Washington Position Group Breakdown: Offensive Tackles

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May 9, 2025

by David Earl

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in our annual Position Group Breakdown Series.  The intent of this series is to analyze the status of Washington’s roster, by position group, with the draft and free agency having passed. This series will go on until the preseason begins.]

Offseason of Changes

Last season, this offensive line group looked far more improved, due to Jayden Daniels‘s play more so than anything else. Per Stathead, Daniels had an average time in pocket of 2.4 seconds, ranked 8th in the NFL, while being the 6th most sacked quarterback, with 47. After facing 153 total blitzes this season, he faced pressure 18.5% of the time, was hurried 36 times, and hit 28 times. Put this into perspective: Sam Howell also had 2.4 seconds in the pocket last season but faced blitzes 181 times, finishing with 39 hurries, 57 hits, and a 22.7% pressure rate. Howell also finished the season with 65 sacks and 33 scrambles. There was not a great deal of improvement in the offensive line from the 2023 season to the 2024 season. The primary difference here was Daniels’ ability to sense the pressure in the pocket and scramble to make a play with his legs, often extending the pass play to allow the wide receiver more time. If we are being honest, the offensive line group needed much more improvement, especially having to play against one of the best defensive fronts in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles. The direction of this offseason showed exactly what most of us were saying all along: that Adam Peters saw the very same issues that required vast improvement.

Two moves sent a potentially positive ripple effect through the offensive line. Rookie lineman Brandon Coleman showed excellent athleticism and strength, but he consistently struggled against the elite edge rushers, with minimal improvement. The trade for Laremy Tunsil and draft pick Josh Conerly Jr. could very well move him inside to guard, much like the move Samuel Cosmi had before to the interior part of the offensive line. Tunsil was a surprise move that not only shook the fan base but the entire NFL, as there was not even a hint of the Houston Texans trading their star left tackle. This five-time Pro Bowler and three-time 1st team All-Pro fills a void left behind after the deteriorated relationship between the team and Trent Williams after the 2018 season. Tunsil gives the second-year franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels much-needed backside protection while also helping to bolster a rather pedestrian run game. So, that leaves Brandon Coleman the team’s future right tackle, right? Well, not so fast, as Adam Peters further bolstered the offensive line through the draft.

The 29th overall selection added tackle Josh Conerly Jr., and that completes what potentially will be the team’s future offensive line for the foreseeable future. As broken down by Mark Bullock, Conerly shows great athleticism and foot quickness, which aids in his ability to react exceptionally well against the more athletic edge rushers. This was displayed against the number three overall selection in this year’s draft, Penn State’s Abdul Carter. He matched Carter perfectly on an inside rush and gained leverage quickly to neutralize his pass rush. Conerly essentially baited Carter with his initial step back, then shifted laterally quickly as Carter believed he had him beat to the inside. His quick feet, combined with his excellent contact balance, profile him perfectly as a right tackle, then eventually to the left side, potentially. Bullock breaks Conerly down in depth, and there is much to be optimistic about.

LT Laremy Tunsil, 6’5″ / 316 lbs, age 30

  • Experience: 10-year career primarily as a tackle with 125 total career starts and 111 of those as a tackle with 14 starts at guard coming in his rookie season.
  • Run Down: A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time 1st team All-Pro has been one of the top tier left tackles in the NFL. Has a very strong lower body and exceptionally quick off his first step which neutralizes some of the best edge rushers in the league. Is not the best run blocker of this top tier class in the league but still is a vast improvement over what Washington had in rookie Brandon Coleman.

RT Josh Conerly, 6’4″ / 315 lbs, age 21

  • Experience: rookie
  • Scouting Report: Outstanding athleticism and strong technique, plus excellent transition, make him a very good pass blocker. Reacts to stunts and twists smoothly while processing complex defensive schemes well. Recovers well when initially beaten and has good footwork in pass protection. Will get hesitant at times, putting himself into an unbalanced position and resulting in overextending his arms. Needs work on his hand technique, and his anchor strength still needs improvement.

OT Brandon Coleman, 6’6″ / 320 lbs, age 24

  • Experience: 2-year career primarily as a tackle with 10 total career starts.
  • Run Down: Overall, Coleman had a better-than-expected rookie season as his strength and technique improved all year. While he grades very well athletically in his first step get off post snap and showed above average lateral movement, he struggled against the more athletic elite rushers. While he shows room for growth the acquisition of Tunsil and drafting Conerly almost certainly cause Coleman to move inside to guard.

OT Trent Scott, 6’5″ / 320lbs, age 31

  • Experience: 7-year career primarily as a tackle with 23 total career starts and 16 of those as a tackle.
  • Run Down: Has played both tackle and guard but is not a great athlete with very poor feet. Struggles against speed rushers and doesn’t hold his blocks very well once engaged.

OT Bobby Hart, 6’4″ / 334lbs, age 30)

  • Experience: 8-year career primarily as a tackle with 67 total career starts.
  • Run Down: A career backup who played on 5 different teams throughout his career offers valuable experience and depth. Played in 13% of the Buffalo Bills offensive snaps through 15 games in the 2022 season and no games played since. Spent time on the Detroit Lions and Washington’s practice squad the past 2 seasons.

OT Foster Sarell, 6’7″ / 315lbs, age 26

  • Experience: 3-year career primarily as a tackle, with his only 3 career starts coming in his rookie season.
  • Run Down: This undrafted free agent spent the last 2 seasons on the Los Angelos Chargers practice squad. According to his scouting report, Sarell has above average foot technique and often finds himself in bad position when engaging in his blocks. Strong and low coming out of his stance plus effective in short-yardage situations but will play too stiff and gets his pad level too high.

OT Anim Dankwah, 6’7″ / 362lbs, age 24

  • Experience: He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 offseason with no career starts.
  • Scouting Report: Excellent size and athleticism but his effectiveness is as a short area blocker. Struggles to attack the second level of the defense and too often gets too high as a run blocker. He is destined for the practice squad as he has the desired developable traits for the long term.
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