As the San Francisco 49ers search for a long-term successor to Trent Williams, one of the names that keeps being floated around is Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. If the 49ers want to roll the dice and bet on upside with the 27th pick, Proctor makes sense, but he has a bunch of concerns.
At 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds with elite testing numbers, Proctor boasts all of the traits you should want from a bookend left tackle for the next decade-plus, but traits don't always translate into instant NFL production, which is why Go Long's Bob McGinn dropped an interesting comparison for Proctor.
McGinn compared him to former New York Giants' offensive tackle Evan Neal, a player who is often regarded as the biggest draft busts of the last half decade. And the comparisons between the two are very warranted, as in terms of physical traits, the two Alabama tackles couldn't be more similar.
""I didn't like Evan Neal, and this guy is exactly the same. I wanted to like him, too. He has a little bit of movement for being so big. But the game against Auburn, he's just standing around watching. He just teases you and, ultimately, disappoints. Big, good-looking dude but not physical, not a lot of grit. Stands around and watches.""Bob McGinn
Neal was drafted seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, where he was expected to become the Giants' long-term right tackle opposite Andrew Thomas. However, the 25-year-old struggled mightily as a pass blocker and crashed and burned so miserably the Giants were forced to move him to guard.
The San Francisco 49ers must steer clear of drafting Kadyn Proctor after Evan Neal comparisons surface
For all of the size and athleticism the All-American has, it means nothing if it doesn't translate, which Neal proves. As an offensive tackle, especially at left tackle where you protect the QB's blind side, you need the lateral quickness to contend with NFL defensive linemen, which is easier said than done.
Beyond being a horrid pass protector, Neal lacked the grit and the physicality to shine in the NFL. Essentially, he looked like a Lamborghini while driving like a 1970s Ford, and like McGinn noted, it wouldn't be all that surprising if Proctor's career turned out similarly, especially given the similarities.
Pre-draft listing | Kadyn Proctor | Evan Neal |
|---|---|---|
Height | 6-foot-7 | 6-foot-7 |
Weight | 352 pounds | 340 pounds |
RAS | 9.28 | Did not qualify |
What's even wilder is that there have been some reports that the Cleveland Browns are considering taking Proctor inside the top 10 of this draft, so there's a real shot the Browns did not learn from the Giants' mistakes with Neal and could actually take a prospect riddled with red flags with the sixth pick.
That's the sort of decision that could benefit the 49ers in many ways, as not only would it take him off the board, it's the sort of surprise pick that may catapult other prospects the 49ers are interested in down the board. And this is a loaded OT class, so Proctor, even with a high ceiling, isn't worth the risk.
The benefit of drafting Proctor is that he wouldn't be forced to see the field right away if the Niners are able to come to an agreement with Williams, but the 49ers are better suited to draft guys who will make a more immediate impact like Max Iheanachor or even Gennings Dunker in Round 2 over Proctor to be Williams' heir apparent, especially if this Neal comparison holds true.
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