NFL draft OL rankings: Slim pickings for first-round talent
As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY Sports will release its positional rankings with one post every weekday. Next up, a breakdown of the offensive line class ...
1. Forrest Lamp, guard, Western Kentucky
6-4, 309 pounds
Lamp had an outstanding collegiate career as a left tackle, and there is a small chance an NFL team could try to keep him outside. But the prevailing opinion about Lamp is that his NFL future is at guard – or perhaps even at center, even though he’s never snapped the ball in a game before. Lamp is strong and fundamentally sound, but his frame (and arms that measured at 32 1/4 inch) make him look more like a guard. In a draft thin on offensive linemen, Lamp looks like one of the few prospects that can be a Week 1 starter – at a variety of positions.
2. Ryan Ramczyk, tackle, Wisconsin
6-6, 310 pounds
Ramczyk looks like he’ll be the latest Wisconsin lineman to transition easily to the NFL. He’s among the most athletic offensive tackles in this draft class and might be the most polished, thanks to the pro-style offense Wisconsin runs. The only red flag on Ramczyk heading into the draft is he hasn’t been healthy this spring after undergoing hip surgery following the Badgers’ season.
3. Garett Bolles, tackle, Utah
6-5, 297 pounds
Bolles is an intriguing prospect because he certainly looks the part of a starting-caliber NFL left tackle – and he often played like one for Utah last season. But he has just one season playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level after transferring to Utah, and he’ll turn 25 years old next month – which is the age many players are when they get their second NFL contract. With so many teams needing to upgrade at tackle, and with this being a thin offensive line class, look for someone to look past those questions on Bolles and draft him in the first round.
MORE COVERAGE:
NFL draft RB rankings: Christian McCaffrey on upswing
NFL draft TE rankings: Impressive class could be in high demand
NFL draft WR rankings: Corey Davis, Mike Williams jostle at top
4. Cam Robinson, tackle, Alabama
6-6, 322 pounds
No one looks more like a potential star tackle in this class than Robinson, who left Alabama after his junior year. But with Robinson, the scouting process is about more than just his measurables. Robinson has off-field questions after a 2016 arrest on marijuana and gun charges (that were later dropped), and his college tape shows some inconsistent effort. In the right locker room – with veteran teammates and strict coaching – Robinson looks like he quickly develop into a dependable player.
5. Dion Dawkins, tackle/guard, Temple
6-4, 314 pounds
Another college tackle, Dawkins projects best as a guard in the NFL, at least initially. He started that position switch at the Senior Bowl. Dawkins could be especially attractive to teams that run a power blocking scheme. That’s because Dawkins’ sheer strength is his best attribute, and he should be able to contribute right away as a solid run blocker while he works to develop in pass protection.
6. Roderick Johnson, tackle, Florida State
6-7, 298 pounds
Johnson is one of the most experienced tackles in this class, having started the past two and a half seasons at left tackle for Florida State, yet he is still unpolished. He’s the tallest of the top-tier offensive tackles, but he still needs to develop an NFL body and learn how to better manage his lanky frame.
MORE COVERAGE:
How many quarterbacks will be picked in NFL draft's first round?
10 standout items from the 2017 NFL schedule
7. Dan Feeney, guard, Indiana
6-4, 305
Feeney is the most accomplished collegiate guard in this draft class, and that experience playing on the interior line at Indiana should mean a smaller learning curve as he tries to earn a starting job as an NFL rookie. Because of his size (slightly smaller at 305 pounds) and superior footwork, Feeney appears to be best suited for a team running a zone blocking scheme.
8. Antonio Garcia, tackle, Troy
6-6, 302 pounds
Garcia’s draft stock started to rise after a strong week of practices at the Senior Bowl, where he was able to measure himself against top-tier defensive line talent. That just reinforced the reputation he built at Troy for being an exceptional pass blocker, after allowing just three sacks in the past two years. To have similar success at the NFL level, Garcia will likely need to add some weight. In college he could get away with playing at under 300 pounds, but he’ll need to be bigger and stronger to hold up against NFL pass rushers.
9. Taylor Moton, guard, Western Michigan
6-5, 319 pounds
NFL teams scouting Moton are likely poring over his 2015 action just as much as his 2016 play, because that’s when Moton spent the year playing guard, the position he projects to in the NFL. Moton had a decent senior year playing tackle, and teams will appreciate that he could fill in at that position if necessary, but he looks like a prototypical NFL guard.
10. Ethan Pocic, LSU, center
6-6, 310
Teams looking for a center with position flexibility at the line should give Pocic a hard look because of his experience playing not just center, but also guard and tackle while at LSU. Though he’s slightly taller than the NFL standard at center, he’s athletic enough to make up for whatever leverage he might lose because of his stature. The fact that he has experience playing against some of the best college defensive lines in recent seasons should help speed up his NFL development.
Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
PHOTOS: NFL mock draft 6.0 - trade edition
