Houston Texans select Blake Fisher in 2024 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans have selected former Notre Dame Fighting Irish right tackle Blake Fisher in the 2024 NFL Draft with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round.

Fisher tore his meniscus in the season opener against Florida State in 2021 after just 37 snaps. He would remain sidelined until that season’s Fiesta Bowl game nearly four months later and did not miss a start for the rest of his career.

This football season, Fisher registered a 72.3 overall grade in 13 games, according to Pro Football Focus. He also achieved a 72.5 pass-blocking grade and 70.8 mark in the run game. Irish left tackle Joe Alt led the team in run and pass blocking, 92.2 and 86.9, respectively. 

Before he enrolled at Notre Dame, Fisher was a highly-touted four-star recruit out of Avon (IN) High School, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

He was the No. 56 player in the nation during the 2021 recruiting cycle and the No. 7 offensive tackle.

What NFL analysts are saying about Blake Fisher

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein revealed how he perceives Fisher’s talents translating to the NFL.

“Athletic tackle with the talent to gain some traction in a draft that is deep at his position. Fisher can be late off the ball, creating early disadvantages, and his contact balance and hand usage can be spotty at times. He’s a capable climber and puller as a move blocker and he does a nice job of drive blocking with plus technique to create leverage.

“He establishes his anchor against a bull rush but will occasionally struggle to open his hips and keep edge rushers from flattening into the pocket. In general, he’s going to mirror up against counters. Fisher needs to do a better job with consistency and finishing blocks, but he has the tape and tools to become a starter at either tackle spot.”

According to a personnel executive in the AFC, “Fisher is the more naturally talented of the Notre Dame tackles, but (Joe) Alt is much more consistent and technically sound.”

His strengths, according to Zierlein, include possessing explosive hips and hands, impressive agility as he ran a 5.2-second 40-yard dash, can use his frame to secure leverage, and mirror crafty edge rushers with reactive athleticism and nimble feet.

Regarding his weaknesses, Zierlein cites Fisher as being the last out of his stance, miscalculates angles, and needing to play with tighter hands, among others.