Ranking the prospective rookie offensive tackles by arm length

Every position in the NFL has certain size thresholds that NFL teams look for. It's always a bit concerning when quarterbacks come in under 6'2'' and most teams value cornerbacks with long wingspans. You can bet these things will matter to teams in the 2024 NFL Draft.

To minimize risk, teams stick to size thresholds where they feel it matters most. But instead of just meeting the threshold, it's always a good sign to go above and beyond.

The 2024 draft class is particularly strong and deep at the offensive tackle position. One of the most notable things about this group is how many big, long OTs are set to enter the NFL Draft this year. Here's a look at the top 10 tackle prospects in 2024 sorted by arm length (in inches).

Top 10 2024 offensive tackle prospects ranked by arm length:

1. Patrick Paul, Houston: 36 1/4''
2. Amarius Mims, Georgia: 36 1/8''
3. Kiran Amegadjie, Yale: 36 1/8''
4. Ethan Driskell, Marshall: 35 3/8''
5. JC Latham, Alabama: 35 1/8''
6. Julian Pearl, Illinois: 35 1/8''
7. Anim Dankwah, Howard: 35 1/8''
8. Walter Rouse, Oklahoma: 35 1/8''
9. Delmar Glaze, Maryland: 34 7/8''
10. Javon Foster, Missouri: 34 5/8''

Houston's Patrick Paul has the second longest arms of any player set to enter the 2024 draft next to only Texas Tech defensive end, Myles Cole (36 7/8''). Historically, Paul's arm length comes in as the 7th-longest of any offensive lineman measured since 1999, according to Mockdraftable.

Of course, arm length by itself isn't enough for teams to take an offensive tackle early in the draft. It is simply one of many factors that go into the evaluation process. Here's how the top 10 offensive tackles on NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus board compare to each other in terms of arm length.

Top 10 OT arm lengths of top 10 tackles on the consensus board:

1. Patrick Paul, Houston: 36 1/4''
2. Amarius Mims, Georgia: 36 1/8''
3. JC Latham, Alabama: 35 1/8''
4. Troy Fautanu, Washington: 34 1/2''
5. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU: 34 1/4''
6. Joe Alt, Notre Dame: 34 1/4''
7. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma: 34 1/8''
8. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State: 34''
9. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State: 33 1/8''
10. Jordan Morgan, Arizona: 32 7/8''

Paul and Amarius Mims are in a category of their own among the top OT prospects this year with arms stretching over 36''. This puts both players at or above the 95th percentile in this department compared to NFL offensive tackles.

These two are followed by JC Latham with 35 1/8'' arms. From there the arm length is only average by NFL standards for players like Troy Fautanu, Kingsley Suamataia, Joe Alt, and Tyler Guyton. Olu Fashaunu's arms came in at 34'' on the dot at the NFL Combine, while Taliese Fuaga and Jordan Morgan don't meet the arm length threshold that many NFL teams look for.

Arm length obviously isn't everything for an offensive tackle, but length is used every play to engage with a defender in the running game and help keep pass rushers at bay in the passing game. We have seen OTs with a lack of length that struggle in the past when edge rushers get into their chest or when they don't get a quick first step off the line of scrimmage.

Like everything, arm length is just a slice of the pie when it comes to talent evaluation. However, there might not be a position in football where it matters more.