1. Jake Long, Michigan: Long has not only maintained his place atop the tackle rankings, but he may be in line for something much, much bigger in a couple of weeks, as he could be drafted #1 overall by the Dolphins. If so, he’d be only the third offensive lineman in the last four decades to be taken #1, following USC’s Ron Yary by the Vikings in 1968 and Ohio St.’s Orlando Pace by the Rams in 1997.
I suppose it’s worth mentioning that Yary made the Pro Bowl seven times and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001, and Pace is a seven-time Pro Bowler and will have his place in Canton in the next decade or so.
2. Ryan Clady, Boise St.: I have Clady penciled in to go to the New England Patriots at #7, though there’s a good chance the Chiefs could decide to take him at #5, with Long likely off of the board to either Miami at #1 or Atlanta at #3.
3. Chris Williams, Vanderbilt: Williams has locked down a place not only in the first round, but likely in the top 15, as he shouldn’t last past Carolina at #13 (I have him going to Denver at #12). Williams, who allowed only one sack as a senior, played left tackle at Vandy, though he could move to right tackle on the next level.
4. Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh: I have Otah staying in the Steel City, going to the Steelers at #23, but I think he could go as high as #14 to Chicago. He’s a very raw prospect that may be one of those ‘boom or bust’ types, but he has a world of potential, with his size and how well he’s learned and played over the few years that he’s been on the gridiron.
5. Gosder Cherilus, Boston College: Cherilus was rated as a first-round prospect heading into his senior season, but his stock dropped after a move from right tackle to left saw some struggles. But, his stock has risen back into first-round status, thanks in part to showing some great quickness for his big body, running five seconds flat in the 40 at BC’s Pro Day.
6. Anthony Collins, Kansas: Collins is another raw prospect who has shined in a limited time. He was recruited out of high school as a defensive lineman, and moved to the offensive line after a redshirt year. A couple of years later, he’s a consensus first-team All-American with a chance to go at the bottom of the first round or early in the second.
7. Sam Baker, USC: Baker looked like a certain first-rounder for quite a while, but may be a second-rounder at this point. Still, he shouldn’t last past the early part of the second round, as I have him going to Kansas City with the fourth pick of the second round, where he could immediately start.
8. Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech: Brown has jumped up draft boards recently after great workouts at the combine and at Virginia Tech’s Pro Day, where he showed off great quickness and athleticism. Brown
9. Carl Nicks, Nebraska: Nicks drops a little due to his recent arrest, which wasn’t serious in terms of what it was about, but is a case of pretty bad timing. Will it drop him too far on the 26th? NFL Draft Scout has him falling to the third round, but he still may not fall past the second, which is where I still have him going (to the Eagles).
10. Oniel Cousins, UTEP: Like Collins, Cousins started his collegiate career as a defensive lineman, seeing action at defensive tackle in 2004. He only started at offensive tackle for the Miners for two seasons, starting eight games at left tackle in 2006 and all 12 games at right tackle last season. The 6’4, 308 pound Cousins has the quickness and athleticism that could see him slot in at either tackle or guard in the NFL, and he could go as high as the latter half of the second round or early in the third.
