Ohio State Football: Can Nicholas Petit-Frere be a starting left tackle in the NFL?

The Ohio State football team loses their starting left tackle from a year ago to the NFL Draft. Nicholas Petit-Frere will be taken in either the first or second round of the draft. Where teams view him playing at the next level might determine how high he gets drafted.

Petit-Frere only has one year of experience playing left tackle for Ohio State and that was last year. He did a pretty good job of it too, minus the final game in the regular season against TTUN. That game is what NFL executives and scouts are focusing on though.

Can he be a starting left tackle in the NFL? I think he can. He’s got a big frame at 6’5 and 315 pounds, but he can move well laterally. He has played both tackle positions and a little bit of guard, so he has the versatility that teams will like. Being drafted high isn’t a question.

The question is whether or not he can be trusted to protect a quarterback’s blindside for years to come. To be honest, I think it depends on what team drafts him. If he has a quarterback that holds onto the ball forever, it’s going to be harder for him to be a left tackle than a right tackle.

Petit-Frere has all of the measurables that teams are looking for at left tackle. I could see him sneaking into the end of the first round. If not, he certainly won’t fall past the Colts at 42nd overall. I think more teams view him as a starting left tackle than not, and everyone knows he could start at right tackle.

It will be interesting to see what team gives him that chance at left tackle. I’m sure it’s a position he can play and play effectively right out of the gate.