When it comes to protecting your quarterback’s blindside, few collegiate prospects have done it better than Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery. The Golden Gophers’ brick wall of a left tackle has been turning heads in draft rooms across the NFL, with many experts seeing him as a potential late first-round steal for teams looking to shore up their offensive lines.
Aireontae Ersery Player Profile
Standing at a towering 6’6″ and tipping the scales at 330 pounds, Ersery isn’t just physically imposing – he’s been a model of consistency. The big man started 38 consecutive games at left tackle for Minnesota, becoming the cornerstone of their offensive front.
His final season in maroon and gold was nothing short of spectacular, earning him Second Team All-American honors and the prestigious Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2024.
Scouts can’t stop talking about his “devastating power in the run game” and exceptional wingspan. As NFL Draft Buzz puts it, “Ersery profiles as an intriguing Day 2 prospect with starter upside.”
Perhaps most impressive is his pass-blocking prowess – according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one sack throughout his entire final season, a statistic that has quarterback-needy teams salivating.
- Consensus projection: Day 2 selection (rounds 2-3)
- The Athletic ranks him as the 57th best overall prospect
- Growing “first-round buzz” with potential to “sneak into the back end of round one”
- Chad Reuter (NFL.com) projects him at pick #27 to the Kansas City Chiefs
5 Potential Landing Spots
- Kansas City Chiefs • Need offensive line help after allowing six sacks in Super Bowl 59 loss • Would allow Ersery to “return to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri” • Projected by both Bleacher Nation and NFL.com to the Chiefs in late first round
- Green Bay Packers • Packers “have historically loved picking players out of the Gophers’ program” • Daniel Harms (The Draft Network) projects Ersery to the Packers at pick #23 • Green Bay’s history of developing offensive linemen makes this a natural fit
- Baltimore Ravens • Pro Football Network projects Ravens selecting Ersery at pick #27 • Would reunite with former Gopher teammate Daniel Faalele • Ravens have strong track record developing offensive linemen
- New Orleans Saints • Rebuilding offensive line needs long-term solution at tackle • “Ersery has the size to play outside but may struggle recovering against NFL edge rushers” • Power run-blocking would fit well in Saints’ system
- Arizona Cardinals • Rebuilding team with multiple early-round picks • Offensive line has struggled with injuries and inconsistency • Ersery’s durability and upside make him an attractive second-round target
Aireontae Ersery has transformed himself from Minnesota mauler to potential NFL cornerstone through his rare blend of size, strength, and technique.
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Whether he hears his name called in the late first round by a championship contender or early in the second day by a rebuilding franchise, his impressive body of work suggests he’s ready to step in and contribute from Day 1.
For teams in need of offensive line stability, Ersery represents that rare combination of high floor and untapped ceiling that could make him one of the steals of the 2025 draft class.
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