As the Miami Dolphins narrow down their list of draft options at 21, there are certainly more accomplished tackle prospects than Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton.
But there might not be any with more upside left available when they go on the clock.
That’s why we can’t rule out Chris Grier pulling a stunner on draft night and swinging for the fences on a player with just 14 collegiate offensive line starts.
Miami Dolphins Draft Preview: Get To Know Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
The Basics
- Age: 22
- Height: 6’7″
- Weight: 328 pounds
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: Oklahoma
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- PFN Big Board Ranking: No. 6 overall, No. 23 OT
Why He’s a First-Round Talent
Guyton, who transferred to Oklahoma after two unremarkable years at TCU to start his career, is green. But he’s already come a long way in a short period of time.
Guyton has reps at both left and right tackle on tape, and in his only year as a full-time starter (playing RT for the Sooners), he earned all-conference honorable mention recognition.
So there’s reason to believe that his arrow is pointing straight up; PFN draft analyst Ian Cummings writes in Guyton’s prospect profile:
“Guyton only has one full year of starting experience at right tackle, and that does show at times. Elements like pad level, hand usage, recovery footwork, and synergy all need further improvement. But for a high school DT with three years of collegiate playing experience at tackle, Guyton shows immense promise.
“While Guyton is raw in some areas, his pass sets are surprisingly clean for his experience level. He has great knee bend, elbow load, and balance when matching rushers vertically, and his elite athleticism allows him to recover ground and erase rushing lanes wherever they appear.
“Additionally, with his length, Guyton has near-elite raw power capacity, which he can use to slab defenders in the run game and shock them in pass protection with fast, heavy punches. There’s already some independent hand usage on tape, and while his timing and precision can improve, he’s visibly trending up.”
How He Would Fit
Guyton would be like any other Round 1 tackle the Dolphins might draft in a couple of weeks: A (likely right) guard in Year 1, Terron Armstead’s replacement at left tackle in Year 2.
“It’s something I just got to adapt to, to get used to,” Guyton said at the NFL Scouting Combine when asked about potentially playing left tackle in the NFL. “I haven’t played left in a minute. Can get back in the groove anytime I want to. I just got to [have] repetition at it, practice.
“It’s not that big of a difference. Just flipping everything — plays and technique. That’s probably the biggest thing.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
More from Cummings on what Guyton does well, and what needs improvement:
Strengths
- Tall, well-built, and high-mass blocker with good length, flexibility, and reach.
- Nimble, light-footed mover at his size with awe-inspiring recovery athleticism.
- Shows off easy first-step explosiveness when attacking as a run blocker.
- Possesses stellar range as a puller and can veer into gaps and secure running lanes.
- Can slab looping rushers with exceptional raw power, drawn from his length and burst.
Weaknesses
- Length, while solid, may not be proportionally elite.
- Non-elite length slightly detracts from maximum power and torque capacity.
- A tall frame sometimes prevents him from getting underneath stunners and locking out.
- Doesn’t have elite grip strength as a moving blocker and can improve at sustaining.
- Lacks elite hip flexibility and can’t always swivel at gaps without sacrificing leverage.
Trade Winds Blowing?
One option that should not be dismissed is what happens if there are several players the Dolphins really like when they go on the clock at 21:
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They trade back and try to earn back the third-round pick stripped by the NFL as part of its punishment for the Dolphins’ tampering violations.
Going from 21 to, say, 28, could net them a late third. That might be the sweet spot for Guyton, who might be a better value later in the first than when the Dolphins are scheduled to pick.
