Chargers 90-in-90: OL Spencer Drango

Spencer Drango hails from Austin, Texas where we was a standout offensive linemen for Cedar Park High-School. During his senior season, he helped his squad to the state quarterfinals with a 13-1 record. During that season, Drango recorded over 144 pancake blocks without allowing a single sack on the year.

As a four-star recruit coming out, Drango decided to attend nearby Baylor University over the likes of LSU, Stanford, and the hometown University of Texas.

After taking a redshirt year in 2011, Drango won the starting left tackle job following the departure of Cyril Richardson to the NFL. He would go on to be named a Freshman All-American after starting all 13 games.

After rupturing a disk in his back during his sophomore campaign, Drango came back with a vengeance in his final two seasons. In both 2014 and ‘15, Drango was one of the best offensive linemen in the nation, taking home back-to-back Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year awards and being named a consensus All-American.

In that 2015 season, Drango earned the highest pass-blocking efficiency grade in the entire country (99.2) after allowing just three quarterback hurries and allowing some hit his QB just once (OkSt. DE Emmanuel Ogbah).

Even though he was one of the most well-rounded OL in the draft class, many pundits had him pegged to play guard at the next level. He was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

As of right now, Drango has played in 32 games with 19 career starts. He earned his first start at right guard against the Baltimore Ravens when the Browns’ Joel Bitonio went down with an injury in Setember of 2016. The following year, when perennial All-Pro LT Joe Thomas tore his tricep, Drango was chosen to replace Thomas on the outside.

On September 1st, 2018, the Browns waived Drango. A little over two weeks later, the Chargers signed the former day-3 pick.

Basic Info

Height: 6-6
Weight: 315
College: Baylor
Experience: 3
Years with team: 1

Contract Status

Spencer Drango signed a 1 year, $645,000 contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, including an average annual salary of $645,000. In 2019, Drango will earn a base salary of $645,000, while carrying a cap hit of $645,000.

The Good

Right now, Drango has the most experience of any back-up offensive lineman on the team. He provides excellent depth and could play any position besides center in a pinch. Coming out of college, teams loved his upper-body strength along with his ability to play out in space, which was a necessity playing under then-head coach Art Briles. Luckily, Anthony Lynn likes to use his linemen in space, as well.

The Bad

One of the biggest knocks against Drango coming out of Baylor was his predictable punch in pass protection and his lack of arm length. Having under 34-inch arms is seen as being below the threshold for NFL tackles which is why he was pegged to transition inside.

Some may have been surprised when Drango was cut from the Browns, especially after season where he spent most of the season as the team’s starting blindside protector. As far as I could tell, he wasn’t injured, but it may have had to do with the team committing to newly-drafted Desmond Harrison, who was the starter at LT in 2018 before being let go, as well, earlier this offseason.

(Also because, maybe, he allowed 11 sacks in 11 games)

Odds of making the roster/What to expect in 2019

I currently have Drango missing the the cut this year after the team drafted Trey Pipkins in this year’s third round. I chose to go with Cole Toner, who spent most of the year as an active player on game days, even over Forrest Lamp most weeks.

With Drango missing the cut, I would expect him to be stashed on the practice squad unless injuries start to pile up.

Fun Fact: Drango’s senior season in high school was ended in the state quarterfinals by Austin Lake Travis who was quarterbacked by Michael Brewer, the former Texas Tech and Virginia Tech quarterback. Lake Travis is also the high-school attended by former Heisman Trophy winner and current Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield.