MVN - Most Valuable Network

Top NFL Draft Offensive Tackles: Jake Long Goes to Miami at No. 1

For background on MVN’s rankings, read this post explaining the 8-tier prospect system.

Jake Long, Michigan, Top Ten grade, Elite Prospect
Long is the elite Tackle in this draft if, and only if, the team that drafts him will play him at the position he best fits at. Long has top potential as a Left Tackle, but if he proves to be a step slow in pass protection as a rookie, his future might be as a right tackle. That wouldn’t make him a bust, but teams must understand that this guy isn’t Joe Thomas, the best tackle in the last eight years to be drafted. He’s closer in rating to D’Brickashaw Ferguson, or maybe even Robert Gallery coming out of college. Those players were entrenched at Left Tackle by their coaches, Gallery failed to live up to expectations, and the results on Ferguson have been lukewarm. There isn’t always a franchise LT in every draft, and Long may not be that guy. Regardless, the team the drafts him is getting a great lineman, and it’s a good pick, so long as the team accepts that not every top 5 lineman taken makes a great Left Tackle.

Chris Williams, Vanderbilt, 1st round grade, Excellent Prospect
Let’s be clear, there’s no double standard here, what goes for Long, goes for Williams. This draft doesn’t come with a surefire left tackle prospect in it, but Williams is still a better prospect than Boise State’s Ryan Clady. Williams could absolutely start his career at Guard if needed, but his future is at tackle. He’s the most athletic tackle in the draft, and he comes with impressive size also. His projected value lies him somewhere between picks 10-15 in the draft, and after that he’s a steal. The Bears, Lions, Vikings, Texans, Eagles, Redskins, Steelers, and Jaguars will all take a hard look in round one.

Ryan Clady, Boise State, 1st round grade, Excellent Prospect
The truth of the matter is that teams will start looking at Clady well before they start looking at Williams. The Pats, Ravens, Saints, and Broncos are all in the market for an Offensive Tackle, and Clady will get a lot of attention around those slots. I am a bit worried about my high evaluation of Clady, although I’m not quite ready to back down off him. He did score a pathetic 13 on his Wonderlic Test, and leaves Boise State a year early with much to prove. Size and athleticism will never be an issue for Clady however, and though the bust potential is very clearly a factor, you can’t acquire players like this unless you risk a lot of money, a high draft pick, or both.

Jeff Otah, Pitt, 1st round grade, Great Propsect
Otah’s size is pretty intimidating. He first earned his stripes in JUCO before transferring to Pitt to finish out his collegiate career. Otah has what it takes to be a successful tackle in this league, and while he will slip into the bottom half of round one, a team like the Philadelphia Eagles may look to snatch him up and play him once the old guard has moved out. Otah has the massive feet it would take to fill Jon Runyan’s shoes.

Sam Baker, USC, 1st round grade, Good Prospect
Teams just may sleep a few slots too long as someone steals Baker from the board in the early second. This guy is a bona fide first round talent. He’s been the LT at USC for the past 3.5 seasons, and he’s done a great job there. He’s a better prospect than former teammate Winston Justice, who some scouts thought had Top Ten talent. Baker might be hurting from Justice’s poor performance, but that’s pretty ridiculous. Jacksonville may take Baker and let him compete with Tony Pashos at Right Tackle.

Gosder Cherilus, Boston College, 2nd round grade, Good Prospect
Mike Mayock calls Cherilus the “prototype” Right Tackle. Of course, that means he would make a half decent Left Tackle prospect, but remember that Mayock is a BC grad. Anyway, Cherlius seems destined for the top end of the second round where a lot of teams really need the help he would provide the offensive line. Those teams who don’t grab Long, Clady, or Branden Albert at the top of the first round are very likely to look towards Baker or Cherilus in the second. Top tackles are in very high demand these days, and though 5 guys might go before Cherilus, he’s in no risk of a draft day slide.

Anthony Collins, Kansas, 2nd round grade, Solid Prospect
Underexperienced, but really did earn his keep in pass protection at Kansas. The fears with Collins come in the running game, but the general nature of offensive tackles and how they can adapt when attacking downhill at the defense makes me think he’s going to be alright in that category. There is a risk here, he didn’t play much as a Junior, and is trying to parlay Kansas’ 12-1 finish into a higher draft pick instead of returning to school, but his pass protection adeptness earns him a long look in the second round.

Carl Nicks, Nebraska, 2nd round grade, Solid Prospect
A right side of the line prospect, a team may ask Nicks to move inside. Around this point in the draft, you start to see the tackles that a handful of teams grade out as potential LT prospects start coming off. Nicks will probably start his career working at LT, but it won’t surprise too many people of a shift across the line is necessary to receive his full value. He played both in two seasons at Nebraska, and will be an interesting player to watch as to see if his JUCO experience works out in his benefit or to his detriment.

Duane Brown, Virginia Tech, 3rd round grade, Mediocre Prospect
A young player lacking the necessary film evaluation to make a safe first day pick, Brown is a good character guy who can play all three keystone positions on the line, LT, RT, and RG. Will need to develop as a run blocker, but appears to have an advantage over other players similar to him as a pass blocker. Could go at the bottom end of round two, but his value lies early in the third round.

Barry Richardson, Clemson, 3rd round grade, Mediocre Prospect
Has started at Left Tackle at all but four games of his collegiate career. Projects to the NFL as a mid level left tackle. Teams know what they are getting in Richardson, a player who will be capable of being a starting Left Tackle in the NFL, but could be better served as a competent backup. Richardson never dominated his competition in the ACC, so the third round seems like the earliest a team would be willing to grab him. A move across the line to Right Tackle could benefit him, but chances are he will be selected to play on the left side.

—

Other NFL Draft U. rankings:

QB | RB | WR | TE

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 7:40 pm and is filed under Gosder Cherilus, Chris Williams, Carl Nicks, Duane Brown, Sam Baker, Jeff Otah, Barry Richardson, Anthony Collins, Top Players By Position 2008, Ryan Clady, Jake Long. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.