NFL Draft OT breakdown: Florida's Jawaan Taylor shows versatility

The NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn. Each day leading up to the first round, the Tribune-Review is compiling a positional preview of the top draft prospects.

Today: Tackles

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1. Jawaan Taylor

Florida, 6-5, 312

Taylor shed weight after tipping the scales at 380 pounds in high school. He started 12 games as a freshman and nine as a sophomore at right tackle. He also started twice that year at left tackle. He returned to right tackle for his junior season in 2018 and was part of an offensive line that allowed just 20 sacks, which ranked third in the SEC and 20th nationally.

2. Jonah Williams

Alabama, 6-4, 302

Some scouts think Williams’ future is at guard because his arm length (33 5/8 inches) isn’t conducive for a left tackle. Williams started at Alabama at right tackle as a freshman, then moved to left tackle as a sophomore. He started all 15 games at left tackle as a junior and was a unanimous first-team All-American.

3. Andre Dillard

Washington State, 6-5, 315

Dillard was a three-year starting left tackle at Washington State, playing 39 games over that span. He was named all-conference as a senior and was a third-team All-American. At the NFL Combine, he showed his quickness by running the fastest 40 time for a lineman (4.96 seconds). He also had the second-best three-cone drill and fastest short-shuttle drill.

4. Dalton Risner

Kansas State, 6-5, 312

Risner showed versatility along the Kansas State offensive line. He started 13 games at center as a redshirt freshman. Then he switched to right tackle and started 36 games there over the next three seasons. He was a three-time first-team all-conference pick and was second-team All-American as a senior.

5. Greg Little

Mississippi, 6-5, 310

Little stepped on campus and became a starting left tackle by the end of his freshman year at Ole Miss. He started 24 games over the next two seasons and was all-conference in the SEC after his junior year. Little declared for the draft rather than return for his senior year.

6. Tytus Howard

Alabama State, 6-5, 322

Howard played quarterback in high school but developed into a draft prospect along the offensive line at Alabama State. He started at right tackle as a freshman and sophomore before taking the spot of NFL draft pick Jylan Ware on the left side. As a senior, Howard returned to right tackle and started 10 games there.

7. Kaleb McGary

Washington, 6-7, 317

McGary stayed five years at Washington, redshirting as a freshman. He started 47 games over the next four seasons, including 41 over his final three years. McGary was named first-team All-Pac-12 after his junior and senior seasons.

8. David Edwards

Wisconsin, 6-6, 308

Edwards showed grit in his final season for the Badgers. He injured his shoulder before the season and played through the injury while making 10 starts at right tackle. He then rested to prepare for the draft. Edwards made 14 starts at right tackle as a sophomore and seven as a freshman.

9. Yodny Cajuste

West Virginia, 6-5, 312

Cajuste was slowed by knee injuries in the 2015-16 seasons for the Mountaineers, but he was healthy for his final two years in Morgantown while blocking for quarterback Will Grier. Cajuste started 13 games at left tackle as a junior and 11 as a senior.

10. Chuma Edoga

USC, 6-3, 308

Edoga played both tackle spots at USC but was used more frequently on the right side. In 2016, he missed one game while being suspended for breaking team rules, and he sat out two games the next season with a sprained ankle. He started 12 games at right tackle as a senior. His comparison, according to NFL.com, is former Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum.

Homegrown

Alex Bookser

Pitt, 6-6, 315

If Bookser has a pro future, it could be as an interior lineman. He started 21 games at right guard and 18 at right tackle for the Panthers. Most of his right tackle playing time came in his senior year. He was invited to the East-West Shrine Game but not the NFL Combine. A leg injury kept him from working out at Pitt’s pro day other than tying for the team high with 29 reps on the bench press.

Best fit for Steelers

Olisaemeka Udoh

Elon, 6-5, 323

The Steelers aren’t expected to draft an offensive lineman until the third day — if they do at all. Tackle is a position of strength, even without Marcus Gilbert. The Steelers also seem to strike gold with small-school players — witness Matt Feiler and Alejandro Villanueva — so Udoh could be the next in line. He was a four-year starter at Elon, manning the right tackle spot.