It doesn’t take long for North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu to garner attention from onlookers throughout a football game. In a game where skill position players are the talk of the town, Ekwonu’s brutality as a blocker jumps off the screen. But has he done enough technically for NFL Draft evaluators to covet him as a tackle?
Ikem Ekwonu: Tackle or guard at the NFL level?
I was admittedly skeptical about the NC State offensive tackle over the summer. A group gathered to discuss his standing in the Mock Draft Simulator. PFN Draft Analysts Oliver Hodgkinson and Ian Cummings wanted to see Ekwonu ranked highly and as a tackle. I thought he was a guard based on his 2020 tape.
Ekwonu was a dominant run-blocker who moved people in such an effortless manner it was impossible not to fall in love with him. But he was technically raw and played a bit out of control for my liking.
His 2021 tape showed immense growth, cementing his ability to play on the outside. However, development is still needed. Ekwonu fell back into some bad habits later in the season, but he should only become more technically sound with more offseason reps. He has more than enough athleticism to play either position.
Ekwonu on a possible position switch from tackle
From the beginning of his interview with PFN’s Cody Roark on Super Bowl Radio Row in Los Angeles, you could tell Ekwonu is a thoughtful and impressive young man. It’s no surprise he received offers from Harvard and Yale before deciding to go to NC State instead.
Ekwonu described himself as a team player. If he’s needed on the interior for his NFL team, he’ll do it. But if you ask him, he’d rather be protecting a right-hander’s blindside.
“I see myself as a left tackle. I’ve played left tackle the past three years, so I definitely feel comfortable there, and I feel like I’m only scratching the surface of my potential at left tackle.”
Possible landing spots
Look no further than the first overall pick. Jacksonville has needs almost everywhere on the offensive line and shouldn’t think twice about replacing tackles Cam Robinson or Jawaan Taylor. It’s a matter of whether Ekwonu can impress enough people during athletic testing and measurements.
Aside from the Lions, Ekwonu could be a target for every team drafting in the top 10. Evan Neal and Charles Cross are both excellent tackle prospects, but all three could go early on.
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But the Giants are also a possibility for Ekwonu if they’re looking to rebuild their interior. The Jets could be a sneaky landing spot for the offensive lineman as well, at either tackle or the right guard spot.
Usually, a proposed positional change would send me gliding on the soapbox to explain why it’s a horrible idea. But with Ekwonu, we’re discussing a difference between potential Pro Bowl-caliber play at tackle and Hall of Fame level play at guard. He’ll immediately become one of the most feared competitors in the NFL.
