 1/4 arms. 5.16 40, DNP shuttle, 9.31 RAS.
Stats and accolades: Skoronski won the Rimington-Pace Award as the Big Ten’s top offensive lineman and became the program’s first unanimous first-team All-American. A three-year starting left tackle, he allowed five career sacks, according to PFF. Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he ranked second in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed one sack and was flagged five times, including twice for holding. Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, he ranked eighth with a blown-block rate on running plays of 0.7 percent. However, runs to his gap averaged 1.8 yards before contact, worst of those 20.
How he fits: Is he a tackle or a guard? The arm length could be an issue but the Packers will figure it out; they’ve generally figured it out when it comes to blockers and their perceived shortcomings. Zone or man, he’s excelled as a run blocker. He is among the safest picks in the draft and probably will be off the board. The fact that he might not be a left tackle puts him behind Johnson in these rankings.
“Teams have been pretty open about that,” Skoronski said at the Scouting Combine of his NFL position. “No one has really sat me down and said, 'No, you can't play tackle for us.' Teams have just asked me where i see myself. I said that I'm a tackle, I play tackle, but am more than willing to play anywhere. Teams talk about versatility for sure, too. If they move me to guard, I'm happy to do that. No one has really said, 'You have to play guard. You can't play tackle.' No one has really boxed me in, which I'm pretty pleased about.”
Sports Info Solutions says: Skoronski projects as a quality starting left tackle who fits best in a power-run scheme. He has shown the athleticism and technique to play outside, and despite the ideal arm length, has held his own against some elite edge rushers over his collegiate career.
Personal touch: As you probably know, Skoronski’s grandfather is Packers legend Bob Skoronski, the starting left tackle on the Glory Years championship teams. Bob Skoronski died in 2018 at age 84. With the Packers, he was a starter for five NFL championship teams, a team captain and, eventually, a Packers Hall of Famer.
Peter’s father, Bob Jr., played on the defensive line at Yale.
“Just how to act and how to play,” Peter told The Athletic of family lessons. “I’ve learned a ton from my father and grandfather just in terms of being that guy who just gets their job done, doesn’t say much about it and just is consistent and just playing hard and playing through the whistle, hustling to the play.”
Skoronski said he grew up a Packers fan.
“He's sort of been my football mentor ever since I was born,” he said at the Combine. “I just always have looked up to him and wanted to follow in his footsteps. This is a dream continuing in his legacy. In terms of stories, nothing in particular stands out. Him being part of such great teams and winning two Super Bowls and five championships, that's sort of a Skoronski family legend in a sense. That's always been someone I've looked up to.”
3. Broderick Jones, Georgia
Measureables: 6-5 3/8, 311 pounds, 34 3/4 arms. 4.97 40, DNP shuttle, 9.58 RAS.
Stats and accolades: A five-star prospect, Jones redshirted in 2020, started four games at left tackle in 2021 and every game at left tackle in 2022 in helping the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships . Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he tied for fifth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed zero sacks and was flagged two times (both false starts). Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, he ranked 18th with a blown-block rate on running plays of 1.8 percent. Runs behind him averaged 3.5 yards before contact, fourth-best.
How he fits: Jones is an easy fit for any offense. He’s got the goods to be a premier blind-side protector and has the athleticism for zone-blocking schemes and getting out front on sweeps and screens.
Playing at Georgia, he’s NFL ready after daily battles on the practice field. “At Georgia, we’ve always been known for our defense, so going against guys like Nolan (Smith), Travon (Walker), Azeez (Ojulari) and Jermaine Johnson, it really ups your game,” Jones said at the Combine. “Practice was always harder than the games. I took every practice like a game. We practiced physical and we practiced hard.”
Athlon says: Along with the ability to blast opponents off the line of scrimmage, his quickness firing off the line, foot speed, body control and nasty demeanor allow him to cover a ton of ground and leave flattened defenders in his wake. In pass protection, the tools are there, with nimble feet, a low center of gravity, heavy hands and exceptionally long arms.
Personal touch: The first of Jones’ numerous scholarship offers came from Alabama when he was a high school freshman. Not long thereafter, he got a snake.
“My mom didn’t want me to have a snake,” Jones told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “My granddad had a snake — his snake was really big though — and I guess she’s always been scared of snakes. So, she didn’t want me to get one. But I’m always going to these car shows and a lot people have snakes out there. There’s a whole bunch of them, more than a handful. So, that’s really where I got the interest in having one.”
Jones also played basketball in high school, which helped with his footwork. “I think it helps me out a lot being able to have these sweet feet; it puts my game on the next level along with my other attributes,” Jones said at the Combine. “I believe my athleticism separates me a lot, just being so athletic and so physical and always trying to dominant. It’s all about the mentality.”
Jones will be the latest Georgia left tackle to wind up in the NFL. The team’s last three left tackles were Isaiah Wynn, Andrew Thomas and Jamaree Salyer. With an incredible skill-set and on-the-field growth, he’s gone from “raw” to among the best tackles in the draft.
“I think everybody has their unique ways,” he said at the Combine. “I don’t believe it’s just one specific best tackle in the class. Everybody’s good at something. I believe my athleticism separates me a lot, so athletic, so physical, and always trying to dominate. It’s always about the mentality. I feel like I’ve got that Mamba mentality all the time. I feel like that’s what separates me.”
4. Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Measureables: 6-5 3/8, 333 pounds, 33 3/4 arms. 5.01 40, 4.72 shuttle, 9.68 RAS.
Stats and accolades: Wright started 42 games for the Volunteers, with 27 at right tackle, 13 at left tackle and two at right guard. He started 13 games at right tackle as a senior and was first-team all-SEC. Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he ranked fourth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed zero sacks and was flagged two times, including one for holding. Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, Wright and Oklahoma’s Wanya Morris were first with a blown-block rate on running plays of 0.0 percent. On runs to his gap, the Vols averaged 3.3 yards before contact – sixth-best.
How he fits: Wright considers himself a left tackle but he might be better suited for right tackle. That’s no slight on Wright. Long gone are the days when the left tackle had to deal with the opposition’s best pass rusher. In today’s NFL, the right tackle might get that duty as often as the left tackle.
“This guy has it all,” former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “He’s a 40-plus-game starter at Tennessee, All-SEC and he’s had an unbelievable week. I think he’s working himself into the first round.
“You put on the Alabama tape; he was dominant [against Will Anderson] and you’re seeing more of the same here. He’s a smooth mover, long arms; strong, great fundamentals. I don’t see any holes in his game. When you look to project to the next level, he has the prototypical size and skill set to be a front-line offensive tackle.”
Athlon says: He's a dominating run blocker, especially in firing off the line of scrimmage and battling in tight quarters. He has enough athleticism to get out as a puller and on wide-zone runs. As a pass protector, he showed much-improved feel for timing his punch last season, making huge strides in that department.
Personal touch: With experience on the left and right side, which does he prefer? “I’m probably most comfortable with right tackle because I’ve played more snaps on the right side,” he told The Draft Network before the Senior Bowl. “The majority of my experience is at right tackle. There are a lot of differences between the two in all honesty. Ultimately, it comes down to which one you’ve put more time into. For me, that’s right tackle.
They’re very different. It’s like trying to do something with your opposite hand. If you do them both enough, you’ll get comfortable doing both, but the one that you focus on the most is probably the one that comes more naturally to you. You’ll get the job done, but it’s a little weird (laughs).”
Wright was 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds while in eighth grade. He’s competitive in … anything. ““I had a friend in elementary school and we did this ‘Star Reader’ thing,” Wright told Rivals while still in high school in Huntington, W.Va. “You go from like ‘High School’, ‘College’, ‘Professional’ and ‘All-Star’ or something like that. He was always reading at the All-Star level, so I just tried to read more. So I just started reading a lot and I liked it. I have just kept reading.
“I like to compete. I want to win in everything I do. I wanted to be the best reader in elementary school. I want to be the best on the football field. I just like to compete.”
Wright, who dominated an individual matchup against Alabama star Will Anderson – arguably the best player in the entire draft class – had a predraft visit with the Packers. Anderson called Wright the best tackle he faced.
“I think of myself as the competition rises, I just want to meet that challenge,” Wright said at the Combine. “You see the best guys and you want your name to be in there so much. I don't know how to explain it.”
5. Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Measureables: 6-4 3/8, 315 pounds, 34 1/8 arms. 4.98 40, 4.84 shuttle, 7.93 RAS.
Stats and accolades: Harrison was a two-year starter, with 23 starts at left tackle and one at right tackle. He was first-team all-Big 12 in 2022. Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he ranked eighth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed one sack and was flagged two times for holding and four more times for false starts. Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, he ranked eighth with a blown-block rate on running plays of 0.7 percent. The Sooners ran behind him 35 percent of the time and averaged 3.8 yards before contract, figures that rank third and second, respectively.
How he fits: Harrison doesn’t have overwhelming size or power but he gets the job in all phases. He’s adept at zone blocking and only need some additional seasoning and strength to become a really high-quality run blocker.
Sports Info Solutions says: Harrison projects to be a solid starting left tackle at the next level with his pass protection skills. He has the ideal size and length for the position. Harrison will need to add some more strength to his frame to improve as a run blocker, but his temperament and powerful hands show this is an attainable goal for him.
Personal touch: In preparation for the draft, he moved to California to work out at Proactive Sports Performance. While there, he’s been running up hills while giving up his favorite candy, cherry Twizzlers.
“I was eating whatever really, I liked fast foods and shakes, things like that (in college),” Harrison said. “We have a chef out there, so we were getting meals made. I was eating things I had never seen before. So, it was a good experience, helped me learn a lot of my body, things like that and some good things to take before workouts for games.”
A two-sport standout in high school, he said he received offers to play basketball and football at Maryland and Morgan State. Ultimately, though, football was his love.
“I would say (it started) really quick in high school,” Harrison said at pro day. “I started football a little late, so I was slow really getting into it. But just playing more, really starting to love the game more and more. Everything I do now is football. Every day, I’m watching it, playing it, doing something with football. So, the dream just got bigger and bigger, and I’m really just chasing the goal.”
His father, Andre, was a defensive lineman at Ole Miss. Two brothers play in Division II.
6. Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Measureables: 6-5 1/8, 318 pounds, 33 3/4 arms. DNP 40, 4.66 shuttle, 8.73 RAS.
Stats and accolades: Bergeron was a three-and-a-half-year starting tackle for the Orange. All but three of his starts over his final three seasons came at left tackle. He was second-team all-ACC in 2022. Of 76 offensive tackles in this draft class who pass blocked on at least 300 snaps, he ranked 31st in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed five sacks and was flagged four times, including two for holding. He was slapped with eight false starts in 2021. Of Sports Info Solutions’ top 20 offensive tackle prospects, he ranked eighth with a blown-block rate on running plays of 0.7 percent and 16th with 2.2 yards per carry before contact on runs to his gap.
How he fits: Bergeron has enough experience where he perhaps could push Yosh Nijman for the starting job at right tackle. If nothing else, he’s got the guard-tackle versatility the Packers prefer.
“My dream is to play the left tackle position,” he told The Draft Network before the Senior Bowl. “Obviously, I’d be willing to play right tackle, as well. I’m a competitor at the end of the day. My pro team will ultimately make that decision. I’m going to put my best foot forward. If I get thrown in at right tackle, or even kicked inside to guard, I’m ready to compete. My dream would be to play left tackle, though.”
NFL Draft Bible says: A four-year starter in the ACC, Bergeron has experience at both left and right tackle. At the next level, his game would also translate well inside at guard. Through all the experience Bergeron has, he has developed a real sense of control out on the field. In both the pass and run game, Bergeron plays with great balance and he does a great job reacting to counter moves.
Personal touch: Bergeron is from Quebec so, of course, grew up playing under Canadian rules. In the CFL, teams have three downs rather than four. That led to a funny moment during his first fall at camp at Syracuse, with Bergeron walking off the field on third down.
“You can’t walk off right now,” he recalled to The Commercial Dispatch. “We’ve got an extra play.”
Not surprisingly, he’d be the first player from his hometown to reach the NFL. “I would like people to know that story (of) a little kid from so far in Victoriaville, Quebec,” his mom told The Daily Orange. “That it’s possible to dream and to make their dreams come true.”
He grew up speaking French, then learned English in school “a little bit how you guys learn Spanish,” he said at ACC Media Days.
He’s been training with longtime 49ers left tackle Joe Staley. “He’s been a great mentor and friend for me,” Bergeron said at the Combine. “He was a great run blocker and I pride myself in the run game. I learned different types of leverage and different ways to run the wide zone from him.”
Green Bay Packers Free Agency and Draft News
Packer Central’s seventh all-Packers mock draft
Here’s why NFL free agency is on hold
The SI team publishers mock draft
Packers host Big Ten quarterback on predraft visit
NFL Draft: The top six tight ends
