Andrew Thomas Overview
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6’5
Weight: 315 lbs
School: Georgia Bulldogs
NFL Combine Performance Data
40 Yard Dash: 5.22 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 30.5″
Broad Jump: 109.0″
3 Cone Drill: 7.58 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.66 seconds
Andrew Thomas 2020 NFL Draft Profile
The Georgia Bulldogs have turned into one of the top elite college football programs in the past three seasons. They have been from having a roster of young players that have developed into some of the top players that worthy of being selected high in the NFL Draft. Andrew Thomas is a player that started immediately as soon as he stepped foot on Georgia’s campus. As a true freshman, Thomas started all 15 games at right tackle for the Bulldogs in the 2017 season. This was the season where the Bulldogs went on to lose 26-23 in overtime to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Bulldogs’ offense ranked 20th in points per game (35.4) and ninth-ranked rushing offense (258.4 rushing yards per game). He was named as a Freshman All-American.
Thomas made the transition to left tackle in his sophomore season in the 2018 college football season. He played in 13 games and only missed one game due to an ankle injury. That season, the Bulldogs’ offense ranked 14th in points per game (37.9) and 16th in rushing yards per game (239.2). Thomas was selected as a first-team All-American in the 2018 season. This past season, Thomas played and started in 13 games in the regular season and SEC Conference Championship game. Thomas kept improving his consistency and efficiency in his performance as an overall blocker. Pro Football Focus graded his pass blocking performance in his freshman year with 76.7. In 2018, they graded his pass blocking performance with 79.5. Finally, this past season, Pro Football Focus graded his pass blocking performance with a 92.4 grade. He was named as second-team All-American selection in his junior year.
Strengths
- He can play both left tackle and right tackle in the NFL;
- Has the ability to efficiently get to the second level of the defense;
- Possesses the quick ability to slide and move through pass protection mirroring the defensive linemen;
- Powerful quick punches;
- Reliable to be a dual-threat block in the running game and passing game;
- Difficult to overpower as he sinks his hips;
- Great ability to reset his feet through reactions from the opposing defensive linemen;
- A great athlete with flexibility and length;
- High football IQ especially in pro-style schemes.
Weaknesses
- Tends to lunge when he starts to get beat;
- Heavy legged when he gets to the second level of the defense;
- Tends to be lazy in later game pass protection if he is close to the guard;
- Due to his tendency to lean, he doesn’t push and moves his defender;
- Often, he is top-heavy when his hips do not stay solid;
- Plays high in a longer duration of the game;
- Needs to improve feet placement;
- Will be difficult to finish difficult run blocks if he doesn’t develop;
- Tends to reach for the blitzers.
Comparisons: Ja’Wuan James (Denver Broncos)
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Top-10 to top-20
Bottom Line on Andrew Thomas
Thomas is the most well-balanced offensive lineman in the running game and passing game. His pass-blocking grade this past season (92.4) ranked second offensive linemen who were draft-eligible. His pass-blocking grade ranked behind Houston Cougars tackle Josh Jones. Thomas has been an efficient run blocker for some of the NFL high caliber running backs including Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and D’Andre Swift. Before this past season, Thomas was projected to be a top-five selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. While he performed well in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, he did not dominate in any of the major drills.
Thomas finds himself still in the top-five offensive linemen in this year’s NFL Draft class. Teams with a well-balanced offense will look to acquire Thomas due to his reliability as an overall blocker. He is the least likely elite tackle prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft to be a bust. Teams like the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to utilize his potential as a reliable blocker.
Main photo:
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