One of the most appealing aspects about the Titans potentially taking Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt at No. 7 is the simplicity of the move.
The Titans have a glaring need at left tackle. Alt played more than 2,000 snaps at left tackle. Plug him into the lineup. Play him. That’s that.
Should the Titans choose to address their left tackle opening by selecting another prospect — either because Alt is off the board or because the team rates another player higher — things could get slightly more complicated.
Not all the other top tackle prospects have played on the left side, which is generally considered the more challenging side in pass protection because opponents use their best rushers to attack from the quarterback’s blind side (and most signal-callers are right-handed).
Some draftees might need time to make the transition from right to left tackle. Some might simply be better remaining on the right side.
Here’s a look at some of the top tackle prospects, breaking down how many snaps each played at left and right tackle in college, per Pro Football Focus:
Joe Alt (Notre Dame) … 2,214 snaps at left tackle; 0 snaps at right tackle
Jordan Morgan (Arizona) … 2,153 snaps at left tackle; 0 snaps at right tackle
Troy Fautanu (Washington) … 2,027 snaps at left tackle; 2 snaps at right tackle
Olu Fashanu (Penn St.) … 1,347 snaps at left tackle; 0 snaps at right tackle
Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) … 70 snaps at left tackle; 696 snaps at right tackle
JC Latham (Alabama) … 0 snaps at left tackle; 1,748 snaps at right tackle
Taliese Fuaga (Oregon St.) … 0 snaps at left tackle; 1,564 snaps at right tackle
Amarius Mims (Georgia) … 0 snaps at left tackle; 801 snaps at right tackle
Lance Zierlein, the NFL draft analyst for NFL.com, offered an interesting comment regarding the tackle prospects earlier this week.
In a tweet, Zierlein listed several of the top tackle prospects, along with what he said were the NFL positions viewed for them in terms of fits and flexibility, based on the information he had received: Alt (LT/RT); Fuaga (LT/RT/OG); Fautanu (LT/RT/OG); Latham (RT/OG); Fashanu (LT/RT); Guyton (LT/RT); Mims (RT); Morgan (LT/OG).
So in Zierlein’s opinion, based on what he’s hearing from NFL sources, Latham and Mims wouldn’t be candidates to switch from right to left tackle as pros.
It’s certainly possible the Titans will choose to bolster their right tackle spot as well as their left in the draft, but left tackle would seem to be the more critical need.
Titans coach Brian Callahan was asked Tuesday whether there were some tackle prospects he saw as strictly right tackles.
“There's probably some that are, yes,” Callahan said. “There's also a handful that I think are able to play both sides. Most tackles these days have to be able to play both sides. They get cross-trained. Even the starters get cross-trained because you never know how you're going to have to move your pieces around. So, I think it's … you’re not getting boxed in very often.
“The other side of it is that you still need two good tackles in the NFL, because most NFL teams have two good rushers, and a lot of the premier rushers rush on the right side. And so, there's value in both sides. And there's guys that may fit better at right. There's guys that may be more natural at left. But that doesn't necessarily preclude them from any role as a left tackle or right tackle.”
Callahan said the final decision on whether a tackle could comfortably switch sides might not come until that prospect is practicing.
“You sort of determine that when you get your hands on them and see what kind of role they're going to fit for you,” Callahan said. “But at the end of the day, you need two good tackles. And the hope is you have as many of them as you can find. And usually there's some flexibility in the position.”