Peter Skoronski, OT Northwestern: 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Skoronski was a four-star recruit from Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Ill. in the class of 2020
Northwestern left tackle Peter Skoronski doesn’t meet normal tackle arm length thresholds, but he might be the best offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft. Even if he plays guard at the next level, the junior is worth a first round selection.
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Peter Skoronski, OT Northwestern: 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior left tackle from Park Ridge, Ill.
Background: Skoronski was a four-star recruit from Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Ill. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 113 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 223 for Rivals, and No. 103 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 150th in the nation with an 83 grade out of 100. Skoronski lettered three times in football and was a 2019 team captain at Maine South High School. He recorded 173 pancake blocks during that time and earned All-State honors in 2018 and 2019. He received All-Conference and All-Area selections all three years. Skoronski won back-to-back-to-back CSL Conference Championships and was on the 2016 state championship team. He also lettered three times in basketball and track and field.
Injuries & Off-Field: N/A
Awards: 2020 Third-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), 2020 Second-Team All-Big Ten (Media), 2021 First-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), 2021 Second-Team All-Big Ten (Media), 2022 First-Team All-Big Ten, 2022 Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, 2022 First-Team All-American
Pros: More than 2,300 offensive snaps in just three years, football IQ, foot speed, excellent lateral agility, impressive first step, maintains wide and steady base, carrier pass rushers all the way up the arc, catches spin moves, quick and effective reaction to stunts, steps to take the air out of the pass rush, adopts and adapts pass sets mid-game to throw off opponents, allowed zero pressures to Aidan Hutchinson & David Ojabo (2021) and Zach Harrison & J.T. Tuimoloau (2022), plays poised and under control, independent hand usage, excellent hand placement, fits and refits hands, good leverage, uses hand angle to maintain leverage, leverage allows him to get under and drive defenders off the ball, excellent movement skills to pull or lead block, effective run blocker working horizontally or vertically, comfortable climbing and clearing out second level defenders, seals defenders inside and out, collapses the line, guides defenders around the ball carrier with one stiff arm, angles to put himself between the defender and ball carrier, bit of nastiness to his game when finishing plays
Cons: No experience playing anywhere but left tackle, fewer than 30 career special teams snaps, eight penalties in the past two years, arm length and wingspan, instances of timing his hands poorly, struggles when he doesn’t land the first strike, longer defenders can get into his chest and push him backward, vulnerable to push-pull and long-arm moves, could do a better job trapping or mirroring the defender’s hands, decent but inconsistent anchor, speed rushers occasionally get the best of him, occasionally ducks head into contact
Overview: Skoronski took official measurements at the NFL Combine. He’s 6040 and weighs 313 lbs. He has 10-inch hands, 32 2/8-inch arms, and a 79 4/8-inch wingspan. Skoronski played more than 2,300 offensive snaps at left tackle in just three years but has no college experience at any other position. His football IQ is one of the best in this draft class. Skoronski adapts, adjusts, and varies his pass sets over the course of a game to confuse and frustrate defenders. His foot speed, first step, and lateral agility are all impressive. Skoronski maintains a wide and steady base in pass protection. His movement skills allow him to carry pass rushers all the way up the arc, although he is sometimes stressed vertically by speed rushers. The All-American catches defenders performing spin moves and is quick and effective reacting to stunts. He showcased himself well against a Big Ten loaded with future NFL pass rushers over the course of his career. Skoronski plays poised and under control in pass protection. He displays independent hand usage and excellent hand placement. The junior fits and refits his hands while using them to maintain leverage. His overall use of leverage allows him to get under defenders and drive them off the ball. Skoronski has excellent movement skills to pull or lead block and is effective working horizontally or vertically in the run game. He’s comfortable climbing and clearing out second-level defenders. The Illinois native guides defenders around the ball carrier with one stiff arm disrupting their pursuit angles. He plays with a nasty finishing demeanor in the run game. Skoronski’s arm length and wingspan make him a historical outlier at tackle and could lead NFL teams to view him as a guard despite his lack of experience at the position. There are instances where Skoronski times his hands poorly, which leads to defenders landing the first strike. The left tackle struggles to recover in these situations because of his limited arm length and inconsistent anchor. Skoronski is vulnerable to push-pull and long-arm moves. He can do a better job trapping or mirroring the defender’s hands. The former four-star recruit occasionally ducks his head into contact.
Overall, Skoronski is the most technically polished offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft, but physical limitations could force him inside to guard. It’s difficult to project Skoronski to a position he never played in college. He should at least get a chance at tackle before transitioning to guard. His movement skills and physicality in the running game make him a good fit for gap and outside zone schemes.
Role & Scheme Fit: Left tackle or left guard in a gap or outside zone scheme
Round Projection: First Round
Player Comparison: N/A
Submitted: 04-01-23