Nathan Thomas OT Louisiana | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Nathan Thomas OT Louisiana
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/26/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.19 seconds (65%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 04/26/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 5.19 seconds (65%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 79.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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70% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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64% |
| Run Blocking: |
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72% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#197
Position rank:
#37
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| College Games: 35 College Snaps: 1780 | ||
ESPN RATING: 71/100
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247 RATING: 78/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.3 (87%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| James Hudson - Cincinnati |
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86% |
| Spencer Burford - UTSA |
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81% |
| Anthony Bradford - LSU |
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78% |
Drafted: ROUND: 7 - Pick Number: 233 (DAL)
Draft Profile: Bio
Nathan Thomas, a fifth-year redshirt junior from New Orleans, Louisiana, started his collegiate football career at Louisiana-Lafayette after making the move from playing tight end in high school. A three-star recruit from Chalmette High School, Thomas was recruited by Louisiana. Over his college tenure, he evolved from a backup to starting left tackle, finishing his career with 25 starts at the position.After redshirting in 2019 and not seeing play in 2020 due to a pandemic-shortened season, he participated in seven games as a reserve in 2021. His breakthrough came in the following years when he started all 13 games in 2022 and 12 games in 2023. His senior year performance earned him an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference award, despite missing the New Orleans Bowl due to knee surgery.
His received an invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, marking a key milestone in his transition from a high school tight end to a prospective NFL lineman.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Takes much more pride in the run game, where he plays through the whistle with tremendous physicality.
- Brings good initial quickness with the ability to reach and seal blocks effectively on the move.
- Utilizes a strong grip and big hands to steer defenders, maintaining control throughout the play.
- Exhibits solid body control to adjust and reposition, crucial for sustaining blocks against dynamic defenders.
- Demonstrates reliable power in run blocking, capable of moving defenders to clear paths.
- Responsive to defensive shifts, adept at redirecting and neutralizing slanting defenders.
- His size and upper-body strength help him anchor effectively against power rushes.
- Shows potential inside as a guard.
- Recognizes and reacts to defensive stunts and delayed blitzes, showcasing his developing football IQ.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lateral movement and footwork need improvement to handle speedier edge rushers.
- Occasionally leans and overextends, leading to balance issues and missed blocks.
- Needs to refine hand placement and pad level consistency to maximize effectiveness.
- Lacks experience in an interior line position, which may be necessary given his skill set.
- His pass protection technique requires further development, especially against complex defensive schemes.
Scouting Report: Summary
Nathan Thomas steps into the NFL Draft as a developmental prospect whose transition from a tight end background to the offensive line underscores his potential versatility and upside. His prowess in anchoring down defenders and driving forward in the run game marks him as a player who will likely be viewed as a guard at the pro level.Thomas's frame and physicality are clear strengths, but his limited lateral quickness and poor pad level are concerns against NFL-caliber pass rushers. He tends to lunge and lose his leverage, making him vulnerable to more agile defensive linemen. His developmental arc will require a focused regimen on footwork, hand placement, and balance, positioning him initially more as a depth piece with the potential to grow into a more central role.
Nathan Thomas percentiles vs other Offensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Nathan Thomas (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
199.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
44.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.