Offensive Tackles
We have a gold mine of 1st round talent in this class for
2014. As many as five tackles could go in the first round of the draft, with
possibly three going in the top ten. In my opinion, the top two tackles in this
class may be the best players available in the one and two slot this year.
Those players (Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson) are undeniable talents who will
likely both anchor an offensive line for the next decade. The next two (Taylor
Lewan, Zach Martin) are not in the same class as the one and two, but are rock
solid, and Martin is soaring as the draft nears.
With so much franchise establishing, lock solid talent available, there
is something for everyone in this class, and it should go down as one of the
better classes at offensive tackle in recent memory.
Top 5
Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
Greg Robinson, Auburn
Taylor Lewan, Michigan
Zach Martin, Stanford
Morgan Moses, Virginia
Most Overrated
Cyrus Kouandjo, Alabama
Antonio Richardson, Tennessee
Most Underrated
Jack Mewhort, Ohio State
Joel Bitonio, Nevada
Best Small School Prospect
Billy Turner, North Dakota State
Offensive Guard
There is a great deal of talent in this group as well, especially in
the mid round area. One of the most dominating interior linemen comes in this
group in Xavier Su’a Filo, who will be a top 15 pick in this class, a major
upswing for UCLA considering their absence in the uppermost reaches of the NFL
Draft over the last decade.
While Su’a Filo may be the only sure thing in the first round, the middle
round talent is stacked with Guards who can definitely make their way into
starting lineups, and there is talent in this group that could also last a
decade.
The line, overall, in 2014 is really a good deal of the meat of this
draft class.
Top 5
Xavier Su’a Filo, UCLA
David Yankey, Stanford
Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State
Brandon Thomas, Clemson
Dakota Dozier, Furman
Most Overrated
Cyril Richardson, Baylor
Most Underrated
Trai Turner, LSU
Best Small School Prospect
Dakota Dozier, Furman
Centers
There isn’t ever an early run on Centers in the NFL Draft, however,
there may be some early round value at the position in 2014. There are only six
Centers listed in the top 250 prospects in the draft this year, which is about
average. There are going to be some Centers in the lower rounds that are not
top 250, but will have value as well. If you need a Center this season, my best
advice will be to draft one in the 2nd or 3rd round, as
that’s where the impact resides in this class.
Top 5
Marcus Martin, USC
Weston Richburg, Colorado State
Travis Swanson, Arkansas
Bryan Stork, Florida State
Tyler Larson, Utah state
Most Overrated
None
Most Underrated
Bryan Stork, Florida State
Tyler Larson, Utah State
Top Ranked Tackles
Greg Robinson, Auburn
A freak of an athlete, I have not seen anyone so domination ready coming into the league since Jonathon Ogden came out of UCLA. The only draw back to Robinson is a lack of experience in the pass block area due to the offense that Auburn ran. Other than that, Robinson is an anchor tackle for the next ten plus seasons in the NFL.
Grade: A
Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
If not for Robinson, Matthews may be the best offensive lineman, and one of the best players in this draft. Matthews has not blocked in a traditional offense, and therefore may have some fundamental work to do, but he is a force, and like Robinson, is a team anchor for the next decade.
Grade: A
Taylor Lewan, Michigan
Lewan may not be as fundamentally ready as Robinson and Matthews, but is a first round talent who will start immediately. His major drawback is a legal issue due to a substance situation with the cops that must be looked into. If he can clean that mess up, he is a solid top 15 guy who can be a starter for a long while.
Grade: A-
Zack Martin, Notre Dame
Martin is a fast riser in this draft, and it would not surprise me to see him go ahead of Lewan, as he is the most versatile player in the tackle class. He can play interior or exterior, and may start at guard early in his career before flushing out to tackle. A real value early in the draft.
Grade: A-
Cyrus Kouandjo, Alabama
Kouandjo showed some serious flaws at the combine and on film. He is not very athletic, and will struggle against bull speed rushers on the next level. Not a fundamental left tackle, he is likely to be the first bust in this class at tackle. I would let someone else make the mistake. Highly overrated by the services.
Grade: D
Morgan Moses, Virginia
Moses has flown up the charts in recent months, and looks like the most underrated guy in the tackle class. A hulking figure, Moses possesses the leanness that you would want at the position, and has underrated athleticism to kick out against speed rushers. He could be a steal late in the 1st or early in the 2nd.
Grade: A-
Antonio Richardson, Tennessee
I'm simply not impressed by the intangibles that Richardson has shown us in the post season workouts, and his film to me is lacking. I think that he has gotten some undeserved clippings, and seems to be living more on hype than actual talent. Again, I see a bust on the horizon. Not a franchise tackle, not even close.
Grade: D
Jake Mewhort, Ohio State
I'm not sure that Mewhort will ive at tackle on Sundays, and may shift inside, but he seems a bit tweener to me, as I'm not sure where he fits. Some scouts love him, some don't. He certainly will have some work to do, and we will see how he responds. A bit more developmental than I would like, but there is some talent there.
Grade: B-
Billy Turner, North Dakota State
Turner has an athletic frame, and good intangibles, but is a small school guy who dominated athletes that aren't near his ability. Still, he shows signs of being a guy who can eventually be a RT for quite a while, and I really like athletic tackles. I'd give him a shot in the 3rd round and really develop him. Intriguing guy.
Grade: B
Joel Bitonio, Nevada
Bitonio really surprised me at the combine, and pulled off one of the best days of all linemen in Indianapolis. He may eventually shift into paying guard on Sundays, but he really wowed me with great flashes of ability and showed what kind of raw athlete he is. He has some work to do, and things to learn, such as technique in a traditional system, but I really love his potential long term. A steal in the 3rd round.
Grade: B
Top Ranked Guards
Xavier Sua'Filo, UCLA
The best lineman out of UCLA since Jonathon Ogden, Sua'Filo can play both tackle and guard without missing a beat. A solid athlete and team leader, he has all of the intangibles to be a starting lineman and team captain type for the next decade or more. I love what he brings to the table on every play. Relentless spirit and hustle. No brainer for a first round pick.
Grade: A+
David Yankey, Stanford
Yankey is an anchor player on any offensive line, and has played in an NFL offense his whole career. While not nearly as athletic as Sua'Filo, Yankey has technique and ability, and is a team leader as well. Look for a first round grab on him, and he will make someone very happy for the next decade as well.
Grade: A
Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State
I'm not as in love with this prospect as many scouts are. I see slow, and stodgy, someone who can gum up the works rather than help an offense flow. He's huge, and has a dominating build, but it doesn't always work for him in the best ways. There are better prospects out there.
Grade: C
Brandon Thomas, Clemson
Thomas is an underrated, big time guard, and he is climbing the charts. He's not conventional, and doesn't come from a conventional pro offense, but he has the intangibles that make him work, and has a frame that as big as it is, can actually get bigger. A developmental guy, Thomas could be a starter somewhere in year two and be an anchor for a long time.
Grade: B
Dakota Dozier, Furman
Furman isn't a hotbed of NFL draft picks, but Dozier certainly is a good one. That being said, he lacks some basic fluidity and athleticism that I like to see. He is very slow, and that means something when you talk about pull blocking assignments and kicking out to help a tackle with edge rushers, and he can get bull rushed on blitzes up the middle. If he can add some athleticism, he could certainly be an intriguing pick in the mid rounds, as he played in one of the best conferences in small school football.
Top Ranked Centers
Marcus Martin, USC
I am not a huge fan, because goo centers can usually help their QB improve over time. QB play the last two years at USC hasn't been great, and you have to wonder about is overall football IQ. He can block perfectly well, but I worry about his game calling from the center position.
Grade: C
Weston Richburg, Colorado State
CSU got much better in 2013, and I believe that Richburg had a good deal to do with it from an offensive standpoint. The offense really bloomed, and got better during his tenure at center for the Rams. He may be the best center here, not Martin.
Grade: B+
Travis Swanson, Arkansas
It's hard for me to get excited about a starting center from a losing program, but that's what we have here. He isn't going to wow anyone overall, but may be serviceable enough to develop on the next level. Not a huge fan of him, but not an overall doubter either.
Grade: C
Bryan Stork, Florida State
He isn't rated as high by scouting services as Swanson, but I think he's a better overall pick. He played for a national champion in an offense more modeled after an open NFL offense like New England, Indianapolis, or San Francisco, but could also fit into a more conservative offense like that of Seattle or Chicago. I see very few flaws with his line calls, and I also see what he did working with Jameis Winston in his first season. He could be a steal.
Grade: B
Tyler Lawson, Utah State
Lawson is another player who doesn't necessarily fit into the top 100 prospects, but he is a player worthy of consideration. He played in a more collegiate offense at USU, but he has a high football IQ, an a really solid motor on the field. Like Stork, the lower he falls, the more value you can get from him. I like his long term potential in the NFL.
Coming up Next: Defensive Line
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