Although the Los Angeles Rams appear content to grow with starting offensive tackles Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon, the roster shows a dearth of talent in the backups. There also appears to be a numbers problem with only retread David Quessenberry and perennial special teamer AJ Arcuri as the only backup tackles. L.A. will have to add a couple more, even if just for camp and preseason games.
While what constitutes a “true” offensive can lead to many subjective opinions. The 34” arm length threshold
is widely accepted. But this exercise is about the prospects. Although comparing the arm length of NFL offensive tackles to on-field success may be an interesting subject to debate, I’m using arm length to subset and review a grouping of prospects.
Let’s meet the long-armed group.
Monroe Freeling – Georgia 6’7” 315 lb. 34 3/4” arms 10 1/4” hands
Comes out as a true junior, will turn 22 years-old in July. Four-star prospect only played in 35 college games with 17 starts. Freeling had a stellar NFL Combine workout, scoring a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score.
Prototypical build for a left tackle, with size, length, and effortless move skills, Freeling has been studying yoga for a few years (his mother is an instructor) and it shows in flexibility and body control. Smooth and fluid mover to the second level and out front on screens, plus lateral agility as well. Better pass blocker at this point of his growth. He’s not a bad run blocker at all, showing some functional strength, but can play too high, limiting the ability to drive opponents. Consistently bending at the knees will help balance and maximize leverage. In pass protection, gets into a wide base and knows how to use his length, latching on to control rushers. Shows good footwork and mirror ability, but did have concerns with outside speed. Tough guy that gutted through a bad ankle for over half of 2025.
Quietly climbed draft boards and is now considered by many to be OT#1 and a Top 10 overall candidate. Not a lot of starting experience, but played in very good program and is heady combination of size, length, and athleticism. Perfect example of a high ceiling prospect. While I don’t have him in the Top 10, I certainly think he’s a Round 1 guy.
Blake Miller – Clemson 6’7” 317 lb. 34 1/4” arms 9 3/4” hands
Recently turned 22, this four-star recruit was also a wrestling state champ. Became an ironman for Clemson, Miller started every game in his Tiger career, 54 straight with 3778 offensive reps. Named a permanent team captain, he was a Freshman All-American, followed by three straight All-ACC seasons.
Durable and dependable, a well-rounded prospect. His game experience and football IQ helps read/react to stunts/twists/loops, but he also has the quick feet and short area agility to make on-the-spot adjustments. Overall, his move skills are in the plus category. In pass protection, he needs work upgrading his strikes and hand use, he can be inconsistent with his accuracy. Miller hasn’t yet fully embraced his length, grip, and upper body strength. He appears more of a catcher against pass rushers, not an aggressive latch on and control pass blocker. He appears to lack the lower body strength and can play a little high, which lessens his anchor vs. power. His move skills and nifty feet also show up in the run game, he’s fluidly able to reach and seal, move to the second level, and lead on pulls and screens. Although not really a mauler, he’s a good down blocker and edgy finisher.
Plenty of Clemson film to project Miller, right now he looks best suited to a zone run offense with an upside for pass protection. While he still needs work on hand-craft, he has shown year-to-year improvement. I have a mid-Round 2 grade on him, but seen have many mock drafts where he lands on Day 1.
JC Davis – Illinois 6’4” 322 lb. 34 1/4” arms 10 1/8”
Began his college play with a junior college season and stepped up for two seasons at New Mexico. For his final year, he transferred to Illinois and was granted a second season. Davis was First-team All-Conference at every level of play and never missed a game at the D1 level, 49 consecutive games.
Blocky, wide frame with long arms, it’s a job just to go around him. Davis is a good, not great, athlete. At the Combine he looked fluid and balanced in the field drills. Has both the power to drive block and good feet for reach and seal blocks. I like his attitude on seal blocks, most prospects are content to lock up their defender, Davis keeps driving them back. I’ve read in other previews that he has bad footwork, I watched five Illinois games and didn’t think so. Not always great, but certainly not bad. One thing I did notice was at times, Davis will use his head and shoulders to try and headbutt/hammer outside rushers instead of using those long arms and nifty feet. It opens him up for swim and club moves. Adding on to that, his punch needs work on striking accurately inside. Punches should be a strength with his length, big hands, and upper body strength. When he does latch on, there’s no escape. Experienced and smart, able to switch off and pickup blitzes.
Sneaky good prospect, under the radar. Adept in both run and pass game. I grade him in early Round 4 and think he not only has the requisite pro traits, but also the positional versatility to play both tackle and/or guard. A high floor prospect, needs some technique work, but has plenty of good film against top competition.
Demetrius Crownover – Texas A&M 6’7” 319 lb. 35 3/8” arms 10” hands
The Aggies originally recruited Crownover as a tight end in 2021. It was during a Year 1 redshirt that he transitioned to offensive tackle. Over his final four seasons, he worked his way into a starting right tackle role and finished with 28 starts in 47 appearances. Turns 25 in September.
Traits-based, developmental prospect that looks much bigger than his Combine measurement numbers, Crownover reportedly played at 335 lb. Fairly athletic for such a big man and blessed with long arms. Tight end background shows in good get-off and linear speed, quickly gets to the second level and downfield. At this point, he’s a much better run blocker than in pass protection. He’s power-based with a mauler’s mentality, driving opponents out of the hole or just latching on to torque them. His pad level is much better when run blocking and he strikes well in space. The high pad level really shows in pass protection, combined with a lack of lateral agility and inconsistent footwork puts a lot of holes in his pass pro. While Crownover throws a strong long arm to stymie outside speed rushers, he struggles to mirror and recover against inside speed. In fact, his lateral agility may precipitate a move inside to guard.
Crownover has shown glimpses of being a dominator, but remains very inconsistent, nor has he shown the year-to-year improvement that should be expected, In his defense, he’s only been on the line for for a few years. His run game traits actually are a pretty good fit into the Rams downhill, between the tackles scheme.. I grade him in mid/late Round 4.
Aamil Wagner – Notre Dame 6’6” 306 lb. 34 1/2” arms 10 1/4” hands
Former four-star recruit turns 23 in October. Signed with Notre Dame as a 260 lb. prospect in 2022. Barely saw the field in his first two seasons, but settled in for 28 consecutive starts at right tackle in his final pair.
Athletic build with thinnish looking legs, plenty of room for more mass. He’ll need the weight room work, his lack of play strength shows clearly on film. On both run and pass plays, Wagner’s winning move is getting those long arms extended and latching on to control opponents. He’s patient and pretty accurate with his punches, that’s plural because he throws two-handed blows and independent long arm punches as well. He regularly plays too high and it creates a lack of drive in his run blocking and ability set anchor in pass sets. He understands how to leverage his length and uses it as recovery tool if the defender gets the edge. Kind of heavy-footed, but has experience in duo run scheme, good punch and works hard getting to second level. Generally hits what he’s aiming at in space, although he can be hesitant finding work if it’s not right in front. Overall, he’s got pretty good technique and appears to read/react to rush plans, switching off and picking up stunts/loops/twists.
At 306 lb., Wagner just slips into the criteria. If you look back to 2023, the Rams selected Warren McClendon, who had a very similar size/length profile. I grade him to Round 5, a developmental project with good handwork, that needs time in a strength/conditioning program.
Markel Bell – Miami 6’9” 346 lb. 36 3/8” arms 9” hands
Not highly recruited out of high school (no rankings), Bell chose the junior college route and rose through the ranks, leaving as the nations top offensive line transfer. He selected Miami and saw action in 28 games including 21 starts.
Hulking left tackle prospect. Decent move skills for a gargantuan. In the Combine workout, I thought he looked balanced when moving laterally and backwards, bur labored with the change of direction and stop/start drills. That’s not surprising, with those long legs, he’s cut very high. At this point, a better pass blocker than run. He quickly gets back into his set and is consistent in keeping a wide base. Patient when shooting his hands and generally quite accurate. With his strength, when he latches on, the defender is going nowhere. He is also adept at throwing independent long arms to force speed rushers further outside. Not much knee bend, Bell plays with high pads. Even though his base is wide, he gives ground to power rushers and low leverage. Pad height shows in run blocking as well, he depends on his size over-powering opponents. He does keep his feet moving through contact and has good contact balance. He easily torques defenders. Wasn’t asked to much climbing to second level off double-teams, and looked a little plodding. Hustles to get out in front on screens and running backs can hide behind him.
I have Bell graded in Round 5, but have seen him projected as early as Round 3. He’s an amazing physical specimen and shown year-to-year improvement over his career, but there are just too many ‘what if’s” in his game to put him the Top 100. That said, these physical outliers get long looks, always has been and always will be.
Travis Burke – Memphis 6’9” 325 lb. 34 1/4” arms 10 1/8” hands
Played two years (one redshirt) and 14 games without any starts at FCS Gardner-Webb. Bumped up to D1 Florida International for two season, starting in all 22 games. Closed out his college days with 11 starts for Memphis.
Long and tall, almost lanky looking prospect that plays with a menacing edge, all the way through the whistle. In pass protection, although he shows some good jolt with his punch, he can be late delivering it. He also plays high which can upset his base. He tends to give up too much ground when rushers get into his chest. When he does get off first, he can stop them cold by latching on or throw combinations as he rides them out of the play. Against the run, he gets lower and has better leverage, clamping on and driving defenders off the line. Many, many plays, Burke is still driving opponents into the ground away from the tackle. He moves pretty well, but there’s plenty of room for more mass and I think with more play strength, he’d be a better power player than zone/finesse. He did play left tackle until he got to Memphis, but the right side is more fitting to his traits.
Here’s your sleeper. I have Burke right on the cusp of a draftable grade and may up it a little after digging into his work. You can clearly see from his FIU film how much he has improved with better coaching at Memphis. You can’t coach ‘em up to be this big and long. A project, but there’s something to work with. Not a bad dart throw in Round 7.
Micah Pettus – Florida State 6’7” 346 lb. 34 1/4” arms 10 1/8” hands
Spent his first four years (one redshirt) at Ole Miss, starting 29 of 33 games. Reportedly dismissed from the team after the 2024 season. Landed at Florida State via the transfer portal and started 11 games.
Thick, powerful frame. Regularly plays to high to really make use of his strength. Pettus can crumple opponents on down blocks, moves pretty well, and has shown improvement in latching on to torque defenders. He doesn’t show a mauler or finisher’s edge. He can reach or lunge, getting off balance and losing drive leverage. Against the pass, pad height shows again and along with inconsistent feet, his base is too narrow and he can be driven back into the pocket. He has good length and upper body strength, but needs to improve the accuracy and timing of his punches. When he does strike inside and latches on, defenders don’t get get away,
While Pettus has experience against top competition and flashes glimpses of being a pro-caliber prospect, there are too many areas to work on to be considered anything more than a round 7/UDFA stake. I have Pettus on the cusp of a draftable grade in a tackle class where the talent level starts to drop precipitously after the Top 10-12.
In closing
My apologies to the tackle prospects that measured just under 34”. There are a handful of promising prospects just a shade under that ceiling. For the Rams, Rob Havenstein and Alaric Jackson measured in at 33 7/8”.
Overall, I have five offensive tackles with Round 1 grades. Of this group, Monroe Freeling will likely be there at #13, but I’m not sure the Rams are in the market for a starting tackle. I would expect Blake Miller to be gone early in Round 2. Reports are that teams want to move JC Davis inside, but in L.A. he fits the swing T/G role to a tee. Round 3 is bit of a stretch for a backup, but I think he’s got a starters ceiling. If Demetrius Crownover or Aamil Wagner are still around by the Rams Round 6 slot, they would be good values. Markel Bell will likely go higher than I rate him, but that’s okay, I’m don’t think he fits in the Rams run scheme. Travis Burke and Micah Pettus both need a lot of work, don’t think L.A. need another AJ Arcuri.
