Anthony Belton NFL draft profile

After two seasons of junior college, graduate tackle Anthony ‘Escalade’ Belton became a staple for NC State football, anchoring the offensive line for three years as a starter.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 336 lbs, Belton wreaked havoc on opposing game plans with punishing strength and an elite blend of arm length and heavy hands. The Tallahassee, Florida native provided head coach Dave Doeren with a seamless transition from former NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who was picked sixth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Doeren praised the future Pack Pro’s development in his fall camp presser.

“Anthony likes to have fun,” Doeren said. “He's got a great personality. … He's really grown up. He's had a really good fall camp, and I'm excited for him, really excited. He's playing good football right now.”

The Wolfpack’s Director of Strength and Conditioning, Dantonio Burnette, nicknamed him ‘Escalade’ for his ability to move at such a massive size.

Strengths

Belton, who never missed a game due to injury, thrived in NC State’s zone-based run scheme. Utilizing his near 7-foot wingspan, Belton covers large chunks of real estate and has the power to displace scraping backers on the second level. Belton flashes the ability to close space, specifically on backside cut-offs and climbing on combos.

At the Senior Bowl, the former unranked recruit showcased a devastating two-hand strike in pass protection, engulfing power rushers and hand-fighting speed rushers alike. His intelligence in pass-pro is an overlooked trait, as he consistently recognizes stunts and diagnoses blitz combinations.

Anthony Belton’s tape is insane lol pic.twitter.com/jFnxK8TGsR

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 14, 2024

In the first clip Belton closes B-gap, complicating the defensive end’s attempt to spill the GT pull. He then explodes toward the scraping mike linebacker, flattening him with overwhelming size and strength.

In the second, he deciphers the defensive line stunt and uses his signature punch to register another pancake and create room for his quarterback to escape.

Belton, who allowed just eight sacks in 1,297 pass sets as a starter, shines when pass rushers attack the middle of his body, using his power to overwhelm opponents.

Weaknesses

His counter-arsenal leaves more to be desired, allowing defenders to exploit missed strikes. He’s often caught off balance and leaning, leaving his outside shoulder vulnerable to a speed rush. When he loses leverage to edge rushers with bend, Belton often resorts to grabbing and holding, leaving the Wolfpack behind the sticks. Hand placement will be a key focus for improvement.

Poor footwork also tended to cost Belton, specifically in pass-pro. The graduate student often didn’t have the opportunity to employ the two-hand punch, falling on the wrong side of a speed rush with slow feet to get in position. A stronger kick-slide would likely neutralize both major technical weaknesses.

Pro Day

Belton stood out — literally and figuratively — at NC State’s Pro Day in March. Though he didn’t participate in the three-cone drill, his solid 10-yard shuttle answered questions about his agility. He didn’t need an overwhelming performance after his strong showing at the NFL Combine, where he impressed with a 1.82 10-yard split and an 8-foot-11 broad jump.

Comparison

Los Angeles Chargers guard Mekhi Becton, drafted 11th overall by the New York Jets in the 2020 draft, compares strongly as a prospect. He was selected for his mammoth size and power, but displayed similar flaws in his technique. After struggling at tackle, he transitioned to guard in Philadelphia, flourishing in a record-breaking rushing attack en route to a Lombardi Trophy.

Belton’s player profile has likewise generated curiosity as to a potential fit at guard, where kick-slide and recovery ability aren’t critical. While Belton never took a college snap on the interior, he took half his reps at guard during the 1-vs-1 sessions at the Senior Bowl.

Projection

Prospects with elite traits and room to grow often rise above projections, so expect Belton to go earlier than experts have him rated. Projections range from the third to sixth rounds.

One potential fit would be San Francisco, which holds the 75th and 99th overall picks in the third round. Belton fits the 49ers' zone-based scheme nicely and could refine his game behind Trent Williams, similar to his role behind Ekwonu.

Summary

Belton projects as a mid-to-late Day 2 selection for a team that values his upside. His elite size and power make him an ideal fit for a zone-based scheme, but technical refinement — particularly in footwork and hand placement — will determine whether he develops into a long-term starter at tackle or transitions inside to guard. With the right coaching, he can outperform his draft slot and become a key piece on an NFL offensive line.