Being brutally honest, anyone who expects or even thinks this OL can be above average in 2020 is still asleep and dreaming. This OL is either almost as bad as last year's, or every bit as bad as last year's. Sorry, but spending draft picks is a lot different than choosing quality players or getting instant OL help. Every one of our OL picks was a project ... every one. NONE are ready to start.
Jackson has real potential to be elite ... but lets face it, he's a 2021 draft pick chosen in 2020. He is the youngest OL, AND he missed prep time recovering from the bone-marrow transplant last offseason, and he was physically out of shape for most of last season, AND he will be deprived of the training camp and other pre-season instruction he desperately needs because of the Coronavirus. He is rounding into collegiate shape now ... but he's nowhere near NFL shape yet ... and he lacks the necessary reps/experience, and he is denied the training time ... kid is going to be a good prospect in the 2021 season, but he'll have a rocky 2020 if he plays.
Hunt is very similar to the other physically dominating small school brute who came in with poor technique ... Turner. I have hope that Hunt can learn it, but expecting that to happen as a rookie under these conditions is asking too much of the kid. He barely pass protected in college! If he plays, it will be at guard in 2020. Expect a LOT of QB pressures to get through him regardless of position.
Kindly is a guy I really like, but yes, he has a bad body, much like Curtis Weaver our rookie pass rusher. Kindley proved he could pass protect in the SEC earlier in his career, and he is a dominant power run blocker. When he gets his body in shape, he has the makings of a quality power pig guard. But, rookies tend to struggle, and much like Deiter, Kindley's success will likey come after his rookie season.
All three guys are projects. Looking at them any other way is just wearing rose-colored glasses ... or possibly aqua-and-orange-colored glasses if you prefer.
Our BEST OL on this team at this time is Jesse Davis, and he's nothing spectacular, he's more of an average OL. IMHO, he is a lock for one OT position simply because he's the only guy on the entire team that can actually play OT in 2020. My biggest fear is that the hole at the other OT position causes us to pull Ereck Flowers (paid starter money) away from OG where he can be successful to man the other OT position where we have definitive proof he is horrible. IMHO, we can get horrible from one of the rookies or a journeyman FA. At least with Davis at one OT, Flowers at one OG, and Karras at OC we have 3 average OL. Then the other two positions can be manned by OL who can learn as they go, and maybe by season's end be halfway decent.
As for Michael Deiter, I think he's a good prospect and will show much better this year, whether that is at LG/RG/OC, probably depends on who gets hurt ... because our OL always get hurt. Injuries will likely give each rookie a shot to start. Let's just hope they develop fast enough to actually be able to take it. I've been fooled by OL before, guys like Turner and Asiata that never developed. I hope these guys can step up. I actually expect Jackson to become a good blindside protector (RT with Tua) in year 2 ... but let's not have unrealistic expectations of these kids for 2020. It's not an ordinary season.