Josh
Ball.
Josh
Ball.
Marshall· 6'7"· 308 lb· 5.20s 40
"A 6-7, 308-pound Marshall tackle with a Florida State pedigree, a documented off-field flag, and long-armed pass-set traits — a Day 3 developmental swing-tackle projection whose grade lived and died on the character review."Pre-draft read
This left tackle's game hinges on his 6-foot-7 frame and 34-plus-inch arms. He employs a patient short-kick in pass sets, drawing rushers into his long-arm punch, and effectively replaces his hands if his initial strike misses. He mirrors speed-to-power adequately for his size, maintaining a wide base to steer edge rushers past the pocket once engaged.
He plays tall, which allows quicker edges to gain leverage before his punch lands. His anchor relies more on reach than hip-sink, leaving him vulnerable to bull-rushers. His lateral quickness against inside counters is average. In the run game, he's a positional blocker, using long strides to reach the second level without consistently finishing or torquing defenders off the ball.
The Dallas Cowboys employ a balanced run-heavy, play-action oriented scheme, emphasizing gap scheme and inside zone concepts.
Initially a Year 1 swing tackle or Gameday inactive, Ball's ceiling is a starting left tackle in a zone-heavy run scheme due to his length and pass-set patience.
A power-run, downhill gap scheme that demands tackles to consistently displace and finish block defenders, rather than simply positional block.
Ball's elite length and controlled pass sets make him a developmental left tackle, but his tendency to play tall and lack of run-game finishing power limit his immediate impact.
Josh Ball Highlights — Florida State
Official FSU highlight package showing his ACC pass-set length and second-level range as a Seminole tackle.
Josh Ball Highlights
Compiled college tape emphasizing his short-kick pass sets and long-arm punches against edge rushers.
Josh Ball Full Interview — 2021 NFL Draft
Post-draft radio interview in Dallas covering the FSU dismissal, the Marshall transfer, and his fit as a developmental Cowboys tackle.
Josh Ball projected as a developmental tackle. His 34-inch arms were a key asset, allowing him to contend in pass protection. Teams evaluating him saw a long-limbed prospect suitable for a reserve role, with the potential to improve his technique and solidify his footwork. The critical factor for his evaluation was his off-field history rather than his on-field performance.
He played rotational snaps in the ACC before transferring and starting every game at left tackle for Marshall in 2020, anchoring a Conference USA championship team. His pro-day testing numbers were considered adequate for his size, but not exceptional. Notably, his 2020 season saw eight starts at left tackle.
A significant character flag related to a previous dismissal from Florida State led many teams to remove him from their draft boards entirely. Those who cleared him saw a projectable frame worth a mid-round investment, reflected in his selection at pick 138 in the draft.
- 01
Arm Length Advantage
34-plus-inch arms and an 80-inch wingspan provide a significant advantage in pass protection at left tackle.
- 02
Patient Pass Sets
Displays patience in his short set, allowing him to maintain control of edge rushers and deliver punches without lunging prematurely.
- 03
Effective Hand Replacement
Cleanly resets his hand placement when initial strike misses contact, minimizing vulnerability to counter moves from defenders.
- 04
Adequate vs. Speed-to-Power
Handles speed-to-power rushers well for a taller tackle due to his ability to keep a wide base and maintain outside foot discipline.
- 05
Second Level Range
Possesses good range to the second level in the run game, using long strides to reach linebackers on zone concepts effectively.
- 01
Significant Character Concern
A dismissal from a previous program due to a domestic violence protective order significantly impacted his draft stock.
- 02
High Pad Level
Plays with a consistently high pad level, impacting his leverage and allowing quicker rushers to get under his pads.
- 03
Anchor Vulnerability
Anchor relies heavily on arm extension rather than fundamental hip sink, making him susceptible to powerful bull rushes.
- 04
Average Lateral Quickeness
Exhibits average lateral quickness and redirect ability against inside counters, hindering recovery if the initial punch is missed.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 5.20sp50
- Vertical
- 27.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 106inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.77sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.70sp50
- Bench
- 28repp50
| Yr | Team | G |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Florida State | 9 |
| 2020 | Marshall | 8 |
| Career | — | 17 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Journeyman 6-8 developmental tackle who lived as an emergency starter and OL7/8 on frame and reach alone — the Day 3 outcome most projected for Ball.
Best-case swing tackle whose long-armed pass-set patience keeps him employed as a spot starter — the length-first NFL floor that hit for a similar body type.
Big-framed developmental tackle whose off-field trajectory ate the on-field grade and washed out inside three years — the cautionary comp attached to Balls file before the pick.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Bust. 0 career NFL games, cut before Year 2 after multiple failed drug tests. Signed with the Bears as a futures deal, out of the league by 2023.
Pre-draft context. Ball was a four-star FSU signee in 2016, redshirted, and played rotational tackle in Tallahassee across 2017-2018 before the December 2018 dismissal tied to the domestic violence protective order — a story that dominated every pre-draft interview. He transferred to Marshall, sat the 2019 season, and re-emerged as the Herd's starting left tackle for the 2020 Conference USA championship team, protecting the blind side in a run-heavy Doc Holliday offense. Length was the tape trait: 34-plus-inch arms, a wide base, and enough short-set athleticism to survive C-USA edge speed.
NFL fit — Dallas Cowboys. Dallas took him at pick 138 as a developmental swing tackle behind Tyron Smith and La'el Collins, with Marc Colombo/Joe Philbin's pass-first tackle school in mind. He landed on injured reserve for most of his rookie 2021 season with an ankle issue and never worked into the primary swing-tackle role in Dallas.
Retrospective. Four years in, Ball is a backup-tier tackle who has bounced between the Cowboys active roster, injured reserve, and the practice squad without ever locking down a rotational role in a league where OT depth is at a premium. He never displaced Terence Steele or Tyler Smith on the depth chart, has produced negligible meaningful snaps, and slides comfortably into the bust/miss bucket for a Round 4 tackle in a class where day-three OL like Creed Humphrey, Landon Dickerson, and Trey Smith all became starters.