2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Peter Skoronski.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)

Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)

6’4” – 315 lbs.

Background:

Four-star recruit who stepped into eventual 2021 first-round pick Rashawn Slater’s role after the latter opted out. Startied all nine games of the season at left tackle in 2020, totaling 672 snaps and allowing just two sacks, four hits, and eleven pressures while not being penalized (2-4-11), then reprised the blindside role for all thirteen of the team’s games in 2021 and all twelve in 2022.

Positives:

Immediately stepped into the starting left tackle job in a major conference and has been rock-solid. Was a 270-pound recruit who has added forty-five pounds of bulk since arriving. Excellent combination of toughness, snap-to-snap consistency, and work rate. Has plenty of short-area athleticism to execute zone-blocking concepts. Low pad level and strong leg drive after contact to generate push. Resets hands effectively. Works hard to sustain through the whistle and takes advantages of opportunity to finish opponents. Form in pass sets looks good, with a sound stance, solid knee bend, and a straight back; consistently plays within his frame. Nice lateral quickness to protect the edge against speed or defend against inside moves; avoids overcommitting to stopping the speed rush. Able to pull in pass protection. Actively shoots out his punch. Excellent hand placement: close together, high, and inside. Overall grip strength is above-average to good. Drops an early anchor and has solid lower-body strength overall; able to keep defenders away from the passer even when he’s pivoting inside and riding opponents.

Negatives:

May be too short for some teams to consider him as a tackle, so height/arm measurements are going to be important. Frame appears to be maxed out. More of a technician than an athletic freak. Some instances where he overruns his mark when blocking on angles and trying to line up moving opponents. Ability to recover when he misses a read in blitz pickup is just adequate. Some issues getting to the edge against wide splits. Can occasionally get overly aggressive in the run game and bend at the waist. Lacks starting experience on the inside and might be considered a conversion candidate for some teams.

Summary:

Has the look of an immediate, long-term starter somewhere on the offensive line, although exactly where that will be probably depends on his pre-draft measurements. Coming from Northwestern, a school which had a similar prospect in Slater two years ago who has proven to be an excellent blindside protector in the pros, should help his cause, but some teams with strict requirements for height/length may want him to slide inside. Could conceivably fit in either a man or zone blocking scheme and should appeal to teams who want to know what they’re going to get without having to anticipate how much a player will be able to improve upon reaching the league. Looks likely to go in the first round as one of the safest prospects available in this year’s class.

Grade: Round 1