Jake Fisher Has Potential to Be NFL Draft's Biggest Sleeper at Offensive Tackle

Of all the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2015 NFL draft, Oregon’s Jake Fisher seems to be the one getting the least amount of respect. This is unfortunate as Fisher really stands out among a group of players whose draft stock is shrouded with questions.

In perusing the rankings and big boards of some of the top NFL draft pundits, Fisher’s position and overall value varies greatly. For example, Bleacher Report’s own Matt Miller has Fisher as his No. 34 overall prospect and his No. 4 tackle prospect.

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On the other side of that, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah doesn’t even have Fisher among his first 50 prospects, and that list includes seven offensive tackles not named Fisher. Along those same lines, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t have Fisher among the 10 best offensive tackles in his rankings.

As sort of middle ground in this debate, CBS Sports has Fisher as its No. 6 offensive tackle and No. 42 prospect overall. Why then is there such a disparity among the top draft analysts? It isn’t like all of these analysts haven’t watched plenty of film on these guys.

Part of the reason a guy like Fisher gets lost in the shuffle is due to style. Whether you are a fan, writer, scout or general manager there is a package of physical gifts and specific skills they look for. Guys zero in on a type and will miss great prospects.

In this draft, you have a couple of distinct groups. You have the high-ceiling athletic types, with less polish to their games but upside based on triangle numbers. Then you have the grinders who rely more on power and physicality than anything else.

Where is Fisher among these groups? To be honest, Fisher could be categorized as either or as neither depending on how you look at his game. 

To get a better look at what makes Fisher so good, check out this highlight reel. 

From a physical standpoint, Fisher is ideal. At 6'6" and 306 pounds, Fisher is a fit, athletic player with low body fat. Fisher has the length NFL teams look for and shows impressive flexibility, which gives him a solid base and center of gravity.

Going back and studying Fisher in detail, it is quite clear that when Fisher is at his best, he’s really without peer in this draft class. Fisher’s athleticism is the highlight when he lines up at right tackle and is asked to pull. Fisher explodes out of his stance and moves with exceptional lateral agility and speed.

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Fisher is able to target his blocker and wastes no steps. Too often, offensive tackles are hesitant because they fear the smaller defender is too quick for them. But Fisher shows no fear. And no mercy either. Once he locks his hands on the defender, he’s giving away free snow removal, and these guys are the plow.

However, don’t look at Fisher as simply a finesse guy on the edge. Go back and watch the Oregon star lock down Utah defensive end Nate Orchard in 2014. Orchard is a strong pass-rush specialist, but Fisher just walled him off all game long. Great kick out and an excellent punch. Plus, Fisher kept his base under him, not allowing Orchard to get him off balance.

So we check the box for great in space and natural pass-protection skills on the left side, so what’s left? Easily the most underrated strength to Fisher’s game is his ability to drive block in the run game. In defense of his critics, this is a part of Fisher’s game that is harder to break down. The Oregon offense doesn’t ask its offensive linemen to do a lot of man blocking, and so Fisher doesn’t have a ton of film to go off of.

Nevertheless, when you get those plays, Fisher’s power—particularly in his upper body—is on full display. It’s Fisher’s ability to get off the ball quickly and extend those arms in a hurry that makes it work. Fisher gets the defender on his heels and just moves them whichever direction he wants them to go.

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If all these things are pluses for Fisher, why is it that guys like Jeremiah and Kiper aren’t on board with that notion? I’ve heard some say that Fisher’s injury in 2014 is part of it. However, that is something of a misnomer. Fisher only missed two games with his leg injury in 2014.

The bottom line on Fisher is: experts are missing the boat. For whatever bias they have, if it’s questions about transition novelty to an NFL offense, or concerns over his injury, the team that takes Fisher is getting the best natural left tackle prospect in this draft.

While not as athletic as Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings, and not quite as powerful as Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, Fisher is a mix of all the best traits of both of these guys.

But none of this matters if the league doesn’t get on board with Fisher as one of the top tackles. Should they not see Fisher as a top-15 pick, some team in the bottom half of the round is going to get an absolute steal.