Trends come and trends go in football, but one of the game’s constants is that it sure helps to be strong in the trenches, especially on the outside at RT. As such, big offensive linemen who can move are always in demand when draft say rolls around. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the offensive line – and particularly the OT position – has been one of the stronger positions at the draft in recent years. Over the past three drafts, for example, 15 former collegiate OTs were taken in the opening round, one more than the more celebrated WRs for the most #1 picks of any position. And that trend isn’t likely going to change much this year as OT will again be one of the dominant positions. However, while there is a ton – both literally and figuratively – of talent at the position this year, OT may not be quite as deep as in some recent years. Meanwhile, there is also some intriguing upfront talent at both OG and C, although like the situation at OT, there is a significant drop-off through the middle rounds.
Offensive tackle: as noted, OT could be one of the strongest positions in the early going of the 2016 draft. Indeed, junior OTs Laremy Tunsil of Mississippi and Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley are both considered to have top 5 potential for the upcoming draft. Assuming he passes muster – Tunsil fractured a fibula and dislocated an ankle in the Rebels’ Peach Bowl loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl last January and there was the business of those charges and counter charges when he punched out his stepfather in a domestic situation with his mother earlier this summer – the Ole Miss star is a prototype LT prospect with long arms and a heavy punch, along with light feet and great body control and balance, although he’s more of a seal-off blocker than a drive blocker in the run game. For his part, the Irish’s Stanley isn’t as poslished as Tunsil, but is bigger, stronger and more physical at the point of attack. And while not exactly textbook when it comes to technique, Stanley still has next-level quickness working in the pocket as well as those long arms and heavy punch to protect the edge.
Tunsil and Stanley could be joined in this year’s opening round by as many as a half dozen other tackles including fellow juniors Jack Conklin of Michigan State, Texas A&M’s Germaine Ifedi and LSU’s Jerald Hawkins, along with veterans like Taylor Decker of Ohio State, Oregon’s Tyler Johnstone and spencer Drango of Baylor, while a lot of scouts also really like underrated Jason Spriggs of Indiana. There should also be some solid OTs available on the second day of this year’s draft including Texas Tech’s Le’Raven Clark, big Brandon Shell of South Carolina, Georgia’s John Theus, Kyle Murphy of Stanford, and North Dakota State’s Joe Haeg who if the draft were held today, would very likely be the first player taken from outside the ranks of FBS programs. At the same time, though, there appears to be something of a drop-off to the next level at the position which has some decent prospects, but few more than developmental types.
Offensive guards: Needless to say, OG has not had the same impact in the early going of the draft as the OTs. Still more often than not at least one pure OG is taken in the draft’s opening round. In 2015, for example, Detroit selected former Duke OG Laken Tomlinson with the 28th pick; and of course that was after Washington chose former Iowa star LT Brandon Scherff as an OG with the 5th pick overall, although Scherff was a career tackle for the Hawkeyes. And there is a better than even chance that at least one OG will be selected in this year’s opening round as Vadal Alexander of LSU and Arkansas junior Denver Kirkland, a couple of true roadgraders with size and surprising athleticism. The only fly in the ointment is that both are slated to play OT this fall and could conceivably be drafted as such next April.
There is also a solid second level OG group including players like North Carolina’s Landon Turner, underrated Cody Whitehair of Kansas State, Christian Westerman of Arizona State, Connor McGovern of Missouri, Cincinnati’s Parker Ehinger, Josh Garnett of Stanford, Cal’s Jordan Rigsbee, Sedrick Flowers of Texas and Rees Odhiambo of Boise State, along with juniors Pat Elfien of Ohio State and Georgia’s Greg Pyke, each of whom has at least some second-day potential.
Centre: The C position likely won’t be as talented at the 2016 draft as either the OTs or OGs – it almost never is – but there could be at a couple of Cs with some first-round potential in Max Tuerk of Southern Cal and Oregon State junior Isaac Seumalo. Turek is an angular (6-5) interior offensive lineman with the long arms, light feet and flexibility normally seen in elite level LTs; indeed, Tuerk has started at OT in the past. However, at only about 285 pounds, Tuerk isn’t going to pile drive anyone so has to get by of his smarts, quickness and technical smoothness. For his part, Seumalo looked all the part of a future top 100 C in his first two seasons with the Beavers in 2012 and 2013, but didn’t play at all last fall because of a foot injury that has required a couple of surgeries and needless to say will have to be checked out medically once he does declare for the draft. There is also some interesting depth at the position with Nick Martin of Notre Dame, Jack Allen of Michigan State, Missouri’s Evan Boehm and Wisconsin Dan Voltz all figuring to get some second-day consideration. There should also be some decent Cs in the later rounds including Mike Matthews of Texas A&M, Ryan Kelly of Alabama, Austin Blythe of Iowa and Jake Brendel of UCLA, among others who have the experience and skill to be useful later round pickups, although there likely isn’t a whole lot of size at the position in the later rounds.
