The Los Angeles Chargers selected Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater with the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday.
Slater was a three-year starter for the Wildcats — opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID — and played both left and right tackle. He has gone up against some of the most talented edge rushers in the nation in the Big Ten and particularly had an impressive game in 2019 against Ohio State's Chase Young — last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Here's more about Slater:
Measurables: 6'4"/315
School: Northwestern
2020 stats: opted out
Accolades: 2019 Big Ten Honorable Mention; Two-time Academic All-Big Ten; 2018 Third-Team All-Big Ten
Strengths:
• 3-year starter with experience at left and right tackle
• Fundamentally sound and athletic
• Is best in pass protection
• Excellent lateral blocking range
• Keeps feet moving
• Great balance and body positioning
Weaknesses:
• Height, short arms may lead him to be better suited as guard
• Concerns about strength and length on edge
• Size allows him to get pushed back by strong defenders
Expert scout analysis: "Rashawn Slater is a scheme diverse and positional flexible prospect who should offer a little something to everyone depending on what specific needs and traits are prioritized for any given franchise. Slater, who opted out of the 2020 college season and has not played since the end of the 2019 campaign, is well regarded for his fundamentals and functional athleticism along the front. Slater manned the left tackle position for the Wildcats. For teams that don’t prioritize certain measurable thresholds, he appears to be a viable candidate to do the same in the NFL—based specifically on his work against 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young in pass protection. But Slater’s ceiling is likely lowest on the edge and the further into the heart of the line he transitions, the higher his potential is to become a perennial Pro Bowl player and potential All-Pro candidate in my eyes. Slater has tremendous cutoff abilities and clean, patient footwork working space and the necessary functional strength to hold his own on the interior. The position flexibility he offers ensures he can be a part of any NFL offensive line’s combination of best five players to start up front from Day 1. "
-Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network
Tape:
Player comparison: Jonah Williams (Lance Zeirlein); Kelvin Beachum/Rodney Hudson (Charlie Campbell); Terron Armstead and Isaiah Wynn (Eric Edholm)
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