CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals could double the number of 6’8” offensive tackles from Oklahoma on the roster if they draft Tyler Guyton to pair with Orlando Brown Jr.
But unlike Brown, who started 40 games in college, Guyton is coming into the NFL with minimal experience.
The TCU transfer has just 14 starts at tackle, nine of which came at right tackle in 2023, when he protected the blindside of left-handed quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Cincinnati Bengals Draft Preview: Get To Know Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
The Basics
- Height: 6’8″
- Weight: 322 pounds
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: Oklahoma
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- Age: 21 (June 11, 2022)
- PFN Big Board Ranking: No. 23 overall, No. 6 OT
Why Tyler Guyton Is a First-Round Talent
While inexperience could be viewed as a knock against several prospects, it works in favor of Guyton.
Not only was he a one-year starter at Oklahoma, the former basketball player didn’t start focusing on football until his senior year of high school. So he’s come a long way in a short period to be considered a possible first-round pick.
Guyton allowed just two sacks on 548 career pass-block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
“That was one of the things a lot of teams mentioned in my meetings with them, that I was more mature than they thought I was,” Guyton said at the Combine.
PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings called Guyton “one of the most upside-driven tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft in his scouting profile of Guyton.
“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 Guyton Would Fit
Guyton would have a chance to compete with Trent Brown, whom the Bengals signed to a one-year deal in free agency, for the starting job at right tackle.
MORE: Bengals Need a Tackle, But Which Ones Are the Best Fit With Guard Versatility?
The coaches at the Senior Bowl had Guyton working at left tackle, but with his starting experience in college coming on the right side, it would make for a smoother transition to the NFL to stay on that side.
On the latest PFN #Bengals podcast, @DallasDRobinson and I use the PFN Mock Draft Simulator to run 4 mocks in real time.
One starts OT, then DT, then WR, then a trade back to explore the different paths.
Let us know which you like best in the comments:https://t.co/LZn3vcGncM— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) April 10, 2024
The coaches at the Senior Bowl had Guyton working at left tackle, but with his starting experience in college coming on the right side, it would make for a smoother transition to the NFL to stay on that side.
Guyton said some of his basketball skills have helped him develop as a football player.
“The biggest thing is having quick feet, being light on your feet. Basketball definitely translates to football in that sense. That’s probably the biggest thing, that and being able to stay in front of the defender.”
Trade Talk?
While each recent instance has involved moves in the second and third rounds, the Bengals have a consistent history of trading back to acquire more picks. Yet, trading back in the first round could cost them a chance at some higher-ranked tackles, such as JC Latham, Taliese Fuaga, or Amarius Mims.
KEEP READING: Byron Murphy II vs. Johnny Newton — If the Bengals Go DT at No. 18, Who Should It Be?
However, Guyton is viewed as a late first-round or early second-round pick, so moving back 5-10 spots from pick 18 could enable the Bengals to acquire extra picks while also securing a player like him, who they hope can be the RT of the future.
Weighing the Weaknesses in Guyton’s Game
Aside from his inexperience, Guyton has some other issues teams will have to weigh if they’re going to draft him where he’s expected to go.
Cummings touched on several of those issues in his scouting report:
- 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.
- Sometimes gets tunnel vision on stunts and fails to pass off rushers, exposing paths.
- Sometimes extends without recalibrating his base and shortens the corner for rushers.
- On occasion, widens his hands too far and exposes himself to bull rushes.
- Tends to plant his feet too early when extending, rendering him flat-footed.
- Euro-steps can erode his balance and cause him to slip, widening his base too far.
- At times, turns upfield prematurely as a pulling blocker and leaves ends unblocked.
- Snap timing can improve, as he’s sometimes late off the line in both phases.
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