Redskins: Analyzing the battle for the fourth offensive tackle spot

Redskins OT Blake Hance

The Redskins signed Blake Hance on June 3, after churning through names like Chidi Okeke, Adam Bisnowaty, and Jylan Ware. Hance will soon have lasted longer than all three of them combined, but whether he makes it past preseason is not entirely up to him.

Hance has some competition. We’ve talked about that. And he’s also an undrafted rookie, so he won’t have as much seasoning as a second-year player like Timon Parris. But luckily for Hance, his traits stack up well to combat that perception.

Hance’s best trait, in fact, might be his college experience. With the Northwestern Wildcats, he started 46 games at left tackle, and appeared in an additional four games as a left guard. At 6-foot-5, 310, he has good size for the tackle position, but he’s not very mobile, despite his background as a high school tight end. He earned lackluster marks at his pro day with his mobility, and logged 27 bench reps, encapsulating average to above-average strength for a lineman.

If Hance has accumulated enough skill and nuance in the process of starting 50 collegiate games, then perhaps his experience can win out against less process-oriented players. But he’ll need to get stronger, and show that his mobility issues won’t be a liability in the NFL, because he doesn’t quite have the strength to compensate.