We've now examined eight of the nine position players who attended the combine this past February. There are even two players - defensive lineman Tyler Clark and linebacker Tae Crowder - who did not attend the combine who I think will be drafted in the later rounds. However, we saved the highest potential draft pick for last, three-year starting offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
What do the Mock Drafts say? – Patrick Garbin
Considering the six mock drafts, all but one forecast Thomas to be selected 10th overall by the Cleveland Browns. The NBC Sports’ mock draft selected by Peter King, predicts the former Georgia offensive tackle will be picked No. 6 overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. While the common notion is the Chargers will draft a quarterback with their pick, King foresees them settling on an NFL veteran under center in order to draft Wilson.
Entering the draft, 16 Georgia players in history have been top 10 picks, including just one offensive lineman, Royce Smith, who was chosen No. 8 overall in the 1972 draft by the New Orleans Saints. Also, since the NFL started allowing juniors to declare for the draft more than 30 years ago, Georgia has totaled 10 top 10 picks (with early departee Thomas likely being the 11th), all but one of whom (Richard Seymour, 2001) departed school early for the league. – Garbin
What does PFF say?
Big Board = 8
Positional Rank = 1
Career Overall Grade = 86.6
As you can see, Thomas is our No. 1-rated offensive tackle. In 2019, Thomas' 92.5 overall grade was third-best in the FBS. Within the individual components, his 89.0 pass-blocking grade was ninth-best, while his 91.4 run block grade was third best.
The former four-star recruit started as a freshman and played 2,391 snaps in his three seasons, improving in every facet of the game each year. Over his career, Thomas surrendered 37 total quarterback pressures on 1,075 pass-blocking snaps, with almost half of those coming in his true freshman season. In addition to his elite play, Thomas was rarely penalized, with only six total in his career and just three over the past two seasons.
While his career overall grade is not quite as high as some of his Georgia draft classmates, his 92.5 overall grade in 2019 is the highest-graded season for any Georgia player during the PFF era (since 2014). That grade slightly edged Roquan Smith and Nick Chubb's 2017 grade.
What does Pollack say?
"A professional from the moment he stepped on campus. Smart, great work ethic and just goes about his business the right way. Combine those traits with his supreme talent and athleticism and you have a potential All-Pro. A team will take him early and he'll go be their tackle for the next decade." - David Pollack
Final thoughts and prediction
Despite only playing three seasons, Thomas is an absolute all-timer between the hedges who might end up being the highest drafted offensive lineman in the program's history. The question with Thomas is not if he gets selected in the first round; it's where and how high. The Giants at four, the Chargers at six, or possibly even the Cardinals at eight could select him.
Thus, how do I see the top 10 of the draft going? Burrow will obviously come off the board first, and Washington will resist the urge to take another quarterback early and take Chase Young. Miami will trade up to three to ensure they get Tua and then, at four, the Giants will make a mistake and take a different offensive tackle. Which one? Who knows with General Manager Dave Gettleman at the helm, but probably Tristan Wirfs, given his impressive combine testing. Jeff Okudah will then be selected fifth by the Lions, and that puts us at six and the Los Angeles Chargers. With the six pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, I expect the Chargers to select Thomas, allowing him to play in the glorious uniforms the team just unveiled this week.
