Who Are Legit Left Tackle Prospects at #24?

SdBacker80

Does anyone have the warm and fuzzies playing any of these guys at LT Day 1?

Having said that Decker if financially possible would be someone we should have added yesterday.

Flugel

@sdbacker80 said:

Does anyone have the warm and fuzzies playing any of these guys at LT Day 1?

Having said that Decker if financially possible would be someone we should have added yesterday.

I haven't had warm fuzzies at LT since Joe Thomas; but I did think Jed Wills had a very promising rookie year that left me totally unprepared for what followed the rest of the way with him. It wasn't the injuries as much as the disappearance of the inner chest I saw his rookie season...

Orion

@sdbacker80 said:

Does anyone have the warm and fuzzies playing any of these guys at LT Day 1?

We have the luxury of being able to start Dewand Jones on day 1. But I believe that the majority of projected 1st round rookie LT's would beat him out.

Dutch Oven

@sdbacker80 said:

Does anyone have the warm and fuzzies playing any of these guys at LT Day 1?

Having said that Decker if financially possible would be someone we should have added yesterday.

No.

But this team is being built for Brookpark. I don't think they are tanking this season, but I highly doubt they expect a playoff run either.

Flugel

@gumby73 said:

Dane Brugler's 'The Beast' Draft Scouting Guide of Tackles

Don't mind keeping LT #4 & #5 ahead of RT's #6 & #7.. But, whom puts Lomu's up sided growth ahead of K. Proctor?

FWIW Gumbs, you might not be wrong with your intuition; and I might not be correct with mine. I'm a big believer in if something sounds too good to be true - it usually is especially with the Browns. Examples: James Jackson is better than Edge James - Butch. Mike Junkin was the "Mad Dawg in a Meat Market" until he became a Cleveland Brown in upper round 1. Another 1st Round pick "Touchdown Tommy Vardell" turned into "Touchdown-Free Tommy Vardell" before a 2nd round pick RB Leroy Hoard became the RB that ran us into the playoffs in the 1994 season making the Pro Bowl at a position he didn't even play - FB. Vardell went to Detroit and had a solid role. Here's a cut and paste about Proctor to show you why I'd worry about matching him up with the recent history we've had at LT Gumbs:

Headed into the 2025 season, Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor had every reason to show up and play his best football and be in the best shape of his entire life with a massive NFL fortune and future on the line.

Now, headed into the 2026 NFL draft, teams might be waffling on picking Proctor, who checked in at 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds at the NFL scouting combine. The back-and-forth comes after reports Proctor showed up to training camp grossly overweight.

“Kadyn Proctor showed up this season 390 pounds,” ESPN’s Peter Schrager wrote on his official X account on April 10. “He’s worked his ass off to get into shape. He’s going to be a top 20 pick.”

While Top 20 might be a stretch, Proctor’s talent might keep him in the 1st round and make him a steal later in the round.

“Kadyn Proctor entered the season at 390 lbs,” NFL reporter Chase Senior wrote on his official X account. “I might be out.”

“I wouldn’t take Kadyn Proctor in this draft at all,” Blogging Dirty’s Scott Carasik wrote. “Despite the grade I have on him. I have a hard time trusting guys who can’t keep their weight in check. Feels like a personal discipline issue. And can’t have that on the OL.”

ESPN’s Schrager Puts Kadyn Proctor in 1st Round

Schrager’s 1st mock draft released on April 6 still kept Proctor in the 1st round — not the Top 20 — going to the Chicago Bears with the No. 25 overall pick.

“Proctor is a mass of humanity,” Schrager wrote. “He weighed in at 358 pounds at his pro day — but he can move. If he keeps his weight down, Proctor has as much upside as any tackle in this class. And frankly, I think he is going earlier than No. 25. But with Ozzy Trapilo out and Braxton Jones‘ uneven play, Chicago would be happy with this outcome. General manager Ryan Poles is often credited for the Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey picks in Kansas City, and he has the chance to add another star to the list.”

Growing sentiment seems to be that Proctor no longer remains on the draft board at No. 25 — he might not even make it out of the Top 10.

“The Browns at No. 6 is one that sources have been conflicted on … here’s a name that shocked me when speaking about who Cleveland really likes at No. 6 … Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid said.

Kadyn Proctor’s Age Might Surprise You

Proctor declared his intentions to enter the draft via an Instagram post on January 7 and after just 3 seasons playing for the Crimson Tide, including an appearance in the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Incredibly, Proctor will only be 20 years old when he’s drafted.

247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu projected Proctor as a first round draft pick … when he was still in high school.

“Has prototypical size and has short area burst and twitch at that size,” Trieu wrote. “Can run when asked to pull and make blocks in space. Has good strength and looks to finish blocks and plays with good general tenacity … Has the physical ability to play very early (at Alabama) and can be an All-American and early draft choice.”

Tony Adame

Flugel

I get the feeling the volume of starts as well as age are also adding weight to the scale on why both Lomu and Proctor could be seen by many NFL Teams as projected to be drafted anywhere in the range of back half of round 1 to round 2. Another guy ASU RT Max Iheanachor (w/some teams thinking his NFL future is LT) didn't even play football until he attended college is another one that could be pushed back via his experience level. Athlon projects him for round 2. Whether he plays Right or Left Tackle - 1 of the 32 teams will think he is the right tackle for them. That'll be fun to follow...

SdBacker80

I want nothing to do with an overweight tackle whose best position is probably guard at #6 overall. Right up there with taking Simpson at #6.

Flugel

@sdbacker80 said:

I want nothing to do with an overweight tackle whose best position is probably guard at #6 overall. Right up there with taking Simpson at #6.

Agreed! The showing up way overweight thing has been my issue with Dawand Jones whether he was a Buckeye or not. Can you imagine the look on Bill Callahan's face when he saw Jones the 1st day of his very 1st training camp? This is all you want to put into a dream career? Consequences and coincidences? 3 for 3 with all seasons ending prematurely on IR. That's the football equivalent of getting Michelle Pfieffer in the sack without the ability to get out of your Fruit of the Looms on time. Let's not confuse X's and O's with X's and Uh-O's...

THIS YEAR he's all the way down to 359 lbs at 6'8"; so he's finally the "Professional" I've always wanted him to be - so I'm gonna buck my previous trend and welcome his refreshing attitude. As he said to Nathan Zegura he wants to get down to 350 lbs before the season and stay there. Again, this is all from his commitment to injury rehab and post injury strength and conditioning the VIPs of the Browns have taken note of. That COULD be all Andrew Berry needs to push the LT thoughts down to #24 the 1st night of the draft.

This could be setting up very nice for the opportunity to land Tate at #6. If the Jets trade up in front of us for him - anyone still wanting Caleb Downs right there could be popping champagne. I kind of miss me some Eric Turner... We'll still get our big feller and a WR that will help us.

Dutch Oven

Dawand Jones showed up to Training Camp down a lot of pounds last year too. I remember a lot of local media people commenting on how good he looked compared to 2024.

Still ended up on the IR.

Flugel

@dutch-oven said:

Dawand Jones showed up to Training Camp down a lot of pounds last year too. I remember a lot of local media people commenting on how good he looked compared to 2024.

Still ended up on the IR.

You saw the injury last year. Understanding exactly where the defender hit Jones - would it have mattered if he had Nick Chubb's work ethic or he was in the best shape of his life? Nick Chubb got injured with a defender hitting the knee too. That said, if he already had 2 IR visits in a row when he was way overweight before this when he wasn't in shape (which includes connective tissues, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, etc). Let's just admit the wear and tear of the injuries from 2023 and 2024 set him up for further damage ahead - not much different than Chubb's previous knee injury at Georgia predisposing him eventually to another one (many think was the result of cheap shot like that of the hit Jones received).

Point is, goal weight of 350 lbs with the weight at 359 lbs is physics friendlier than previous weights bordering 400 lbs especially when Jones gets running to the extent that all those connective tissues don't have nearly the same force/pressure working against them on every play. I think it lessens the susceptibility to injury every time he's lighter from healthier diet in tandem with strength and conditioning.

tiamat63

@flugel said:

THIS YEAR he's all the way down to 359 lbs at 6'8"; so he's finally the "Professional"

Love me some Big Thanos. That said, after crunching the numbers @tour2ma gave me, he wasn't wrong. The cut off rate for OT success (grading out above average past their 3rd season) both in height & weight, is 6'6 5/8 and, approximately, 325lbs.

When you scan the top 25 OT's in the NFL currently. The only players who exceed either one or both of these numbers are.

- Jordan Mailata. 6'7 3/8 346lbs Both -7th rd

- Kolton Miller 6'8 5/8 311lbs One -1st

- Taylor Decker 6'7 311lbs One -1st

- Brian O' Neil 6'6 7/8 298lbs One - 2nd rd

- Spencer Brown 6'8 1/4 311lbs. One - 3rd rd

- Penei Sewell 6'4 7/8 331lbs One -1st

Of the 6 exceptions, half were drafted outside of the 1st round. 2 more were exceptions to the numbers by less than a 1% difference (Decker & Sewell) Just a shade over 24% of the 25 best in the world at OT are able to make the position work when you exceed these two limits.

TL;DR. Kayden Proctor isn't someone I love on film. He may end up having a solid NFL career, but when you combine what I see, but also by the numbers - he should not be a 1st round pick and there's quite a bit of evidence to support my assessment. The only other player on the list above is Mailata, who, like Proctor, exceeds both of these numbers. He was a 7th round pick. So at that point you can kick over tires.

The Browns can't afford boom or bust picks. You need steady contributors, at the bare minimum. Let another team take the risk.

Flugel

@tiamat63 said:

Love me some Big Thanos. That said, after crunching the numbers @tour2ma gave me, he wasn't wrong. The cut off rate for OT success (grading out above average past their 3rd season) both in height & weight, is 6'6 5/8 and, approximately, 325lbs.

When you scan the top 25 OT's in the NFL currently. The only players who exceed either one or both of these numbers are.

- Jordan Mailata. 6'7 3/8 346lbs Both -7th rd

- Kolton Miller 6'8 5/8 311lbs One -1st

- Taylor Decker 6'7 311lbs One -1st

- Brian O' Neil 6'6 7/8 298lbs One - 2nd rd

- Spencer Brown 6'8 1/4 311lbs. One - 3rd rd

- Penei Sewell 6'4 7/8 331lbs One -1st

Of the 6 exceptions, half were drafted outside of the 1st round. 2 more were exceptions to the numbers by less than a 1% difference (Decker & Sewell) Just a shade over 24% of the 25 best in the world at OT are able to make the position work when you exceed these two limits.

TL;DR. Kayden Proctor isn't someone I love on film. He may end up having a solid NFL career, but when you combine what I see, but also by the numbers - he should not be a 1st round pick and there's quite a bit of evidence to support my assessment. The only other player on the list above is Mailata, who, like Proctor, exceeds both of these numbers. He was a 7th round pick. So at that point you can kick over tires.

The Browns can't afford boom or bust picks. You need steady contributors, at the bare minimum. Let another team take the risk.

Interesting stuff TJ! Pretty neat how well Tour's recommended height/weight cut-offs for success seems to be working. Appreciate you sharing this.