Evan Neal, Charles Cross, Nicholas Petit-Frere: Preseason OT watch list for 2022 NFL Draft

With eight tackles drafted in the top 20 picks, the last two NFL Draft classes have been the answer to the prayers of a league starved for young, talented offensive tackle play. Will the 2022 class keep that trend going at a position that remains a key need for several teams?

Potentially.

The top five offensive tackles on this list aren’t the most proven group of prospects, but they each have the talent to be first-round picks in April – if they continue to develop.

(Note: Asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams have on file for each player and may differ from school rosters)

1. *Evan Neal, Alabama (6-7, 357)

Best Trait: Unique size/movements

The list of players (NFL or college) with Neal’s blend of natural size, flexibility and movements is short. After all, he was No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for a reason.

Physically, he carries his 360-ish pounds well with thick legs, long arms and the body coordination to explode out of his stance and cover up pass rushers. Neal collapses the line on down blocks and flashes violence in his hands both as a run blocker and in his pass-sets. He is also further along mentally than most rising juniors, displaying the awareness to identify pressure packages and stay on time with his attack.

Neal had a strong showing on last year’s LSU tape, flexing in the run game and not allowing a sack in pass protection. In this clip, the right tackle shows his impressive initial quickness and balanced steps to protect the corner from LSU’s athletic pass rusher Ali Gaye. Watch how he keeps his inside foot accessible in order to frame his set angles while also using patient timing with his punch to control the point of contact.

Must Improve: Lateral range

If Neal doesn’t time his initial kick off the snap, explosive edge rushers will be able to attack his outside shoulder and occasionally dip to the quarterback. He doesn’t have the high-level lateral quickness to easily recover, so it is important for Neal to continue and perfect his steps and timing to mask some of his limitations.

2021 Season/2022 NFL Draft Outlook

The No. 1-ranked offensive line recruit in the 2019 class out of IMG Academy, Neal arrived in Tuscaloosa with plenty of hype and he has not disappointed. He started at left guard as a true freshman before kicking out to right tackle last season as a sophomore. With 26 starts in two seasons, Neal has logged snaps at both tackle and both guard positions.

Alabama was recognized with the Joe Moore Award last season as the top offensive line in college football. Alex Leatherwood (drafted No. 17), Landon Dickerson (No. 37) and Deonte Brown (No. 193) all moved up in April, but Neal has the talent to be the best of the group. He is expected to replace Leatherwood at left tackle and with his unique package of skills, he will be competing to be the first offensive lineman drafted.

2. *Charles Cross, Mississippi State (6-5, 308)

Best Trait: Athletic tools

An athletic left tackle prospect, Cross has outstanding feet, length and lower body flexibility to mirror edge rushers. Not only does he have explosive lateral movement, but he understands proper depth in his pass-sets to cover up speed. While only a redshirt sophomore, Cross also sees the game quickly and competes with an attitude to match, finishing with violence when the opportunity is there.

Cross made his starting debut in the 2020 season opener against LSU. As expected, there were some ups and downs for the redshirt freshman as he adjusted to the speed of the SEC, but his natural athleticism and raw talent were evident from the get-go. On this clip from the first quarter, Cross shows off his adjustment skills to stone the inside rusher before opening his hips and escorting the looper past the pocket.

Must Improve: Play strength/Run blocking

Only 270 pounds when he enrolled at Mississippi State in 2019, Cross has worked hard to develop his strength and add “good” weight. Now over 300 pounds, he plays stronger than I expected with his ability to anchor and utilize his length, but he will struggle to recover once power rushers reach his chest. In coach Mike Leach’s air-raid scheme, Cross is run blocking on only 20 percent of his snaps and needs to mature his consistency in the ground game.

2021 Season/2022 NFL Draft Outlook

After his junior season at Laurel High, Cross was a three-star recruit and was nowhere to be found among the top 50 offensive tackles in the recruiting rankings. However, that changed after a productive summer and senior year, earning five stars and finishing as the No. 5 offensive tackle nationally. Cross initially committed to Florida State, but reopened his recruitment after Willie Taggart was fired, flipping to his home state Bulldogs.

After redshirting in 2019, Cross earned the starting left tackle job last season and lived up to the five-star hype against SEC competition. His tape has a little bit of everything with his athleticism, length, awareness, violence and competitive toughness. Still only a redshirt sophomore, he needs to continue to add mass and clean up his mechanics, but all the tools are there for Cross to develop into an NFL starter.

3. *Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State (6-5, 304)

Best Trait: Efficient lateral movements

As a first-year starter last season, Petit-Frere locked down the right tackle spot for the Buckeyes and shined the brightest in pass protection. With his foot quickness and spry lower body, he is very efficient with his lateral movements and redirect, which allows him to shut down the corner or ride defenders wide of the pocket.

Petit-Frere faced his toughest challenge in the national title game and while he allowed a few pressures, he more than held his own against Nick Saban’s squad and graded well. On this play, the defensive end attacks the right tackle, hoping to occupy his attention and open an outside rush lane for the blitzing linebacker. But Petit-Frere does a great job engaging the end while keeping his feet alive to angle his frame and efficiently pick up the wide rusher. Justin Fields has all day in the pocket to find the open receiver.

Must Improve: Hand exchange

Petit-Frere has terrific length (“34-and-change,” according to one NFL scout) and he isn’t shy throwing his hands at rushers, but his strike timing lacks consistency. When he misfires, power rushers are able to attack his chest and get him moving backwards, making it tough for him to reset his anchor. Petite-Frere is a quick mover, but he lacks fluidity in his body movements and recovery, making his initial hand exchange all the more important.

2021 Season/2022 NFL Draft Outlook

Highly-touted out of the Tampa area, Petite-Frere was the No. 1 ranked offensive tackle recruit in the 2018 class and the No. 7 recruit overall (one spot behind CB Patrick Surtain). He was considered one of the prizes of signing day and turned out to be the headliner in the final recruiting class for Urban Meyer at Ohio State. After redshirting in 2018 and playing a back-up role in 2019, Petite-Frere earned the starting right tackle role last season, starting all but one game and not allowing a sack.

Petit-Frere has worked hard to add weight (arrived in Columbus at 275 pounds) and develop his body, but he is still a work in progress in several areas, including his sustain strength and lower body flexibility. However, his high marks in pass protection, due to his quick feet and long arms, are why he ranks high on this preseason list and scouts are optimistic about his development.

4. Daniel Faalele, Minnesota (6-8, 379)

Best Trait: Imposing size/strength

Faalele is a rare dude. Near 400 pounds, he is comfortably and proportionately distributed from head to toe and his long arms (35 inches) and humongous hands (11 inches) require a $10 Uber ride to get around him. For a player with his mass, Faalele moves surprisingly well, but his calling card is his unique size and strength. He plays wide and overwhelms blockers with natural power once he makes contact.

On the 2019 tape against Penn State, Faalele gave up only one pressure in pass protection and was dominant in the run game. On this play, the right tackle shows off his bully strength and anvil hands, latching on to All-Big Ten defensive tackle Robert Windsor (No. 54) and dump-trucking him to the ground.

Must Improve: Pass-set landmarks

Faalele is a coordinated athlete for his size, but edge quickness will stress him at times. He will never be a light-footed mover, but he can improve his pass-set landmarks to better counter edge speed. As he continues to gain experience, Faalele’s anticipation and understanding of pass-set depth should also improve, enhancing his consistency in pass protection.

2021 Season/2022 NFL Draft Outlook

Faalele is a rare player due to his gargantuan size, brute strength and balanced movements. But his background and football journey also make him a unique NFL prospect. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Faalele grew up playing rugby and basketball before attending one of Jim Harbaugh’s satellite camps. With zero football experience, he moved to the United States and enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., spending his junior year learning the game before getting on the field as a senior.

Faalele received offers from Alabama, Georgia and others (most coming before he ever played the sport), but he felt at home at Minnesota, committing to the Gophers. He started as a true freshman and combined for 19 starts at right tackle over the 2018 and 2019 seasons before electing to opt out last year due to COVID-19. Faalele has only three seasons of football experience under his belt and it shows on tape. But he has balanced footwork and movements for a player with his imposing size and strength and if his technique and awareness continue to improve, he will start for a long time in the NFL.

5. *Zion Nelson, Miami (Fla.) (6-5, 311)

Best Trait: Athletic movement patterns

While he lacks seasoning, Nelson is physically impressive with his length (verified 35-inch arms) and athletic range. He is fluid out of his stance with the foot quickness to cut off pass rush angles and adjust to moving targets in space. Despite leaner features (hips, legs, etc.), Nelson has his weight north of 310 pounds and he hasn’t lost his athletic movements or body control.

In this clip against NC State, Nelson fires out of his stance and shows off his quick feet, pounding his feet into the ground with rapid, controlled steps. The left tackle does a nice job bending and using his length to keep the rusher engaged and away from the pocket.

Must Improve: Pass pro cohesion

Nelson is an impressive mover due to his athletic feet and natural twitch, but his upper and lower halves aren’t always on the same page. He has a bad habit of stopping his feet at contact and lunging, which allows rushers to work off contact and get around him. When his pads rise or hands wander, it is too easy for rushers to push him backwards into the pocket. When he keeps his feet underneath him with bent knees and tight hands, Nelson latches and stays in control, allowing him to match up vs. power – he needs to do that more.

2021 Season/2022 NFL Draft Outlook

As a 240-pound senior in high school, Nelson was a three-star recruit with minimal attention from FBS-level programs. Miami got a hold of his tape, brought him to campus for a visit and became the only Power 5 program to offer him. Nelson was thrust into the starting left tackle role as a true freshman and took his lumps. But he continued to add weight and develop his game, which led to a much improved version last season as a sophomore.

Throw on the 2020 Miami film and Nelson’s performance is a roller coaster of ups and downs as the mental and technical sides of the game catch up to his physical traits. If the draft were tomorrow, I don’t think a team could justify using a first-round pick on him. But the raw tools are enticing and with another jump in his development as a junior, he can get his name in the top 32 picks.

(Photo of Evan Neal: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)