Drew Shelton

The Player

There aren’t many offensive linemen who can move the way Shelton does on tape, and that skill set could interest zone-heavy run teams. However, even though he started 34 games at Penn State, we view him as a developmental prospect. His lower-body explosiveness is evident in his outstanding broad jump and in how he gets out of his stance and into his pass sets. He flashes a strong punch at the top of his set and changes directions well enough to mirror and recover when he gets caught out of position. 

His arms are on the shorter side for an offensive tackle, which shows up on tape. He leans and gets top-heavy, which affects his ability to stay in front of defenders. He can give up too much ground when defenders get into his frame, though he shows the ability to recover well. Speed rushers can give him some problems when his footwork isn’t sound, and he is late to read and react to some stunts and blitzes. He’s primarily played left tackle in college, though he played notable snaps at right tackle in 2023; he hasn’t played much at guard, so it will be interesting to see if some teams consider him at that position. 

He fits best in zone-heavy schemes, where he can use his quickness to get into position and wall off defenders. He is efficient working up to the second level, and he can seal linebackers as a front-side blocker. He can scoop backside defensive tackles, and he moves well when he pulls. His run blocking was his biggest weakness going into the 2025 season, and he failed to make meaningful progress. Defensive linemen have success stacking and shedding him. He falls off too many blocks, and he ends up on the ground at times. He doesn’t have the core strength of a true mauler. He slides off linebackers in space and appears to have some problems locating assignments. He tested well at the combine but not as well as expected based on his tape. 

The Draft 

Shelton replaced Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who was taken with the no. 11 pick in 2024, at Penn State. Shelton moves like an early-round pick, but he never realized his potential and ultimately grades out as a mid-round pick with some upside.

The Projection 

Shelton is athletic enough to provide depth as a no. 3 swing tackle and potentially develop into a starter. Jaylon Moore, a 2021 fifth-round pick, is a good comparison. Moore has started 18 of the 70 NFL games he’s appeared in, including games at left and right tackle. Shelton could also potentially move to guard in a zone-heavy run scheme.