In a stacked 2024 NFL Draft offensive tackle class, where does BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia rank? With just two years of starting experience, Suamataia has already carved out a place for himself in the early-round discussion.
Can he crack Round 1 come April?
Kingsley Suamataia Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 325 pounds
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: BYU
- Current Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Some NFL Draft ascensions are expected from the very start. That was the case for Suamataia, a fringe five-star high school recruit, the cousin of Detroit Lions All-Pro Penei Sewell, and a dominant blocker for a multi-year state championship team in Orem, Utah.
Suamataia’s tools set him apart, and they earned him an offer to play for the Oregon Ducks, one of the premier schools in the Pac-12.
Suamataia redshirted for the Ducks in 2021, soaking in the Power Five environment. But after a year in Oregon, he chose to transfer to BYU. The move allowed him to be closer to home (just 13 minutes from Orem) and gave him a chance to start in 2022.
Kingsley Suamataia – OT, BYU, No 78
– elite athlete with a well-built frame
– easy movement ability to cover up the arc
– explosive first step to get into his sets
– powerful, upper body strength
– grip strength and pop in his hands
– ready-made run blocker, moves well in space pic.twitter.com/5wGRQ7Usrn— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) April 24, 2024
The transfer to BYU paid dividends for Suamataia. After starting 12 of 13 games at right tackle, he earned Freshman All-American recognition from various outlets and was also a College Football Network first-team All-Independents performer.
In 2023, Suamataia shifted from right tackle to the blind side, and the results were the same. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors, delivered on his early-round upside, and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft — fielding an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl in the process.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Now, Suamataia is part of a potentially historic 2024 NFL Draft offensive tackle group. Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, Amarius Mims, Tyler Guyton, Jordan Morgan, and others could help break the Round 1 OT record.
Does Suamataia have what it takes to be one of the first off the board?
Kingsley Suamataia Scouting Report
Strengths
- Superlative explosive threat off the line who generates bristling momentum into contact.
- Carries great size, mass, and length, and uses them to channel power.
- Has the displacement potential to plow linemen out of gaps with burst and length.
- Possesses great range and urgency as a lead blocker in space, catalyzing big runs.
- Has enough hip flexibility to adjust his attack angles and redirect against LBs in space.
- Plays with good knee bend in pass protection, which helps smoothen weight transfers.
- Gets good depth on his kick, with active feet and smooth lateral mobility through reps.
- Can effectively leverage his base to stay square with rushers while using controlled lean.
- Can violently latch onto opposing frames and stall out rushes with stifling grip strength.
- Able to shock rushers initially with forceful two-hand punches, then gather with hands.
- Can flash his hands and vary his set angle to bait rushers into predictable paths.
- Shows glimpses of advanced upper-lower synergy and coordination in pass protection.
- Has a full season of starting experience at both left tackle and right tackle.
- Flashes very impressive angle awareness and leverage IQ as a pulling blocker.
- Mauler in space who has the tenacity and physicality to drive defenders into the turf.
Weaknesses
- Arm length, while solid, might not be quantifiably elite.
- Doesn’t always have the elite core strength to nullify rushers as they attack gaps.
- Despite elite power capacity, can be more consistent at sequencing power exertions.
- Sometimes struggles to maintain balance while pursuing moving blocks in space.
- Sometimes drifts upright against inside counters, allowing cleaner paths to the QB.
- Lack of optimal base load on run blocks can prevent him from clearing backside gaps.
- Leans past the center of gravity and bends at the waist when attempting to drive power.
- At times, can keep his elbows lower and tighter to maximize the load on punches.
- Sometimes resorts to grabbing when rushers get a step on him on gap invasions.
- Hand placement on initial run blocks can be a bit cleaner at times to fully drive power.
- Can be late to adapt and shift base when rushers engage with inside counters.
- Sometimes shortens the corner too much when turning his hips outside to the apex.
- Too often a tick late reacting and responding to stunts and delayed blitzes.
- Can be slow to redirect as a help blocker, in turn stalling lower body drive.
- Can get tunnel vision on run plays, at times failing to pick up second-level assignments.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Suamataia grades out as a top-50 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, who could earn late Round 1 consideration from NFL teams. At just 21 years old, Suamataia already has left-right versatility, two years of experience, and an elite physical foundation to build on.
At 6’6″ and 325 pounds, Suamataia looms over the competition, and his combination of elite explosiveness, mass, and high-end length grants him quantifiably elite power capacity. He can use that power to drive open lanes in the run game and shock rushers with violent punches in pass protection.
Relative to most other offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, Suamataia’s game has more variance than his counterparts.
The high-end plays are awe-inspiring, but at the same time, he still has work to do with his leverage and pad-level maintenance, awareness, and overall operational consistency.
That said, Suamataia’s all-encompassing physical profile, as well as his versatility, should help him acclimate quickly in the NFL. When he’s at his peak, he’s a combative and adaptable pass protector with road-grader potential and scheme versatility in the run game.
If Suamataia can keep building beyond his foundation and strive for more consistency maintaining pad level and properly loading his base, he can be an impact starter at a premium position for at least a decade.
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