Mahatma's NFL Draft Position Rankings: Offensive Line

OT

The deepest class of tackles in a decade, the 2008 class is extremely top heavy with players that can protect QBs for the next 15+ seasons. Long and Clady are the headliners with both likely to be top 10 picks. Otah and Williams are the next in line and will likely be mid first round picks also. Baker/Cherilus offer late first round grades while Nicks, Collins, Cousins, Greco and Barton are other quality day one selections. Even some of the later picks would likely be day one picks in most other drafts.

1) Jake Long / Michigan / 1^st

2) Ryan Clady / Boise State / 1^st

2) Jeff Otah / Pittsburgh / 1^st

3) Carl Williams / Vanderbilt / 1^st

4) Gosder Cherilus / BC / 1^st – 2^nd

5) Anthony Collins / Kansas / 1^st - 2^nd

6) Sam Baker / USC / 1^st – 2^nd

7) Carl Nix / Nebraska / 2^nd

8) John Greco / Toledo / 2^nd - 3^rd

9) Duane Brown / VTech / 3^rd – 4^th

10) Oneil Cousins / UTEP / 3^rd – 4^th

11) Kirk Barton / Ohio State / 4^th

12) Tony Hills / Texas / 4^th – 5^th

13) Barry Richardson / Clemson / 4^th – 5^th

14) King Dunlap / Auburn / 5^th

OG

The guards available in 2008 are somewhat lacking overall but there is talent available in the early to mid rounds. Albert is the best guard in the draft since maybe Shawn Andrews in 2004 and will likely be a top 15 pick. Rachal and Young are both solid prospects. Scheuning had a bad senior week but still plays with a mean streak.

1) Branden Albert / UVA / 1^st

2) Chilo Rachal / USC / 2^nd

2) Eric Young / Tennessee / 2^nd – 3^rd

3) Roy Scheuning / Oregon State / 3rd

4) Jeremy Zuttah / Rutgers / 3r^d – 4^th

6) Mike McGlynn / Pitt / 4^th – 5^th

7) Andrew Radovich / USC / 5^th

8) Donald Thomas / UConn / 5^th - 6^th

9) Pedro Sosa / Rutgers / 6^th

OC

A truly weak collection talent is available for teams looking for centers. Pollack is the best one but really the FA scrap heap might offer better solutions. Sullivan was supposed to be the best one coming out this year but had a horrendous year. A lot more zone blocking types are available this year as opposed to the kind of center that can handle the big NTs and DTs of the league. Velasco and Lichtensteiger are the best at that but that’s like putting a band aid over a knife wound.

1) Mike Pollak / Arizona St / 2^nd – 3^rd

2) Steve Justice / Wake / 3^rd – 4^th

2) John Sullivan / Notre Dame / 4^th – 5^th

3) Kory Lichtensteiger / Bowling Green / 4^th – 5^th

4) Fernando Velasco / Georgia / 4^th – 5^th

6) Matt Spanos / USC / 6^th

7) Drew Miller / UF / 6^th

8) Cody Wallace / Texas AM / 6th – 7^th