Offensive Tackle

Colorado

6-8 307

Draft board overall prospect rank: #43

Draft board overall offensive tackle rank: #7

Overall rating: 79 (Early 2nd)

40 time: 4.97

3/11/11: Solder lost 12 pounds off his already skinny frame in 2 weeks, a very bad sign. He’s at 6-8 307 now and may have maxed his frame after putting on 25-30 pounds in the last 3 years to convert from tight end to left tackle.

2/15/11: Nate Solder is a very interesting prospect. He is a former blocking tight end who put on about 30-35 pounds over 3 years to become Colorado’s starting left tackle. He was the only underclassman on the Big 12 first team’s offensive line in 2009 and he was a consensus All-American in 2010, despite being so new at the position. He still maintains a lot of his athleticism from his tight end days and should run a 40 in the 4.8-4.9 range.

He has long arms, which suggests he still has room to put more weight on his frame, which could be necessary. 315 pounds is still fairly skinny for 6-8 1/2. He was compared to Tony Boselli several times during the Senior Bowl and is the consensus top tackle right now. He’s my #2 tackle. I think Anthony Costanzo is more polished, but he’s definitely got the bigger upside.

He was very inconsistent at The Combine, looking extremely athletic and overpowering at times during practice, but struggling his technique against more polished defensive linemen in the game. He gets too high and doesn’t bend his knees naturally, but he just needs some coaching. In my opinion, he’s best starting off as a right tackle, where he won’t have to deal with such polished pass rushers. He definitely has left tackle upside and the potential to be one of the best at the position someday. 

NFL Comparison: Robert Gallery