Player Profile: Luke Joeckel

Luke Joeckel 

Position:  Offensive Tackle
School:  Texas A&M
Year:  Junior
Height:  6'6
Weight:  310
Projection:  Top 5 Pick, #1 OT

Strengths
-Good Frame (6'6 310).  Should be able to add weight without issues.
-Experienced.  Started every game at Left Tackle since his freshman year.
-Great Game Film.  Was dominant against Auburn and LSU.
-Quick feet that allows him to side side to side and get good drops in pass protection.
-Great character, Hard Working, and tough.  Plays through the whistle.
-Aggressive blocker who wants to dominate the defender
-Does a great job of getting into the right position to make a block.  Very technically sound.
-Very intelligent.  Good with reads and picking up blitzs, stunts, and twits.
-Can play in both man and zone blocking scheme.
-Understands how to play angles

Weaknesses
-Struggles with defenders who use their hands well.
-Speed rushers to the outside
-Needs to get stronger
-Isn't going to knock anybody back with is punch

Summary
Luke Joeckel is the top offensive tackle in this draft class and one of the five best players in the entire draft.  I wouldn't put Joeckel in the Joe Thomas, Jake Long, or Matt Khalil category, but he is just a notch below them.  Joeckel is an athletic tackle who can lock down pass rushers.  Joeckel is very aggressive and wants to take it to the defender.  This does cause him problems because he doesn't always get the depth he needs on his drops and good speed rushers can beat him to the outside.  Joeckel is a very tough blocker, but he could stand to improve his strength which will make his initial punch more effective.  Joeckel can play in both a man or a zone blocking scheme, but he seems to be a better fit in a zone scheme since he isn't very over powering.  He should test well at the combine, but what most teams will be impressed with is his game film where he dominated some of the SEC's best pass rushers.  He held Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, and Corey Lemonier in check.  Without a dominant QB prospect there is a great chance that Joeckel could go #1 overall.  But if he doesn't Philadelphia and Detroit could be options.  But he won't last past Arizona at #7.