Rashawn Slater would be a first-round pick had he never played a game against Ohio State in his college career.
But one Friday night date with the Buckeyes in October of 2019 illustrates why some talent evaluators believe Slater is the best offensive tackle in this year’s NFL draft — better than Oregon’s Penei Sewell and all four of the linemen who went in the top 13 last year.
Ohio State dominated Northwestern that day, winning 52-3 as part of its perfect regular season. Justin Fields threw four touchdown passes. J.K. Dobbins ran for 121 yards. And Chase Young had one of his NCAA-best 16.5 sacks.
But Young was hardly his overpowering self that day, and Slater was the primary reason why.
Young’s lone sack came against Northwestern right tackle Gunner Vogel, and he finished the game with two stops. Slater pitched a shutout at left tackle, a performance that became all the more impressive when Young cruised to NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors last season.
Slater’s play that day “speaks for itself,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said at the Wildcats’ pro day last month. More importantly, it’s not the only evidence of his readiness for the NFL.
“I think if you go back and watch beyond just that tape, you’re going to see an elite level of consistency and fundamental and technique and effort, and he’s a guy that did a great job every week (no matter) who he was going to go against,” Fitzgerald said. “From a football IQ standpoint, a preparation standpoint, a fundamental and a technique (standpoint), and then an execution at a high level against outstanding player, Rashawn checks all those boxes.
“And then you kind of glue that all together with who he is as a person, his character and the type of teammate that he is, he’s just an outstanding prospect and deserves all the praise that he’s getting right now.”
Sewell has long been considered the cream of this year’s offensive line class, since he dominated the Pac-12 as a true freshman at Oregon, and he remains the best bet to be the first tackle off the board.
The Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 need protection for young quarterback Joe Burrow. The Detroit Lions at No. 7 are in the market for a long-term solution at right tackle. And the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys are among the other offensive line-needy teams in the top 10.
Slater, though, is viewed a safer pick than Sewell. His father, Reggie Slater, played eight NBA seasons, and Rashawn Slate is versatile enough to be a plug-and-play starter anywhere on the offensive line, even center.
In Detroit, he likely would play right tackle, as a bookend to Taylor Decker, with Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow in the middle.
“My dad, he’s amazing,” Slater said. “From his experience, he’s a guy that came from Houston, went to Wyoming to play basketball, ended up playing in the league and overseas for a bit. And just throughout my life, he’s always been that athletic influence. He played center at 6-6 and so he was definitely a grinder and he taught me everything I know about just work ethic and being able to battle through adversity and stuff like that.”
He made 37 starts over three seasons at Northwestern, playing two years at right tackle before moving to left tackle as a junior. Last year, Slater opted out of playing when the Big Ten initially canceled its season, and spent the fall training with private offensive line coach Duke Manyweather.
That experience, he said, has him ready to step in and play as a rookie.
“I was a much-improved player going into my senior year, but now even more so,” he said. “Training with Duke, he’s a master. Every single day I was learning something new. He taught me how to move more efficiently, how to leverage better, how to just be more powerful and explosive off the ball, stuff like that. So my technique’s shot up since the last time I played.”
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Slater impressed at his pro day workout last month, when he ran the 40-yard dash in a reported 4.88 seconds. He did not allow a sack in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus, and has some of the cleanest tape of any prospect in the draft — though that has not stopped detractors from wondering whether he can stay at left tackle with his size (6 feet 4, 304 pounds) and 33-inch arms.
Some NFL teams use an arm length of 34 inches as the standard for the position.
Slater called questions about his arm length “tiring” and said anyone who doubts his work can check the tape —- and not just of that Ohio State game.
“I think I’m the best tackle in the draft,” he said. “So I have a really high level of confidence about that, but at the same time, I’m a team player. If a team wants to play me at guard, I’m all for it. As long as that’s what’s best for the team, I’m happy to play whatever position they need me at.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.