Which Teams Need OL in the 2024 NFL Draft?
10) Seattle Seahawks
Starting five: LT Charles Cross, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Olu Oluwatimi, RG Anthony Bradford, RT Abraham Lucas
Seattle should feel good about its offensive tackle situation, where Cross and Lucas will enter their third pro seasons hoping to rebound after missing time with injuries in 2023. The Seahawks signed 73-game starter George Fant to a two-year contract in March, ensuring they’ll have a backup plan if Cross or Lucas goes down again. However, Seattle’s interior is a concern. Tomlinson, who recently joined the roster on a league-minimum deal, hasn’t been the same player since leaving the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. Bradford struggled through 10 starts in his 2023 rookie campaign, while Oluwatimi (another first-year player) started one game and played just 129 snaps. The Seahawks could consider an offensive lineman as early as No. 16. Troy Fautanu would reunite with ex-Washington OC Ryan Grubb and OL coach Scott Huff (who now hold the same titles in Seattle), while Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Alabama’s JC Latham, or Duke’s Graham Barton could also make sense in the middle of Round 1.
9) San Francisco 49ers
Starting five: LT Trent Williams, LG Aaron Banks, C Jake Brendel, RG Jon Feliciano, RT Colton McKivitz
The 49ers just made a Super Bowl appearance while starting the group above. Kyle Shanahan’s scheme can protect OL weaknesses, and San Francisco can get through another season with its same front five intact in 2024. Still, general manager John Lynch will likely consider adding OL talent with the 31st pick. Williams is still arguably the NFL‘s best offensive tackle but is entering his age-36 campaign. Banks and Feliciano are heading into contract years, while Brendel and McKivitz could be upgraded upon despite being on extensions.
8) Miami Dolphins
Starting five: LT Terron Armstead, LG Isaiah Wynn, C Aaron Brewer, RG Robert Jones, RT Austin Jackson
Armstead is an elite tackle when healthy, but he’s missed 20 games over the last three years and flirted with retirement over the offseason. Given his annual injury issues, Miami needs to find a younger LT option who could likely see action in 2023. Brewer should be locked in as a starter after inking a three-year, $21 million deal. But his positional flexibility means the Dolphins could consider a center like Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson or West Virginia’s Zach Frazier. Miami’s dream scenario might be an OL prospect with multi-spot versatility like Fautanu or Barton.
7) Baltimore Ravens
Starting five: LT Ronnie Stanley, LG Josh Jones, C Tyler Linderbaum, RG Ben Cleveland, RT Daniel Faalele
Baltimore is without 60% of its starting 2023 offensive line following offseason losses of LG John Simpson, RG Kevin Zeitler, and RT Morgan Moses. Patrick Mekari and Andrew Vorhees will compete with Jones, Cleveland, and Faalele to take over starting roles, but the Ravens will entertain more additions at No. 30. An ideal solution might be Arizona’s Jordan Morgan, who could play guard as a rookie before potentially taking over for Stanley in 2024. Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) or Kingsley Suamataia (BYU) could also be on Baltimore’s radar at the end of the first round.
6) New Orleans Saints
Starting five: LT Trevor Penning, LG James Hurst, C Erik McCoy, RG Cesar Ruiz, RT Ryan Ramczyk
The Saints have essentially given up on Penning two years after drafting him in Round 1, while Ramczyk’s ongoing knee issue may prevent him from playing in 2024. Hurst is already 32 and entering the final season of his contract. New Orleans could simply stand pat at No. 14 and take the best OT prospect on the board. Although Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will have likely been selected by the time the Saints are on the clock, they could have a chance at Fuaga or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu. Given how many long-term holes it might have up front, it could make sense for New Orleans to double-dip on offensive linemen in the draft. However, the Saints have enough holes all over their roster that an OL-heavy approach may not be feasible.
