The Tennessee Titans made just one selection of an offensive lineman in the 2022 NFL draft when they picked Ohio State offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere in the third round (No. 69 overall).
Going into the draft, it was thought the Titans could be in the market for two linemen, as the team also has an uncertain situation at the left guard spot after releasing Rodger Saffold this offseason.
Petit-Frere will compete for the starting right tackle spot in 2022, presumably against Dillon Radunz, but many expect him to need time to develop, which could mean the Titans had an eye on 2023 with this pick.
Looking ahead to next year (2023), Taylor Lewan will be 32 when the season starts, and it’s possible he could be a cap casualty before then, as cutting him would save $14.8 million and incur no dead-cap hit.
So, what are the Titans getting in their newest offensive tackle? Find out now as we take a look at the pre-draft scouting reports on Petit-Frere.
Positional rank: 9
STRENGTHS: Prototypical NFL frame and length … spry athlete and fluid out of his stance … displays the nimble feet and efficient lateral movements to cut off rush angles … executes reach blocks on both play side and back side … highly efficient on combinations as a zone blocker, passing off linemen and climbing to the second level … breaks down in space to engage and control linebackers … adequate drive strength in the run game because of his explosive movements … his former coaches describe him as “intelligent” and a player who picks things up quickly … added over 40 pounds since high school and worked hard to develop his body … has functional starting experience at both left and right tackle.
WEAKNESSES: His light anchor and lack of core strength are concerns … can be jarred off balance or walked backward, struggling to reset versus power … moves well laterally, but needs to keep his weight better centered in his shuffle … still developing his muscle memory and body angles … late reacting and adjusting to inside moves … inconsistent with his aiming points and timing, leaving his chest vulnerable versus length … gets to where he needs to be in the run game, but lacks the bully strength in his hands/punch to be a people mover … must improve his pad level and hand technique in the run game … turned in dreadful performances versus two of the better teams (Michigan, Penn State) on Ohio State’s 2021 schedule.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Petit-Frere lined up at left tackle in head coach Ryan Day’s zone/RPO-based offense. The prize of 2018 signing day for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes, he arrived in Columbus at only 268 pounds and spent time developing his body before starting at right tackle in 2020 and left tackle in 2021. Petit-Frere has excellent foot quickness and bend through his lower half, especially in pass protection and as a zone blocker. However, his anchor/play strength issues are concerning and he must do a better job staying centered on the move and establishing his base once he’s engaged (something Aidan Hutchinson exposed). Overall, Petit-Frere is a projection because of the development still required in his game, but he has the size, quickness and big-man twitch that NFL coaches covet. He has the talent to grow into an NFL starter for a patient coaching staff.
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round (No. 99 overall)
Ohio State left tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere projects favorably to the next level as a starting tackle. He’s a natural on the left side of the line, as his footwork and movement skills appear to be smoother when manning the left tackle spot. We’ve gotten a good look at Petit-Frere in both settings, as he was a full-time starter for the Buckeyes in 2020 at right tackle before transitioning to left tackle in 2021 and occasionally adding reps at right tackle for a series or two throughout the course of the season.
Petit-Frere has excellent physical tools and offers the kind of frame that is meant to play on the edge. He’s long, dense, and fluid as an athlete, offering a promising skill set for an NFL team to continue to tinker with in an effort to reach his high ceiling. There are some technical and instinctual lapses that pop up from time to time in his footwork and angles, but generally speaking, Petit-Frere has overwhelmed most opponents with his blend of traits. I like him best in a zone-heavy offense, as that’s what he was asked to execute most frequently at Ohio State, but I think he’s conceptually a scheme flexible player that can drive block, step and flow laterally to run backside cutoff, or take vertical sets in deep-set passing—which Ohio State did a fair amount of out of play-action passes.
I’m highly encouraged by the development we’ve seen from Petit-Frere over the course of his time in Columbus. He’s successfully maintained an athletic profile worthy of a first-round tackle despite reportedly adding some 40 pounds onto his frame since first arriving on campus. That’s a testament to how athletic he really is and suggests he’s continuing to grow and mature into his NFL-caliber frame.
Ideal role: Starting left tackle
Scheme tendencies: Scheme-diverse talent
Overview
Talented, athletic left tackle prospect who needs more time to develop before he’s ready for next-level edge attacks. Petit-Frere possesses clutch strength and mirror quickness in pass pro but is soft on his edges, which will be identified and attacked until his play strength and hand-fighting improve. His inability to stalemate stronger players with consistency is a real concern in any scheme. He has plus play traits at a high-priority position but erratic reps against Michigan’s power and Penn State’s quickness generate a “buyer beware” label on a high-floor, low-ceiling left tackle with Day 2 value.
Strengths
Above-average athletic talent with loose hips.
Adequate lateral quickness to cross-face defender.
Efficient in finding centered fits into stretch plays.
Can swivel hips into position on reach and seal assignments.
Maintains foot chop through the down-block.
Plays with control and tempo climbing up to linebackers.
Agility to make blocks in space and recoveries in pass pro.
Identifies potential pressure points from lurking defenders off the line.
Quick, choppy slides in pass sets and mirror.
Active, ready feet to match two-way go from wide rushers.
Access to sudden redirection to catch incoming twists.
Adequate clinch strength and success to halt the rush.
Weaknesses
Must add play strength.
Needs better pass-set depth to prevent early turn.
Impatient and lurches with outside hands.
Hasn’t learned to consistently re-establish hand positioning.
Plays with vulnerable outside hand and mushy inside post.
Base can get too wide and upright at punch point.
Needs more seasoning with angles and landmarks.
Unable to neutralize and sustain against stronger opponents.
Positives: Large, athletic left tackle prospect with a massive upside. Smooth, agile, and shows good footwork off the edge. Stays square, controls defenders at the point, and can adjust to knock blitzers from their angles of attack with explosive hand punch. Effective with his hands, easily turns defenders from the line, and seals them from plays. Keeps his feet moving and can be an overwhelming force. Bends his knees and generally blocks with proper pad level.
Negatives: Slow picking up stunts or blitzes. Must improve his balance and gets twisted on occasion. Played terribly against Michigan and was handled by Aidan Hutchinson.
Analysis: Petit-Frere is large and mobile, and he’s a natural left tackle who should only get better in time. He has starting potential once he polishes his game.
Positional rank: 9
POSITIVES
— Explodes out of his stance with impressive suddenness and has good foot quickness.
— Can get on top of rushers quickly in his jump set with the length to establish first meaningful contact.
— Excels on the backside of zone runs and closing space on targets at the second level thanks to his lateral quickness and athletic ability.
— Shows the competitive toughness and desire to drive and run his feet in the run game to finish.
NEGATIVES
— Choppy, loud feet with disjointed footwork in his pass sets that leave him persistently off with his landmarks, unbalanced and out of position against rushers who know how to set up their moves.
— Light in his pants with a tendency to play on his toes, lean and be susceptible to getting pulled off of his feet.
— Fails to establish leverage and control with his hands, leaving him perpetually falling off blocks.
— Plays with a soft outside edge on an island in pass protection, giving easy access to the corner.
— Opens his hips, crosses over and runs up the arc to mirror, opening the door inside at the top of the quarterback’s drop.
OVERALL
Nicholas Petit-Frere is a two-year starter who split his time nearly evenly between left and right tackle inside Ohio State’s zone-heavy run scheme.
Pros:
Extremely good athlete at the position and good size to operate. Very quick off the line both as a run blocker and pass blocker. Has an elite first step and is definitely a special trait within his game. He has a lot of length and can extend his arms out as he wants, combining with his upper body strength. Very solid run blocker because of his athleticism, strength and length that makes that part of the game come fairly natural to him. Strong leg drive when he is blocking on the move in space. Showed a lot of promise as a pass blocker because of the quick get-off and ability to get into his set faster than the edge rusher.
Cons:
Petit-Frere looks skittish at times with his hands and feet, getting antsy as plays progress. He needs to stay composed and calm in his blocks to complete plays mistake-free. Gets happy feet in pass protection. Although he is a good athlete overall, his movement is somewhat restricted by a tight waist and hips that limit his ability in the second level. He often loses balance as well as twists and turns his body while adjusting to defenders coming his way. Looked lost or confused at times on his blocking assignments when he got up into the second level. Not overly impressed by his functional strength as a whole, moreso relies on the length. Anchor isn’t too strong either and often gets driven back a few steps by explosive defensive lineman. Technique and hand placement needs heavy refinement.
Summary:
Petit-Frere was deployed as the starting right tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes’ offense in 2020. The upside for him as a prospect is fairly clear and obvious because of his size, length and athleticism. He likely has one of the best first steps in the class, as he explodes off the line extremely quickly. The flashes are definitely there with him as a blocker in general. The concerns with Petit-Frere come with how raw of a player he is. His hands and technique need to be worked on heavily to make him a more consistent blocker who is able to stay on blocks throughout the entirety of the play. As the season went on, he looked more composed and comfortable with his blocking assignments, so the root of his problems may just be the inexperience. He is still a solid overall prospect whose ceiling is undeniably high, he just needs time to put it all together.
Petit-Frere is a very good athlete especially for his position and has a ton of talent for NFL coaching staffs to work with. He certainly has the size to excel at a high level in the pros. Consistency is the key to success especially at the offensive tackle position when teams put so many resources in protecting the quarterback. Petit-Frere missed a few blocks in big games for the Buckeyes last season, and that consistency could come with NFL coaching.