OT, Northwestern
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 314 lbs
Class: Senior
Slater was one of the biggest names to opt out of the 2020 college football season. A three-year starter at tackle for Northwestern, he is one of the draft’s more interesting prospects, with analysts divided on whether he plays guard or tackle at the next level. Regardless of where he ends up he has the tools to be a plug-and-play starter in the NFL.
You can read more of my 2021 NFL Draft content here.
Strengths
Although we haven’t seen him this year, Slater has put more than enough evidence on tape to be considered one of the best offensive linemen in college football. He was solid at right tackle in his first two seasons, before a standout campaign at left tackle in 2019. His 90.0 PFF grade saw him ranked as the fourth best tackle in the country, behind Penei Sewell and 2020 first rounders Andrew Thomas and Tristan Wirfs. Slater allowed just five pressures across his 355 pass-blocking snaps and didn’t give up a single sack all season.
One of Slater’s biggest strengths is his athleticism and mobility. He is comfortable playing out in space and is excellent at moving up to the second level to engage with defenders. When it comes to pass protection, his footwork is smooth and he showcases great intelligence to recognise stunts and blitzes quickly. He has strong hands and sustains blocks very effectively. Once he has his hands on a defender it is game over.
Slater has also proven himself to be very effective in the running game. He is an old-school people mover, with great power at the point of attack. His hand usage is excellent and he is a powerful finisher too. There are multiple reps on tape where he will pancake defenders and take them out of the play altogether.
He was particularly impressive against Ohio State in 2019. He came up against Chase Young and kept the Buckeye quiet throughout. You can see in the clip below how well he handles Young’s speed off the edge. Whilst some will have concerns about Slater’s ability to remain at tackle in the NFL, holding his own against the best edge rusher in college football and eventual No. 2 overall pick should help silence his doubters.
Weaknesses
The biggest concern facing Slater is his lack of size and length. At just 6’3″ and 314 lbs he is small for an NFL tackle and he doesn’t have the biggest arms. This is always a concern when projecting to the NFL, where edge defenders are bigger and more physical. Some analysts see Slater kicking inside to guard at the next level as a result.
Another issue he will face is his ability to deal with the bull rush and other power moves. He struggled with this last year, and one of the rare reps he lost to Chase Young saw him beaten with power. This raises more questions if he kicks inside as he will be playing against bigger interior lineman. That could exacerbate the issue.
Whilst Slater was very effective last season, there are still some areas he can improve on when it comes to pass protection. When you watch him you can see that he struggles to get depth on his pass sets. This leads him to carry speed rushers around the edge of the pocket. He’s aware of this issue and can overset to compensate, leaving him vulnerable to inside moves. His hips can be a little stiff too and he isn’t the best when it comes to changing direction. His pad level can be inconsistent, often playing too high. Wherever he ends up along the offensive line he will need to show better knee bend to ensure better leverage.
Bottom Line
Despite not playing this season, Slater has put together more than enough evidence to be considered one of the best linemen in the draft. His eventual evaluation will depend on whether teams view him as a tackle or guard at the next level. The latter will limit his draft stock, but I’m confident he can perform as a tackle in the NFL despite his size limitations.
Big Board Rank: #20
Positional Rank: #4
