Position Preview: Offensive Line

To get ready for this weekend's draft, we're looking position-by-position at who could go in the first round. Click here for the rest of the breakdowns, beginning with quarterback.


OT Jason Smith (Top 10 pick), OT Eugene Monroe (Top 10 pick), OT Andre Smith (Top 15 pick), OT Michael Oher (mid-first round), OT Eben Britton (late first round).

Last year, seven offensive tackles were taken in the first round, and there's a chance that seven o-linemen will once again go this year. Because of the dire need for tackles, it's probable that several tackles will be nabbed 10 to 15 spots ahead of where they rank on most team's draft boards.


That won't be a problem at the top of the draft as Smith and Monroe are both top 10 talents on most everyone's draft board. And Smith could be a future Pro Bowl right tackle or guard or a solid left tackle depending on how often he hits the all-you-can-eat buffet every week. But Oher, Britton and potentially William Beatty will all likely go higher than their overall draft grade warrants because so many teams need tackles. As many as 15 teams could use some draft help on the offensive line, which means as usual that there are more teams needing linemen than there are quality linemen in this game of draft musical chairs.


OT William Beatty, C Alex Mack, C Max Unger, C Eric Wood, OT Phil Loadholt.

The number of teams that need offensive tackles could help move Beatty and even the massive/lumbering Loadholt into the first round. Mack is the most likely of the centers to go in the first round, but him, Unger and Wood will be likely be waiting to see who the Steelers take at No. 32. None of the three are likely last long into the second round though. If you notice one thing missing, there isn't a guard anywhere on this list--it's possible no guard will be picked on Saturday.


There are so many teams that could use a tackle that the race is to see if four tackles will go in the top 13 picks. Once Smith leaves the board (potentially as high as No. 6 to the Bengals), a team that likes Oher may trade up to nab him. The same thing could happen later in the first round with Beatty. But there is better than usual depth at tackle throughout this draft, which means that teams who are patient may still snag an eventual starter.

1.Detroit Lions	Strong Need	12.Denver Broncos		23.New England Patriots
2.St. Louis Rams	Strong Need	13.Washington Redskins	Need	24.Atlanta Falcons
3.Kansas City Chiefs	Slight Need	14.New Orleans Saints		25.Miami Dolphins
4.Seattle Seahawks	Need	15.Houston Texans		26.Baltimore Ravens
5.Cleveland Browns		16.San Diego Chargers	Slight Need	27.Indianapolis Colts
6.Cincinnati Bengals	Need	17.New York Jets		28.Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia)	Need
7.Oakland Raiders	Strong Need	18.Denver Broncos (from Chicago)		29.New York Giants	Slight Need
8.Jacksonville Jaguars		19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers		30.Tennessee Titans
9.Green Bay Packers		20.Detroit Lions (from Dallas)	Strong Need	31.Arizona Cardinals
10.San Francisco 49ers	Need	21.Philadelphia Eagles		32.Pittsburgh Steelers	Need
11.Buffalo Bills	Need	22.Minnesota Vikings	Need