2024 tackle class is historically deep
Snapshot of rookie OTs by HOFootball's Jeremy Bissett
Versatile, Agile, Mobile. These are the first three words that would be used to describe the 2024 NFL offensive tackle class. This crop of talented tackles has the potential to be one the greatest of all time, with several prospects poised to make an immediate impact in the league. To assess how it ranks compared to previous draft classes, we will look at a these key factors:
Talent and depth
In the past thirty-plus years of the NFL Draft, only the 2021 class had more tackles selected than the 2024 class. However, the 2021 class had only three tackles in the first round, whereas seven offensive tackles in the 2024 class heard their names called on the opening day of the draft.
Versatility and athleticism
A theme that emerged when watching tape and writing profiles was how these bookends blended elite athletic traits with the ability to play at different spots along the line. Perhaps the athletic traits that set these prospects apart from previous draft classes were their size and strength.
Let's spotlight these first-year, soon-to-be unsung heroes who protect franchise quarterbacks and play a crucial role in delivering offensive highlight reels every week.
Projected Day 1 Starters
Joe Alt: 6-8, 322 Notre Dame
Drafted: First round No. 5 overall, Los Angeles Chargers
College Highlights
Alt finished his collegiate career as the most decorated tackle of this year’s draft, including a unanimous Associated Press All-American First-Team selection. After starting as a true freshman, he finished his three-year career logging over 2,200 snaps while leading the Fighting Irish offense to an average of 39.1 points per game in 2023 — second-best in school history.
Rookie Impact
Alt brings a refuse-to-lose attitude, a trait taught by his father, John, who spent 13 years in the NFL playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also considered the best pass protector of the class. Even at his towering height, he can stay below a defender’s pad level, and he shows a tremendous drive off the ball when run blocking — and a strong running game is something new head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to establish with the Chargers. With Rashawn Slater already a prolific left tackle in the league, Alt may have to rely on his high football IQ and elite footwork to quickly adjust to playing on the opposite side of the line.
JC Latham: 6-6, 343, Alabama
Drafted: First round No. 7 overall, Tennessee Titans
College highlights
Out of High school, Latham was a five-star recruit who started 27 of 41 games for the Crimson Tide. In his last two seasons at ‘Bama he played over 1,700 snaps (960 passing) at right tackle, where he gave up only two sacks and four hits on the quarterback. His efforts earned Second-Team Associated Press All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors.
Rookie impact
Latham is the eighth offensive tackle that played under coach Nick Saban to be chosen in the first round of the NFL draft. He joins a Titans team seeking to overhaul its offensive line under new head coach Brian Callahan, who faced a similar challenge as OC for the Cincinnati Bengals. Latham will likely be tasked with anchoring the left tackle position for the Titans this year. Fortunately, one of the league’s top offensive line coaches, Bill Callahan (Brian’s father), will be there to help him transition to the role. For Latham’s sake, lining up on the left side should be a short-term assignment. Long term, he will likely be returned to right tackle or perhaps moved inside to guard as his career progresses.
Taliese Fuaga: 6-6, 324, Oregon St.
Drafted: First round No. 14 overall, New Orleans Saints
College highlights
Fuaga was a 3-star recruit out of high school and even played in the 2020 Polynesian Bowl. He showed steady progression at Oregon State after limited time during his first year with the Beavers. He eventually ended up starting 25 of the 39 games played there and never allowed a sack in 734 career pass block snaps. Fuaga was the driving force that helped lead the team to an impressive 167.1 rushing yards per game, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. The big tackle finished his career as an Associated Press First-Team All-American honoree.
Rookie impact
Since the departure of Terron Armstead a few years ago, the Saints have struggled to stabilize the tackle position. First-round pick Trevor Penning from 2022 has struggled at left tackle pass blocking NFL edge rushers, and Ryan Ramczyk has managed just one healthy season in the past three years. Rated as the top pass blocker in this year's class, Fuaga can also play every offensive line position except center.
Tyler Guyton: 6-8, 322, Oklahoma
Drafted: First-round No. 29 overall, Dallas Cowboys
College highlights
Guyton was a three-star recruit coming out of Manor High School (TX) and originally started his college career with the TCU Horned Frogs. After two seasons of limited playing time (29 total snaps), he transferred to Oklahoma and saw an immediate uptick in snaps (322) in his junior season. He eventually found regular playing time his senior season at right tackle, where he totaled 662 snaps in 10 games, allowing nine QB hurries, three hits, and no sacks.
Rookie impact
The Cowboys will rely on Guyton to step up and fill the gap left by 13-year veteran Tyron Smith, who joined the New York Jets this offseason. This will mean Guyton must shift from the right side to the left side of the line, where he played sparingly in college. Despite this, Guyton possesses the ideal attributes for a left tackle: quick feet, maneuverability in space, and the strength to blow defenders off the ball. He does have relatively short arms, so he struggles at times with leverage against quicker defensive linemen who get below his pad level.
Troy Fautanu: 6-4, 317, Washington
Drafted: First round No. 20 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
College highlights
A football and volleyball player in high school, Fautanu showcased his athleticism at the University of Washington, playing over 1,700 snaps in his final two seasons with the Huskies. Throughout his college career, he allowed 31 quarterback hurries, four quarterback hits, and just two sacks. His standout performance earned him the Pac-12's Morris Trophy for the best offensive lineman in the conference, along with All-Pac-12 First-Team and All-American Third-Team honors last season.
Rookie impact
Although Fauntanu is an undersized offensive tackle, he plays with a low center of gravity, and his exceptional lower body strength allows him to counter larger defenders. He’s a smart player, particularly in his pre-snap read, who also demonstrates excellent hand placement to redirect rushers. The primary concern is that Fauntanu joins a Steelers organization with a run-first approach, which could be the area where the rookie faces his steepest learning curve.
Caedan Wallace: 6-5, 314, Penn St.
Drafted: Third-round No. 68 overall, New England Patriots
College highlights
After earning recognition as a U.S. Army All-American and the 2018 Prep Lineman of the Year, Wallace came into college ranked as the No. 3 offensive guard and No. 81 recruit nationally. As a sophomore at Penn State, he secured the right tackle position and played alongside 2024 first-round pick Olumuyiwa Fashanu (New York Jets). In his last season for the Nittany Lions, he started 13 games and only allowed one sack, earning him a Big Ten Honorable Mention selection.
Rookie impact
It is no secret that the New England Patriots offensive line was one of the worst in the league in 2023, and Wallace is a first stone in the new foundation. The big tackle had the luxury of being able to focus solely on the right side of the line in college, but may now be asked to learn both tackle positions. He has tremendous balance as a pass protector and can get to the next level quickly as a run blocker.
Kingsley Suamataia: 6-5, 326, BYU
Drafted: Second round No. 63 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
College highlights
After leading Orem High School (Utah) to four straight state championships, he initially committed to Oregon. After a red-shirt freshman year, he transferred to the BYU Cougars and became an immediate star on their offensive line. In 22 games for the Cougars, he raked up nearly 1,300 snaps while allowing only 15 QB hurries, 8 QB hits, and 2 sacks. What is more impressive is that he split playing time at both tackle positions (2022 at right tackle, 2023 at left tackle).
Rookie impact
Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the Lombardi Trophy for the second consecutive year, but their subpar tackle play throughout the season nearly jeopardized that achievement. As a result, Donovan Smith was released, and Suamataia was drafted.
The former BYU Cougar arrives with an impressive NFL pedigree as the cousin of Penei Sewell, widely regarded as the top right tackle in the league. Like Sewell, Suamataia combines explosive strength, speed, and elite quickness off the ball. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the backfield carrying the ball in short-yardage situations, and we can almost guarantee the Andy Reid is adding a goal-line tackle-eligible play for Suamataia to his playbook.
Next Man Up
Olumuyiwa Fashanu: 6-6, 312, Penn St.
Drafted: First round No. 11 overall, New York Jets
College highlights
Before heading to Happy Valley, Fashanu protected the blind side of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams when they teamed up at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Once at Penn State, he embarked on a slow but steady rise to full-time starter. After returning from an injury that cut short his junior season, Fashanu did not allow a sack in 382 pass-blocking attempts as a senior. In so doing, he earned First Team Associated Press All-American honors, the first Penn State offensive lineman to do so since 1995.
Rookie impact
The Jets signed two veteran tackles this offseason — 34-year-old Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses (33) — and were obviously thinking of the future when picking Fashanu. He is a true powerhouse, as his 405-pound bench press, 650-pound squat, and 350-pound clean attests. With the ideal height, weight, and athleticism of a prototypical NFL tackle — and being mentored by Smith and Moses — once he develops the confidence to match his physical abilities, expect him to become a force for years to come.
Amarius Mims: 6-8, 340, Georgia
Drafted: First round No. 18 overall, Cincinnati Bengals
College highlights
A former five-star recruit chosen for the 2021 Under Armour All-American Game, Mims primarily played a reserve role during his first three seasons at Georgia. Having finally earned a starting spot, Mims suffered season-ending injury early in the 2023 season.
Rookie impact
The Cincinnati Bengals have focused this offseason on strengthening a porous offensive line in order to protect star quarterback, Joe Burrow. As part of this effort, they signed for veteran tackle Trent Brown and drafted Mims with an eye toward shoring up the right tackle spot. While Mims has the tools to make the position his, he is raw and quite inexperienced. The presence of Brown will help Mims harness his ample potential.
Roger Rosengarten: 6-5, 308, Washington
Drafted: Second round No. 62 overall, Baltimore Ravens
College highlights
Rosengarten’s college career mirrors that of his former Huskies teammate, Troy Fauntanu. After playing little his first two seasons at Washington, Rosengarten emerged as a dominant right tackle, playing over 1,700 snaps in his final two years. Other stats bear out how impressive those two seasons were, allowing 23 quarterback hurries, four quarterback hits and no sacks. Though the Pac-12 gave him Honorable Mention recognition only, the Associated Press awarded his standout play with a Second-Team All-American selection.
Rookie impact
The Baltimore Ravens have a strong track record in recent drafts, and they've made another excellent choice with the selection of Rosengarten. The departures of RG Kevin Zeitler (to Detroit) and RT Morgan Moses (Jets) left openings on the right side of the Ravens offensive line. This situation provides Rosengarten the opportunity to slide into either slot. As of early August 2024, it appears that Ben Cleveland is settling in at right guard, so Rosengarten will likely compete with Daniel Faalele at right tackle. Being smaller than the massive Faalele could work in Rosengarten’s favor, as the rookie possesses the speed to excel in zone-blocking schemes.
DJ Glaze: 6-4, 315, Maryland
Drafted: Third round No. 77 overall, Las Vegas Raiders
College highlights
Glaze overcame two ACL tears in high school before earning a scholarship to play for the Maryland Terrapins. During his college career, he appeared in 40 games with 32 starts—17 at right tackle and 15 at left tackle. His dedication extended beyond the field, as he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. His senior year was highlighted by Third-Team All-Big Ten honors and an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Rookie impact
Early indications suggest the Raiders intend to ease Glaze into a starting role, though has already demonstrated progress in training camp. Glaze is technically proficient and uses his length to leverage and control defenders. He does need to improve his core strength to maximize his blocking skills.
Matt Goncalves: 6-6, 327, Pittsburgh
Drafted: Third round No. 79 overall, Indianapolis Colts
College highlights
As a freshman at Pitt, Goncalves earned Freshman All-American honors in 2020. His versatility became evident early as he transitioned between right and left tackle, playing a crucial role in Pitt's offensive success. Named captain before the 2023 season, an injury derailed his final year of college football. He did earn a third-team All-ACC selection in 2022.
Rookie impact
Goncalves joins a Colts team that has retained all five starting offensive linemen. However, his experience at both tackle positions is a valuable asset, and the Colts believe he could also contribute effectively at either guard position. His potential to be a top-flight utility lineman early in his career is a testament to his versatility, leadership and team-first attitude. He combines mental toughness with elite mobility and a competitive spirit that is second to none.
Low risk, high reward
Christian Jones: 6-5, 305, Texas
Drafted: Fifth round No. 162 overall, Arizona Cardinals
Rookie outlook
Given his declining performance last year, it seems likely that Jonah Williams will be phased out of the Cardinals' offensive line rotation sooner rather than later. Jones needs to develop his lateral mobility and foot quickness to overtake Williams as a starter.
Giovanni Manu: 6-8, 350, British Columbia
Drafted: Fourth round No. 126 overall, Detroit Lions
Rookie outlook
The Lions have officially extended both of their tackle positions, with Taylor Decker signed through 2027 and Sewell locked in until 2029. Manu boasts elite size but is relatively inexperienced and will need time to adjust to the NFL competition.
Walter Rouse: 6-6, 313, Oklahoma
Drafted: Sixth round No. 177 overall, Minnesota Vikings
Rookie outlook
Rouse seems destined to back up Brian O’Neill and the newly extended Christian Darrisaw, though they have injury histories that could make Rouse a potential plug-and-play asset as early as this season. An even more likely scenario sees him transitioning to guard, where he might get some immediate playing time.