2008 NFL Draft Position
Rankings
The Offensive Tackles
Rankings & Breakdowns
Top 50 Players - 1 to
25 |
Top 50 Players - 26 to 50
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Quarterbacks
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
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Tight Ends
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Offensive Tackles
Offensive Guards |
Centers
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Defensive Ends
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Defensive Tackles
Linebackers |
Safeties
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Cornerbacks
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Punters & Kickers
By
Pete Fiutak
The Class
Is ... Terrific. Jake Long might be the crown jewel, but
Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Jeff Otah, Gosder Cherilus, and Sam
Baker could turn out to be ten-year starters. It's a deep group
with a lot of good ones who'll make teams happy late in the
first day.
The Best Value Pick Will Be ... Mike Gibson, California
Most Underrated ... Sam Baker, USC
Most Overrated ... Oniel Cousins, UTEP
The Deep, Deep Sleeper Is ..
Brandon Keith, OT/OG Northern Iowa |
THE FRANCHISE
1.
Jake Long, OT Michigan
Huge, tough, and surprisingly agile, Long's a mammoth all-around
blocker who does almost everything at a high level. Tremendously
strong and with an attitude that punishes defenders, he's a
sure-thing NFL run blocker who can step in on day one and produce.
The big issue, for a player worthy of a top selection and all the
money that comes with it, is his potential against speed rushers. He
had a problem against Ohio State and now he'll have to show he can
consistently handle NFL ends with quick first steps. He can step in
right away and play right tackle; he'll make a lot of money and will
be paid a ton to not be a sure-thing left tackle. That's not to say
he can't play on the left side, but he might be better on the right.
CFN Projection: Top Five Overall
2. Ryan Clady, OT Boise State
A little thought about recruit, Clady turned into pure gold for Boise
State as he was a dominant all-around blocker from the start. He proved
in the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma that he could produce at the
highest level with a fantastic performance, and he was consistently
fantastic his entire career. Arguably the best pass blocker in the
draft, he's quick on his feet and can pound away when needed. Already a
great prospect, he could be a perennial Pro Bowl performer if he becomes
a bit more physical.
CFN Projection: First Round
POTENTIAL NFL STARTERS
3. Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
The range of opinion on what Williams is, and what he could become,
runs the gamut. One of the most athletic linemen in the draft in a 6-6,
315-pound body, he looks the part and should grow into an elite pass
blocker. He can eventually be plugged in on the left side and let roll
for a decade. However, he had a mediocre workout on his pro day and he's
not necessarily a killer. If he can grow into more of a powerful run
blocker, he should be terrific.
CFN Projection: Late First Round
4. Jeff Otah, OT Pitt
A massive run
blocker who will plow over everyone at the next level, he's ideal for
anyone with a power running game and has the attitude to punish and
destroy anyone who gets in his path. While he's not all that athletic
and isn't going to be great on the move, he should be able to get by on
his strength and his 6-6, 325-pound size. There's still work to be done,
he's not a finished product, and that's a plus. The ceiling is
limitless.
CFN Projection: First Round
5. Sam Baker, OT USC
The son of the
Arena Football League's commissioner is an athletic big man who was
tremendously productive for four years playing at the highest level each
and every week. While he's good in pass protection and is great on the
move, he's not necessarily a rock against speed rushers and isn't quite
as dominant a run blocker as many would like. He's a technician; not a
mauler.
CFN Projection: Second Round
6. Gosder Cherilus, OT Boston College
One of the high risers after a good off-season, he's a 6-7,
315-pound athlete who destroys defenders when he gets the chance. He'll
bust his tail to get better and will be coachable. The concern will be
how well he handles a No. 1 pass rusher if he plays on the left side.
More than fine if he spends his career on the right, there are concerns
that the Virginia Tech games might have shown the real player he is.
CFN Projection: First Round
7. Anthony Collins, OT Kansas
While he's not strongest lineman and he still needs a ton of work,
he has excellent upside for anyone with the patience to sit on him for a
year or three. While he had a great junior season as the lead blocker
for the upstart Jayhawks, and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, he
should've stuck around another year to hit the weights and to keep
working on his technique and overall maturity. At 6-5 and 310 pounds
with tremendous athleticism, he might be worth the risk ... and the
wait.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round To Early Third Round
8. Oniel Cousins, OT/OG UTEP
If he can play as big as he looks, and if he can get a few years to
develop, the upside is there. But he's a risk; a massive one. Originally
a defensive lineman, he was good when he didn't have to use his feet and
could simply hit someone, but he struggled in a big way when given a
shot on the left side. The athleticism is there and the size could make
him a guard if need be, but he's a prospect and is far from a finished
product.
CFN Projection: Third Round
9. Carl Nicks, OT Nebraska
A massive former defensive tackle who at 343 pounds is surprisingly
athletic.
A killer run
blocker, he's been fantastic whenever he's able to get his arms on
someone and has enough quickness to get down field and spring big plays.
He needs refinement and he need a fire lit under him. He wasn't nearly
as good as he should've been for the Husker offense, but when he had a
good game, he was really, really good.
CFN Projection: Third Round
10. Geoff Schwartz, OT Oregon
It's all there except the athleticism. He's not not going to beat
most speed rushers and he could eventually make his money at guard, but
he'll battle hard and will beat people up in the running game. Really
tough, really strong, and really good for long stretches, he'll be a
great cog in the system for ten years, but he'll never be a Pro Bowl
caliber performer.
CFN Projection: Early Second Day
11. Barry Richardson, OT Clemson
The centerpiece of a good Tiger line for the last three years, he's
a good, big blocker who uses his 6-6, 330-pound body well in pass
protection and did a good job against the premier ACC linemen. The
problem is his consistency and his toughness. He didn't play up to his
size all the time and he didn't grow into the first round caliber
blocker many thought he'd become.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
12. Duane Brown, OT/OG Virginia Tech
The former tight end beefed up to well over 300 pounds without
losing much of his athleticism. However, he's not a pure pass protector
and had big problems with the better defensive ends. He had a nice
off-season and was good on the workout circuit, and he has great upside,
but he needs the time and the work to develop. He could be a guard now,
or a starting tackle in a few years.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
13. King Dunlap, OT Auburn
If he plays every game and every down like he looks, he'll be a
dominator. He's a tall, strong, quick 6-8 and 310 pounds, but he doesn't
play up to his talent level and got the hook last year when he should've
been crushing and killing.. If he decides he wants to be a top pro and
if a coaching staff can fire him up and show him how to be a Pro Bowl
blocker, it could happen for him. He's a chance on greatness.
CFN Projection: Third Round
BEST OF THE REST
14. Mike Gibson, OT/OG California
A former JUCO transfer who stepped in and did a nice job as a
two-yard starter for the Bears. A great run blocker who'll power over
anyone who isn't going 100 miles per hour, he might project to be a
guard if he can't prove he can handle an NFL caliber pass rusher. He'll
need a while to improve his overall technique if he's going to be a
tackle.
CFN Projection:
Fifth Round
15. Drew Radovich, OT USC
The big question is his strength. Not exactly the best physical
specimen, he showed at the Combine that he could move, but he doesn't
have the weight room ability to make him a mauler for an NFL running
game. However, there's plenty of upside. He's a good athlete who has the
potential to be a nice backup, but he has the potential to be a lot
more.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
16. Pedro Sosa, OT/OG Rutgers
It would've been nice to have seen what he could've done
agility-wise at the Combine, but he had a knee issue and wasn't able to
work out at anything other than the bench press; he wasn't great.
Versatile enough to play either tackle or guard, he's a nice prospect
for someone looking for a backup to fill in the games where needed.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
17. Breno Giacomini, OT Louisville
The former tight end is a tall (6-7) athletic 305 pounds, but he's
not going to pound anyone on a consistent basks and is still learning
the ins and outs of playing tackle. He was only a regular starter for a
year and is still developing. Even though he's not a finished product by
any stretch he has the upside to grow into a possible pass protector.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
18.
Kirk Barton,
OT Ohio State
A weight-room warrior who's a cut 6-4 and 300 pounds, he was a four-year
starter for the Buckeyes and got a lot of attention and plenty of
all-star honors. While he was a key cog in the OSU offense for his
entire career, and the line was his for his final two years, he didn't
improve by leaps and bounds over the course of his career. He's not
smooth enough to handle an average NFL end. He'll get by for a while in
camp on reputation.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
19. Brandon
Keith, OT/OG Northern Iowa
A long and rocky college
career, including a short stint at Oklahoma, ended at UNI where he
became dominant on an elite FCS team. At 6-5 and 343 pounds, he could
become a guard and has more overall talent and was more productive than
fellow Panther tackle, Chad Rinehart. He'll likely be a versatile backup
able to play almost anywhere in a pinch.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
20. Will Robinson, OT/OG San Diego State
While he works hard and has
nice quickness, he's just not that big. Pushing to hit 300 pounds, and
still not making it, he's undersized for a guard, which he could be from
time to time if he sticks on a team, and he's not quite talented enough
to be a regular NFL tackle. He's a project who will do what's needed to
try to hang around.
CFN Projection: Sitch Round
21.
Tony Hills, OT Texas
Hills started out his career at tight end and turned into a steady
starter over the last two years. He didn't isn't a great athlete and has
physical issues with a broken leg suffered late last season to go along
with a chronic foot problem. While there's a limit on how good he can
become, he's just good enough to become a decent backup for either
tackle spot.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
22. Chad Rinehart, OT/OG Northern Iowa
While he'll try to be an NFL
tackle, he's a guard. A strong 320 pounds who can crush and kill for a
running game, he's just not a good enough athlete to be a regular on the
outside. He's definitely not a left tackle, could be a right tackle with
some work, and will likely find a spot as a versatile backup who'll work
where needed.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round To Seventh Round
23. Demetrius Bell, OT Northwestern State
Karl Malone's son (yes, that
Karl Malone) delivers (sorry about that) well for the passing game with
good quickness in a 6-5, 300-pound frame. He's not a physical enough
blocker to plug in right away and will need to be in a zone-blocking
scheme to have any chance of getting on the field in the next few years.
He needs to get bigger and stronger, but he doesn't have the room to do
it.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round To Seventh Round
24. Franklin Dunbar, OT Middle Tennessee
Unfortunate circumstances,
needing to care for his ailing mother, was the reason he came out before
he was ready. Fantastic at the Sun Belt level, and great, for the most
part, when he got a chance against the better ends in non-conference
play, he's a football player. However, he could use a year or three in a
weight-room and he needs to be much better in the running game.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round To Seventh Round
25. David Hale, OT Weber State
There are a ton of warning
flags. He has a back problem, is a bit too old having served two years
on a Church mission, and he didn't really do much against the top shelf
players, but he's a potential player. While he's just not talented
enough to start, he has good size, will battle, and was terrific for
Weber State. He'll be tough to cut.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round To Seventh Round
ON
THE RADAR
26. Tyler Polumbus, OT Colorado
27. Akim Millington, OT Illinois
28. Corey Clark, OT Texas A&M
29. Nate Garner, OT Arkansas
30. Devin Clark, OT New Mexico
31. Phil Trautwein, OT Florida
32. Shannon Boatman, OT Florida State
33. Charlie Emerson, OT Indiana
34. Carnell Stewart, OT LSU
35. Kyle Cunningham, OT UL Monroe
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