Top 10 offensive tackles in the 2019 NFL Draft

#7. Tytus Howard, Alabama State

Another former highschool quarterback and basketball star from Alabama, Howard redshirted his first year as a tight-end before getting action as a right tackle in eight games the following season. He once again started 2017 at that spot before moving to the left side for the final four contests and SWAC coaches voted him the Hornets’ only first-team all-conference selection last season back at right tackle.

Howard is a small-school prospect with NFL size and athleticism, who propelled his draft stock with the Auburn tape from last season. He might not blow people off the ball like some of these other guys on the list, but the former ASU Hornet turns and latches onto defenders and won’t let them just beat him quickly or disengage to make a play. Howard is a natural knee-bender who gets underneath the pads of defenders on angle-blocks. He has excellent agility to reach or hook down-linemen in the gap next to him in the zone run game as well as being able to climb up to the second level and get in front of linebackers. He has done a nice job reaching defenders on his outside shoulder as well and has an innate feel for body-positioning.

The first time you watch Howard on tape, what immediately jumps out are NFL tackle feet in protection. He keeps his feet under him consistently and rarely has them catching up to his upper body while keeping his eyes up and a help-hand ready for his guard as long as he can kick back. He has experience picking up nickel and safety blitzes. Howard displays excellent technique on cut-blocks, where he gets guys to rush upfield and then cuts across their knees to put them down. He makes up space in the B-gap quickly on rollout protections the opposite way and turns his hips to make the edge rusher go a long way when they try to run the arc. With how balanced he stays in his pass sets, Howard is ready for any types of stunts or twists. The Alabama State standout welcomes his man upfield and then drives him off the spot to open up running lanes for draw plays.

Howard’s hands slide pretty high and he can get a little grabby around the shoulder plates. There is not a ton of natural power and he gets pushed back at times in the run game when a defensive end decides to just bury his face in Howard’s chest to bust up the play. Howard’s wide stance and overall split between his legs in obvious passing situations make him a target for speed-to-power moves where he can get caught with his post-leg in the air, leading to being driven in the quarterback’s lap while trying to bear-hug his man. He didn’t face a lot of top-tier edge rushers during his collegiate career to evaluate him on.

During Senior Bowl week Howard really struggled versus those Division 1 athletes on the first day, especially in one-on-one pass rush reps where he got put on his back-side by Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, but he acclimated himself better from day two on and displayed very quick feet throughout the week. Howard lacks tremendous physicality and some type of mean streak, but he has all the tools be a long-time starter at tackle and it will be up to his coaches and weight trainers to get the best out of his talent.