RAIDERS TRADE: Top five right tackle options in 2024 NFL Draft….
Top 5 right tackle options in 2024 NFL Draft.
A few options in the trenches with the 13th overall pick
The NFL Draft is a little more than two weeks away and the Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to address the team’s offensive line. The Raiders could use a starter at right tackle and spending the 13th overall pick at that spot could be a ‘two birds, one stone’ situation as that could allow Thayer Munford Jr. to slide over to right guard.
Below is a ranking of Las Vegas’ top options at right tackle. One note, Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is excluded from the list below since he only played left tackle in college and will likely be off the board before the Silver and Black have a chance to take him.
1) JC Latham, Alabama
At nearly 6-foot-6 and over 340 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Latham has the ideal size for a right tackle. He also has good knee bend to play with leverage and keeps his feet moving through contact to move defenders out of the way, creating rushing lanes. Additionally, Latham’s get-off and feet help him stay in front of edge rushers in pass protection.
He does get a little over-aggressive in the running game by ducking his head, leading to him missing blocks occasionally. But the Alabama product didn’t turn 21 years old until February, so that technical flaw can easily be cleaned up and he has a high ceiling at the next level.
2) Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
To be honest, picking between Latham and Fuaga was the hardest decision to make on this list. Both guys are massive human beings — Fuaga stands at nearly 6-foot-6 and 324 pounds — who can dominate as run blockers. The former Beaver also has an excellent track record in pass protection with zero sacks allowed at Oregon State, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ultimately, the deciding factor is Latham has better feet in pass protection to avoid getting beat on the high side of the rush, and that’s one of my biggest concerns with Fuaga’s transition to the next level. But the margin is razor thin so the Raiders can’t go wrong with either guy, in my opinion.