Green Bay Packers: 3 First Round Offensive Tackle Prospects

After the Green Bay Packers’ disappointing loss in the NFC Championship game last season, there were many debates about what the position of greatest need is for this team to get over the hump. The two consensus answers are cornerback and offensive tackle after the failings of Kevin King and pass protection in that game.

Fortunately for the Packers, both positions are pretty deep in this draft, and they should be able to grab some players to fill those holes. At the back of the first round, specifically, there should be some good choices at offensive tackle to both fill the void left by David Bakhtiari’s injury and then be the right tackle of the future once Billy Turner’s contract runs out.

The combination of those two needs for now and the future makes offensive tackle the biggest need for Green Bay early in the draft.

Later in the draft, there are plenty of developmental tackles for the future, but to fill both the need now and for the future, it has to be early.

Alex Leatherwood – Alabama

The first player that can fill their need is Alex Leatherwood. One of his best traits is how quickly he gets off the line, especially in pass protection. Getting back and being able to set before the edge rusher can get past him on the edge is a great skill and helps tremendously against speed rushes. Another strength that Leatherwood has in pass protection is that he takes on defensive line twists well, and always picks up the guy coming his way.

His worst trait as a pass protector is how often he exposes his arms and gets them chopped off by edge rushers. Almost every pass rusher all season attacked his outside arm, including fellow possible first-round pick Azeez Ojulari. Ojulari went after that arm all game, knowing that Leatherwood’s punch wouldn’t be able to connect every time, and he would be able to effectively slap it away and get past him on the outside. It didn’t show up on the stat sheet in the form of sacks, but he had multiple times where he was in Mac Jones’ face.

Where Leatherwood beat Azeez, and almost every other edge player he faced was in the run game. He’s a strong guy, and blocking leaner players that usually are on the edge is sometimes a task that looks too easy for him. He’s able to move them where he wants and drive them multiple yards off the ball, making big holes. He’s also great on the backside of zone runs, cutting off defenders a gap away from him and making sure they don’t get to the ball.

Even with some of his deficiencies, he’s definitely a first-round talent. Some of his pass protection issues would be fixed easily when he learns the Green Bay Packers’ hug technique in pass protection where they get both hands on the outside of the rusher instead of trying to punch into their chest, and he would have a great mentor in David Bakhtiari to teach him. He’s not a perfect prospect by any means, but he could definitely give the Packers what they need.