OT Scouting 2025 O-Line Prospects: Who Do We Want?

[UChiLAbear]

Joe Thomas got into the hall of fame with 33 inch arms. Rashawn Slater is an all pro with 32 inch arms (along with Taylor Lewan, Mitchell Schwartz, Joe Staley, and several more recent OTs in the NFL). Poles also took Velus Jones 6 picks ahead of Bernhard Raimann, who had an astonishing good year and was in all pro consideration with 32 inch arms.

Meanwhile, Braxton Leno has 35 inch arms, Wright 34 inch, and neither are very good.

Too many idiots are talking about arm length like it should matter when evaluating a prospect. It’s why the Chicago bears continue to be a stupid franchise. When Poles told everyone in the moratorium presser that he’d like to draft OL, but the right guys aren’t available when it’s his turn to pick—it goes to the stupidity of limiting himself and his options because of an old, archaic, incompetent mentality when it comes to building the best OL.

Banks, Campbell, and Milium should all be under immense scrutiny and review. But not because of their arm length, the totality of the package of the player should matter more. What’s their bend like? How’s the footwork? What’s he anchor like? Does he want to play football for a living (have to ask this now after giving loaf ass Nate Davis 15 mil for doing nothing)? Is he preinjured? Why was he good in his college scheme? Is he a run mauler, pass protector, or new-age ‘agile’ OL where it’s his job to get to a spot and block a guy? What kind of offense are the bears running and which kind of OL fits what you’re trying to do?

Great post! I never could understand the arm length fetish. Not sure why people talk about it. A player's footwork is so superior in importance to arm length that it isn't even close.

 

[msadows]

Great post! I never could understand the arm length fetish. Not sure why people talk about it. A player's footwork is so superior in importance to arm length that it isn't even close.

TBH its not overblown, arm length certainly matters and makes playing tackle easier.

Its not as important as a lot of other factors he listed, but its pretty clear why being long is important for someone trying to stop edge defenders. An inch or two could be the difference between whiffing on a guy or winning a block.

Also, the poster said Wright sucks, which he doesnt. Wright is looking to be a very good player, he had a really strong second half of the season while playing next to a bottom roster level guard.

Wright also does not have very long arms, hes at 33" and 3/4's, thats 33rd percentile for tackles. Its why a lot of mocks had him projected as a guard in the NFL. I still think he may be a better guard mostly because of his feet.

Ryan Poles clearly doesnt know wtf OL prospects look like. He moved tev to the inside because of short arms and slow feet but a guy with basically just as long arms and slower feet(Wright) is a tackle.

 

[dennehy]

Joe Thomas got into the hall of fame with 33 inch arms. Rashawn Slater is an all pro with 32 inch arms (along with Taylor Lewan, Mitchell Schwartz, Joe Staley, and several more recent OTs in the NFL). Poles also took Velus Jones 6 picks ahead of Bernhard Raimann, who had an astonishing good year and was in all pro consideration with 32 inch arms.

Meanwhile, Braxton Leno has 35 inch arms, Wright 34 inch, and neither are very good.

Too many idiots are talking about arm length like it should matter when evaluating a prospect. It’s why the Chicago bears continue to be a stupid franchise. When Poles told everyone in the moratorium presser that he’d like to draft OL, but the right guys aren’t available when it’s his turn to pick—it goes to the stupidity of limiting himself and his options because of an old, archaic, incompetent mentality when it comes to building the best OL.

Banks, Campbell, and Milium should all be under immense scrutiny and review. But not because of their arm length, the totality of the package of the player should matter more. What’s their bend like? How’s the footwork? What’s he anchor like? Does he want to play football for a living (have to ask this now after giving loaf ass Nate Davis 15 mil for doing nothing)? Is he preinjured? Why was he good in his college scheme? Is he a run mauler, pass protector, or new-age ‘agile’ OL where it’s his job to get to a spot and block a guy? What kind of offense are the bears running and which kind of OL fits what you’re trying to do?

Slater 33 inch arms
Schwartz 33.5
Raimann 32.88
Lewan 33.88
Staley 33.88

There are plenty of guys with 33-34 inch arms who are great OTs. There are basically zero who have arms less than 32.5. The reason for this is that arm length does matter. It's not the only thing that matters, as you say, not close to it. No one makes that argument. But it's definitely a sliding scale where someone with shorter arms is at a disadvantage compared to someone with longer arms, the same way someone with slower feet or a poorer anchor is at a disadvantage. Basic physics.

Also do you honestly think that Poles bases his analysis on arm length and not bend or footwork or anchor? HIs eye for talent has proven poor but no indication he doesn't value other traits.

 

[bamainatlanta]

Texas T Kelvin Banks Jr. Declares For Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is a strange one in that, unlike most drafts, this one lacks a collection of top-tier …

www.profootballrumors.com

Not exactly a glowing review for Banks.

 

[Beast15]

Slater 33 inch arms
Schwartz 33.5
Raimann 32.88
Lewan 33.88
Staley 33.88

There are plenty of guys with 33-34 inch arms who are great OTs. There are basically zero who have arms less than 32.5. The reason for this is that arm length does matter. It's not the only thing that matters, as you say, not close to it. No one makes that argument. But it's definitely a sliding scale where someone with shorter arms is at a disadvantage compared to someone with longer arms, the same way someone with slower feet or a poorer anchor is at a disadvantage. Basic physics.

Also do you honestly think that Poles bases his analysis on arm length and not bend or footwork or anchor? HIs eye for talent has proven poor but no indication he doesn't value other traits.

*Chris (T-Rex) Williams

 

[dennehy]

*Chris (T-Rex) Williams

He was almost a Hall of Famer. Right on the cusp.