By: Michael Higgins

School: Oregon

Class: Junior

Position: OT

HT: 6’4

WT: 315 lbs

Background: Josh Conerly is a former consensus 5-star offensive tackle in the class of 2022. Out of Seattle, Washington, Conerly was the highest-rated offensive tackle in the class, highest-rated player in the state of Washington, and a top 10 player. Conerly played for Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, where he was an All-American selection and named the state Offensive Lineman of the Year. He actually began his high school tenure as a running back but moved to offensive line during his sophomore season. Josh was selected to both the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl after his senior year. Conerly committed to Oregon over USC, Miami, Michigan, and others.

College: Josh appeared in every game for the Ducks as a freshman in 2022 as an extra offensive lineman in jumbo packages. Conerly became a starting tackle for the Ducks in 2023. Conerly was an honorable mention Pac-12 honoree. He started all 14 games as a sophomore and was part of an offensive line that allowed just 5 sacks as a unit. Conerly solidified himself as one of the best tackles in the nation as a junior in 2024. He played in every game for the Ducks and did not allow any sacks. He was an All-Big 10 selection and an All-American.

Strengths: Josh Conerly is a fundamentally sound offensive tackle who has improved every season at Oregon. Conerly is an elite pass protector who has a quick and long hitch off the line to combat speed off the edge. He displays proper footwork, getting off the line in a hurry into his foundation. Conerly plays at a low pad level to win the leverage battle against defenders of all sizes. He is consistent with his hand placement and has a strong grip to contain his assignment. Josh does well to keep his shoulders square, keeping his assignment in front of him and attacking the leverage points. While he has the technique to combat speed, he has a firm anchor to absorb a bull rush. As a run blocker, Conerly shows off his athleticism to get out into space and become the lead blocker down the field. 

Weaknesses: Conerly has a smaller frame than the prototypical left tackle in the NFL. While his strength has held up in college, he will need to prove it to be sustainable at the next level. Conerly doesn’t have a thorough plan for counter-rush moves and can get caught easing up after shutting down the initial push.

Conclusion: Josh Conerly Jr. has had the dream development. He has progressed from a 5-Star recruit into one of the best tackles in the draft as a junior. His progression every year leads to the sign that he is not done developing and has an extremely high ceiling. Being that he is so athletically and technically gifted, he has plenty of potential to be one of the best tackles in the NFL.

Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile

Ideal Role: Left Tackle

Best Team Fits: SF, SEA, LAR

Player Comparison: Anton Harrison

Player Grade: Round 1 (92.1)