You don't just "miss" a guy who stands 6-foot-10. Honestly, seeing Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan walk into a room is less like meeting a football player and more like encountering a redwood tree that learned how to pass set. They call him "Tank," but he’s really more of a skyscraper.
Most people looking at the Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan NFL draft profile see one thing: height. He was officially measured at 6-foot-8 and 1/4 at his Pro Day, though Oregon State and Colorado rosters often bumped him up to 6-foot-9 or even 6-foot-10. But in the NFL, being tall is a double-edged sword. If you’re too high, defenders get under your pads and drive you into the quarterback's lap. If you can bend? Well, then you’re a problem.
The Massive Measurements That Jump Off the Tape
Scouts are obsessed with length. It's a "premium" trait, especially at left tackle. Christian-Lichtenhan isn't just tall; he has arms that measure over 35 inches. That is a massive reach. To put that in perspective, he basically has a three-to-four-inch head start on almost every pass rusher he faces. If he gets his hands on you first, the rep is basically over.
During the 2025 draft cycle, he was one of the most polarizing prospects. Some saw a developmental project who was just too lanky. Others saw a future starter who just needed the right NFL strength program. He ultimately went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, signing with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. It makes sense. Baltimore loves these massive, developmental blockers.
Why the Transition to Oregon State Mattered
Leaving Deion Sanders and Colorado wasn't an easy choice, but it was the right one for his draft stock. At Colorado, he was part of a line that struggled to keep Shedeur Sanders upright. It was chaotic. He followed his offensive line coach to Oregon State and suddenly, the "Tank" we saw on tape looked different.
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He was more composed.
He was more violent.
In 2024, he was named the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman. He allowed just two sacks on 815 snaps. That’s elite efficiency, regardless of the competition level. He proved he wasn't just a "size guy"—he was a football player.
Scouting the Flaws: Why He Wasn't a Day 1 Pick
Let’s be real: if you’re 6-foot-8, your hips are naturally higher than everyone else's. This is the biggest hurdle for the Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan NFL draft projection. Leverage is everything in the trenches. When Christian-Lichtenhan gets "high," he loses his power. Scouts noted that he sometimes struggles with speed-to-power moves. If a defensive end can get a hand into his chest and drive upward, the "Tank" can get tipped over.
He also has some "wind-up" in his punch. In the NFL, pass rushers are too fast for that. You have to be "quick-twitch." You have to strike like a snake, not like a sledgehammer.
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- Height/Weight: 6'8", 315-330 lbs
- Arm Length: 35 1/4"
- Broad Jump: 9'1" (impressive for his size)
- The "Vibe": Massive wall of a human who prefers playing in space over "phone booth" brawling.
The Baltimore Ravens and the Future
After signing with Baltimore in May 2025, Christian-Lichtenhan spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad. That’s exactly what he needed. He needed a year of NFL "redshirting" to add mass to his lower half. You can't just be big up top; you need "tree trunk" legs to anchor against guys like Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt.
As of early 2026, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Ravens. This means the team sees enough upside to keep him in the building. He is currently competing for a backup tackle spot. If he can continue to improve his pad level and refine his hand placement, he has the physical tools to be a "swing tackle" in the league for a decade.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think a guy that big should be a "mauler." They want him to just run people over. But Gerad has actually said he prefers being an "athlete in space." He’s surprisingly nimble for a man his size. Watching him get out on a screen pass or pull on a run play is terrifying for defensive backs. He’s a wall on the move.
The narrative that he’s "too tall" is also a bit lazy. We’ve seen guys like Orlando Brown Jr. succeed with similar builds. It’s about technical discipline. If he stays low, he wins. If he stands up, he loses. It’s that simple.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you’re tracking his career or looking at similar "giant" prospects in future drafts, keep an eye on these specific developmental milestones:
- Lower Body Strength: Watch his "anchor." Does he get pushed back, or can he stop a bull rush in its tracks?
- Pad Level: Is he consistently bending at the knees, or is he bending at the waist? Waist-benders don't last in the NFL.
- Hand Quickness: The "punch" needs to be independent of his body movement.
Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan is a classic "high-ceiling" bet. He wasn't a finished product coming out of Oregon State, but you simply cannot teach someone how to be 6-foot-8 with 35-inch arms. In a league that is starving for offensive line depth, "Tank" is exactly the kind of lottery ticket that eventually pays off.
Focus on his preseason tape in 2026. That will be the true indicator of whether his year on the practice squad transformed him into a rotational NFL tackle or if he remains a tantalizing "what if" based on size alone. Keep an eye on his snap counts during the second half of preseason games; that's where the real evaluation happens.