San Jose State offensive tackle David Quessenberry was a walk-on who played in 50 games during his college career. He started at left tackle from 2010 to 2012 and was a captain as a senior. Quessenberry turned some heads at the Senior Bowl by consistently competing with big-school talent.
Scouting Report
At 6-5, 302 pounds, Quessenberry is a long, lean offensive tackle. He reportedly came to San Jose State at only 240 pounds, so he’s been able to add plenty of bulk to his frame over the years and it appears he can get even bigger and stronger. Quessenberry’s arms are over 34 inches long—a very important trait for an offensive tackle.
I watched all of Quessenberry’s Senior Bowl snaps and many of his practice reps. He’s extremely quick, whether it’s getting into his drop or moving to the second level of the defense. That quickness was reflected in Quessenberry’s short shuttle time of 4.45—one of the best for any offensive lineman. Quessenberry really played well throughout the Senior Bowl practice week, struggling primarily with bigger players like Sylvester Williams (when lined up inside). Quessenberry also got a lot of reps at right tackle, where he looked comfortable.
Quessenberry is a smart player who seems to pick up stunts and blitzes well. He makes a lot of his blocks look easy, even when not playing against small-school competition. Although he could add some size, he’s a relentless player who plays until the whistle.
NFL Comparison: Joe Staley
Comparing Quessenberry to Staley is big praise for the San Jose State offensive tackle; although Quessenberry is admittedly not an elite talent like Staley, he has that sort of potential. With similar builds, both Quessenberry and Staley are very athletic tackles who have the quickness to be dominant in pass protection but the strength and tenacity to also excel in the running game.
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Projection
Quessenberry looks like he’ll get drafted somewhere in the third round. After watching him in more detail, I think he’s a legitimate early second-round talent with first-round upside. He’ll be outstanding value for whichever team drafts him, even if it’s in the back of the second.
Fit In Dallas
Quessenberry would likely start immediately as the Cowboys’ right tackle, and I think he’d be just fine there in his rookie year. He has the exact skill set the Cowboys need to continue their zone-blocking transition. Dallas has visited with Quessenberry and they’re rumored to have lots of interest.
Other Scouting Reports
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
JJ Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
Miguel Maysonet, RB, Stony Brook
Latavius Murray, RB, Central Florida
Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.
