Potential Eagles Draft Prospect Tyler Guyton
With the 2024 NFL Draft about a month away, it’s time to start looking at potential fits for the Eagles to vet. Up first in this series is Tyler Guyton, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma University. Guyton got a lot of early steam in the beginnings of the draft process, namely being the pick for the Eagles in NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft. It was an interesting selection for the Eagles at the time, but there are a few reasons to keep an eye on it.
First, it is known that Howie Roseman always spends his first-round picks on premium positions, like offensive tackle, cornerback, defensive line, etc. Second, a couple of years back, the Eagles front office asked Jason Kelce to watch the centers coming out of the 2022 NFL Draft. Out of all the centers, Kelce picked out Cam Jurgens as someone he liked, and the Eagles took him in that draft to be his eventual successor. There have been reports the same has been happening with Lane Johnson this offseason, with him being outspoken about his admiration of Tyler Guyton. Finally, the last reason to keep an eye on Guyton being the first Eagles pick is the success the Eagles have had in free agency. With their signings, there may be no urgent needs within the roster, making them not dependent on getting a certain position in the draft.
Tyler Guyton Has All the Traits
Tyler Guyton declared for the draft as a redshirt junior from Oklahoma and turns 23 in June. The first thing that jumps out with Guyton is the measurables. At the combine, he measured 6’8” and 322 pounds with over 34-inch arms, eclipsing the ole NFL arm length benchmark. Guyton has the look of a premier NFL offensive tackle, but he also backs that up with good athleticism. Many analysts call Guyton a dancing bear, with light, quick feet to mirror pass rushers. With his foot speed, his arm length and sheer size make it hard for edge rushers to maneuver around. His athleticism also suits him well in the open field, whether pulling across the offensive line or running out wide to set up screens.
Yet, there are a couple of faults with Guyton at this stage of his career. One is a lack of experience, having started only 13 games throughout his career. Additionally, Guyton’s run-blocking needs improvement. Too often, he either falls off his assignment in the run game or stands too tall and gives up leverage to the defender. However, at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, Guyton had an overall great performance, and his overall potential should still be tantalizing for teams.
Every Tyler Guyton 1-on-1 from the Senior Bowl pic.twitter.com/pHNtmYhMsJ
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 2, 2024
The Fit for the Eagles
Drafting a player in the first round of the NFL Draft, who will likely sit for a year or two would be a controversial move for any team. Consider the way the Eagles finished the season last year and it becomes even more combative. Yet, if Howie is set on drafting a premium position, offensive tackle makes sense based on the age of Lane Johnson. Johnson turns 34 in May, and while he’s still playing at a high level, nobody knows when he’ll call his career quits.
If Guyton were to be the Eagles’ first pick, he would most likely not start in 2024. However, Jack Driscoll, the former Eagles sixth and swing offensive lineman signed with the Dolphins this offseason. Driscoll wasn’t a starter, but he was a key depth piece for the Eagles who had to play a good amount in the last few seasons. Guyton would fit right into that role as their sixth offensive lineman and provide crucial depth while simultaneously being the successor to Lane Johnson.
Final Thoughts
Tyler Guyton is an intriguing prospect and fit for the Eagles in the first round. While he’s no guarantee to go in the first round, he has the potential to be a home-run pick. For the Eagles, he can serve multiple roles and still fit their ideology of picking a high-value position. It also would be another selection from the Eagles that keeps in mind the future of the team. However, do the Eagles have the leeway to take a player for the future early in the draft? It will be intriguing to see Howie Roseman’s thinking on draft day. It will show how he feels about the current Eagles team and how well-equipped they are right now and in the future.
Main Photo: [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman] – USA Today Sports
