Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft starting on April 27th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up...
Anton Harrison (Offensive Tackle), Oklahoma, Junior
Anton Harrison stands in at 6'4" tall, weighing 315lbs, and is the purest pass protector in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
PFF.com
Anton Harrison lines up at left tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners
Overview
Having plated over 1,800 snaps, almost all being at left tackle, Harrison is one of the most experienced tackle prospects that will hear his name called this April. With a decent build and a good amount of experience, Harrison plays with incredible patience and poise regardless of who is opposite him. Being calm, cool, and collective lead him to be one of the most efficient pass blockers this past season, as he allowed only 1 QB hit, which will have organizations who are looking to better protect their franchise QB's taking a hard look at him.
Harrison isn't an explosive athlete, but has good enough athleticism to do whatever is asked of him, as he is one of the best movers and has some of the best feet in this class. While he is an NFL ready pass protector, he needs considerable work in the run game to be a preferred option as a rookie. While he has shown considerable improvement in his play strength from 2021 to 2022, he still needs to add muscle and get better at being aggressive/creating first contact in the run game to be an asset there.
Pros:
- Feet, probably best feet in the class along the offensive line
- Very patient and rarely gets overextended
- Knows his strengths/weaknesses and hides his weaknesses in the run game well understanding angles
- Good movement skills to get to the perimeter or second level
- Controlled but strong punch in pass sets
- Lot of experience at a relatively young age (just turned 21)
Cons:
- Two hand punches, which can occasionally get beat if both hands don't land
- Functional strength is definitely subpar, especially in the running game
- Occasional waist bender
- Punch can get swatted too often
- Speed to power rushes have given him problem more-so than straight bull rushes
Charlie Neibergall | AP Photo
Anton Harrison gets set before the play for the Oklahoma Sooners
The Steelers offensive line continued to grow throughout the 2022 NFL season, and looked to be one of their strong points by the end of the season. However, the organization could still look to secure an upgrade in the 2023 NFL Draft. Harrison is one of the top tackle prospects in this draft, and Steeler Nation would love to have him protecting Kenny Pickett's blindside for the next decade. The Steelers brought him in for one of the 30 pre-draft visits, so he could definitely be in play for them.
Hand Technique and Footwork
There isn't much negative to be said about Harrison's feet, as like I mentioned above he has some of the best in the class. He has feet on par with tight ends in terms of how well he moves them to set himself up in his pass sets and readjust against counters. Being more of a two hand puncher, his hands can land quickly with some pop as he is patient to not punch too early in his sets. Harrison could afford to have a more powerful punch and get his hands on guys earlier, as his hands can get swiped away at times leading to him having to recover a bit to frequently, but he had success doing that in college.
Mobility
You will be hard pressed to find a better mover in space than Harrison in this year's draft. His combine testing numbers won't blow anyone out of the water in terms of his explosive athleticism, but he is such a smooth mover that makes getting out on the perimeter and into the second level look easy. Harrison isn't necessarily the fastest, the quickest, or the longest, but he is such a fluid mover that he is able to get wherever he is asked to easier than most.
Brian Bahr | Getty Images
Anton Harrison runs out onto the field with his teammates while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners
Power and Strength
Definitely the weakest area of Harrison's game, he could've afforded to return to college for another year to add more strength to his frame and core. If he did, he could've been the top tackle in next year's class. Right now, it'll be interesting to see if a team thinks he can be their Week 1 starter with his current play strength, as he is a positional blocker for the most part in the run game. His strength could result in him having to "redshirt" a year for lack of a better term, but he has shown consistent improvement in this regard and even acknowledged himself that it is an area he is focusing heavily on.
NFL Comparison - Laremy Tunsil
This is a very good comparison as Tunsil is one of the elite pass blockers in the NFL, but has never developed into an elite run blocker. The knock on Tunsil coming out of Ole Miss was that he needed to add strength, but was a technician and an NFL ready pass blocker. Tunsil has become a cornerstone of the Houston Texans' offensive line, and Harrison could become the same for whatever NFL team takes him based on his pass protection skills.
Draft Projection - Late First, Early Second
Harrison could sneak into the first round even though he may be the fifth or sixth offensive tackle taken at that point. He probably belongs in the second round, but potential long-term answers at left tackle are always a hot commodity.
Let us know below what you think about Harrison as a prospect and the potential of seeing him in the black & gold! What other prospects would you be interested in seeing a profile on? Click to comment below!
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