The very first draft pick ex-general manager Ran Carthon made in the 2023 NFL draft was to select offensive tackle Peter Skoronski to the Tennessee Titans. Selected with the 11th overall pick, Skoronski had solid film and high player grades during his senior season at Northwestern, but when he got to Tennessee, he was moved to guard. It was a struggle at first, but last season, we started to see more of what Skoronski is capable of along the line.
Those flashes that showed us Skoronski hasn’t reached his full potential yet are the reason that Pro Football Focus thinks he’s in prime position to be the most improved guard in the NFL in 2025.
As a draft prospect, Skoronski was as safe as they come. The former Northwestern Wildcat had the highest pass-blocking grade (93.0) in his final year of college and was drafted by the Titans with the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Drafted as a tackle, Skoronski played the first two seasons of his NFL career at left guard, earning a 61.6 grade in 2023 and a 60.3 grade in 2024, allowing nine sacks and 60 pressures in two seasons.
Despite the below-average grade, Skoronski took real steps forward as a pass-blocker in the second half of the season, demonstrating the excellent footwork and hand-usage that saw him drafted in the top-15 more consistently. His season-long 76.3 pass-blocking grade was seventh at the position, but Skoronski dominated in the final seven games of the season, allowing just one sack and five pressures while earning a league-high 88.2 pass-blocking grade.
The Titans’ commitment to improving the offensive line could help Skoronski’s improvement in his third year, too. After all, the offensive line is an ecosystem where chemistry and cohesion matter significantly. The front office added Kevin Zeitler and Dan Moore to the offensive line, and both will be starters in 2025, providing veteran experience. Zeitler’s 86.5 grade in 2024 was third among guards. Skoronski looks in prime position to fully break out in 2025, capturing his pass-blocking form from the back end of last season, and hopefully benefiting from an improved unit.
Offensive linemen don’t rack up stats for us to compare; rather, their ability is gauged (largely) on the success of the quarterback. We can track how many sacks a guard or tackle lets happen, and we can watch film to see their fundamentals and technique, but their success is determined based on what we see, not what numbers they produce.
Many also don’t understand the difference in position between tackle and guard, or that the side of the ball a player is on matters. So, grading Skoronski’s performance in his first two seasons has to be taken with a grain of salt, given all of the factors that affected his play.
Still, those flashes of understanding or showing us that he understands his job are what indicate he’s not done improving. He may not reach his full potential in 2025, but he certainly can aspire to be the most improved guard in the league, especially with veterans joining the group.