JC Latham — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

The Bengals have to address the offensive line. Some evaluators have Latham as a lock to go in the top 10. If he's still available at No. 18, it'll be a desirable scenario for Cincinnati. He can slide in at right tackle.

The Saints fired the longest tenured offensive coordinator in the NFL... Clearly, he must have been the problem. If the offense does not turn it around next season, Head Coach Dennis Allen will be right behind Carmichael in the unemployment line. For that reason alone, toss out any mock draft that elects a choice on the defensive side of the ball for the gold-and-black.

WR Rome Odunze would be a great addition. The bigger priority, however, has to be fixing the O-line. Ryan Ramczyk's future is unclear and Trevor Penning, the 2022 RD1 pick, has not developed. He wasn't even the No. 3 tackle on the squad this season. GM Mickey Loomis has no other choice but to take another swing at this position. 'Bama's J.C. Latham, the former #2 high school recruit, has proven to be solid in both pass protection and as a run blocker against elite SEC defenders. He will require very little time to adapt to the NFL.

Las Vegas' offensive line exceeded expectations this season, but JC Latham gives it stability. The Raiders are another team with a decision to make a quarterback. Do they ride it out with Aidan O'Connell? If Jim Harbaugh is the head coaching hire, would they draft his quarterback, J.J. McCarthy?

Offensive tackle should be a top priority for the Saints, who land one of the draft's top right tackles in JC Latham.

Especially with a regime change, quarterback is the Raiders' main question mark. But is there one worth reaching for here?

Raiders fans scarred by the Alex Leatherwood pick might not want another Alabama offensive lineman in the first round, but Latham is probably the strongest player in the draft. He has the functional movement skills to play either tackle or guard at a high level.

Whether JC Latham plays tackle or guard at the next level, he would offer Sean McVay's group a heck of a plug-and-play option with years of experience in the SEC. He's got vice grips for hands and his ability to consistently win the leverage battle presents an excellent foundation for success. He's got one of the strongest lower halves in the class.

JC Latham fills an immediate need for the Las Vegas Raiders. Latham has the size, strength, and athleticism to play either side of the line for the Raiders and do so with great success.

He's a valuable run blocker but brings elite pass-blocking skills to the table. Latham is the easy choice for a team needing an injection of talent on the offensive line.

The Saints are another team who wouldn't surprise me if they targeted a QB, but if they stay the course with Derek Carr, they'll need to upgrade his protection after he took a beating this season. Latham is a super-sized tackle (6-6, 360) with elite strength and movement skills.

The New Orleans Saints swung and missed on Trevor Penning, who wasn't even the No. 3 tackle for them this season. With the future uncertain for Ryan Ramczyk, the Saints have to add offensive line help through the draft.

JC Latham is a monster offensive tackle, measuring in at 6-foot-6, 360 pounds. He might be best suited to play right tackle in the NFL, but that might not be New Orleans' biggest area of need.

The Cowboys are a franchise that will wisely always prioritize the offensive line. This is a bit of a slide for Latham, who's flashes of pure power are brilliant, but he needs to cut down on penalties and improve his overall balance. His two years of starting experience at right tackle for Alabama projects well for his fit with Dallas.

Trevor Lawrence's 5.8 percent sack rate was a career high and helped create the late-season injury that ultimately derailed the Jaguars' playoff hopes. Bringing in a blue chip talent like Latham to replace embattled left tackle Cam Robinson — who can be released this offseason for a cap savings of nearly $18 million — would go a long way toward ensuring healthy campaigns well into the future.

Latham is a prototypical blocker who faced some of college football's best defenses the last two seasons and allowed only two sacks. At 360 pounds he's got the bulk to handle edge rushers and the quickness to keep them from getting too close. While he wasn't great in the Tide's season finale in the Rose Bowl, he's a high ceiling tackle capable of being very, very good for a very long time.

The Saints have historically shown commitment to the trenches in the early rounds, and considering that Trevor Penning hasn't lived up to his first-round billing and Ryan Ramczyk battled knee injuries this season, offensive tackle should be a high priority in New Orleans. Latham is a massive 6-foot-5, 350-pound player with power at the point of attack and good quickness. He is a dominant run-blocker, able to take away defenders quickly once he gets his hands on them. If he lands in a scheme that prioritizes downhill running, Latham has the potential to be a reliable starter.

The Rams haven't made a first-round pick in forever, so it's anyone's guess which direction they go. The guess today is in the trenches, because Matt Stafford could always use protection.