2008 NFL Draft Position
Rankings
The Offensive Guards
Rankings & Breakdowns
Top 50 Players - 1 to
25 |
Top 50 Players - 26 to 50
|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
|
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Tackles
Offensive Guards |
Centers
|
Defensive Ends
|
Defensive Tackles
Linebackers |
Safeties
|
Cornerbacks
|
Punters & Kickers
By
Pete Fiutak
The Class
Is ... Good, and it could be great if a few hit-or-miss
players like Tennessee's Eric Young and Connecticut's Donald
Thomas pan out. The key is versatility with several athletic
guards able to play tackle, but there are few road grating power
blockers.
The Best Value Pick Will Be ...
Eric Tunney, Central Michigan
Most Underrated ... John Greco, Toledo
Most Overrated ... Eric Young, Tennessee
The Deep, Deep Sleeper Is ...
Kerry Brown, Appalachian State |
POTENTIAL NFL STARTERS
1.
Branden Albert, OG/OT Virginia
While he's not D'Brickashaw Ferguson as far as a prospect, he
has a lot in common with the former Virginia star. Albert is a great
athlete who only cemented himself further as the top guard prospect
in the draft with some nice off-season workouts. Even though he has
the range and the moves to be a tackle, even on the left side, he
could be a superstar if he stays inside. A killer run blocker who
started from day one, he can be plugged into any NFL line and be a
starter somewhere. It would be nice if he had a little seasoning and
he's a bit tall (6-7) for a guard, but he has the potential to be a
perennial Pro Bowler.
CFN Projection: Late First Round To Early Second Round
2. Chilo Rachal, OG USC
He could've used another year in school, leaving early due to family
medical issues, but he's just fine as a guard prospect if he's allowed a
little time to develop. He'll have problems against quicker linemen and
isn't a great pass protector, but he has good size and nice power for
the ground game. If he has to be nimble and has to get on the move in a
finesse offense, he won't fit. Ask him to hit someone over and over
again on a second half drive and he'll get the job done.
CFN Projection: Third Round
3. Roy Schuening, OG Oregon State
An excellent four-year starter for the Beavers, Schuening is
excellent when he has to open a hole and get the ground game moving. If
he has to get moving and if he has to pass protect on a regular basis,
there will be problems. He's a strong player who'll be tough to leave on
the bench and tougher to cut because of his toughness, durability and
versatility, he spent some time at tackle, but he'll have find the right
offense and the right style to be a steady NFL starter.
CFN Projection: Third Round
4.
John Greco, OG/OT Toledo
If he's not the greatest MAC offensive lineman of all-time, he's in
the team photo. A starter from day one to game 49, he's ridiculously
durable, freakishly strong, and will work his tail off to get better.
While he was an all-everything tackle for Toledo, he just doesn't have
the quickness of the athleticism to be on the outside at the highest
level. He could move to tackle from time to time, but he has the size,
toughness, and make-up to shine as a guard if given the chance to grow
into the job.
CFN Projection: Third Round
5. Eric Young OG Tennessee
There are a world of problems. He never played up to his talent level,
hurt his leg last year and played in just eight games, and he isn't
nearly as physical as he should've been on a consistent basis. Even so,
he has too many tools not to be a starter at some point if only because
he has more skill and talent than roughly 80% of current starting NFL
guards. If he actually wants to be good, and if he plays for the right
coach who can turn the switch on, he'll be the second best guard in the
draft behind Branden Albert. That's a big if.
CFN Projection: Third Round
6.
Donald Thomas, OG Connecticut
While he's not a huge inside presence, he's one of the better
athletes among the guards and is one of the few who can get on the move.
He's be a nice fit for a zone-blocking scheme and isn't bad in pass
protection, but he's not going to beat anyone up and he needs a lot of
seasoning. A total unknown, being discovered playing pickup basketball,
he's a true rags-to-riches story who has a world of potential is someone
has a little patience.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
BEST OF THE REST
7. Mike McGlynn, OG/OT Pitt
A brutish run blocker who has been one of the most consistent
players on an inconsistent Pitt team over the last three years, McGlynn
did everything asked of him and played hurt when most would've been on
the sidelines. The problem is his quickness; he doesn't have any. While
he was a great tackle at the collegiate level, he could be a star at
guard if allowed a while to develop. He'll have a long career on
want-to, but there's a ceiling on what he can do.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
8. Mackenzy Bernadeau, OG/OT Bentley
While he's not all that strong, at least not strong enough to
overcome that fact that he went to Bentley, and he's coming off a
knee injury, he's a big athlete who moves well and has worked his tail
off to make himself into a pro prospect. Ideally a tackle with his
tools, he's not an NFL tackle in talent. He'll make his money, if he can
stick with a team, by being a good pass protector on the inside.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
9. Robert Felton, OG/C Arkansas
One of the draft's most versatile guard prospects, able to step in
at any position, especially center, he's a big, powerful blocker with
the feet to grow into a pass protector on the outside if someone wants
to develop him into a tackle. The problem is in the development. He
needs coaching on his technique and he'll need to find one position and
stick with it; it's probably not center at the pro level.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
10. Andrew Crummey, OG Maryland
Very strong and very good for the running game, he's a limited plowhorse
who can move the pile, but won't do much to get on the outside. While
he's a good-sized 6-4 and 299 pounds, he's not the blot-out-the-sun type
of guard most teams might like. Considering his lack of athleticism, he
has to get bigger. Even with all his limits, he'll be a tough player to
cut because he can be so good in a short running game.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
11. Eric Tunney, OG Central Michigan
He's just not big enough. Checking in at 6-3 and 296 pounds, he simply
isn't the big road grater most teams would like. He works his tail off
and he's as tough as nails, but he needs to be in the right system to
have any hope of being a regular player. However, even with his knee
problems, he could stick if he's in a zone-blocking scheme.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
12. Shawn Murphy, OG/OT Utah State
A former JUCO transfer, Murphy came to Utah State and was a solid
starter for two years. He's a little old after spending three years on
an LDS church mission and he still needs some serious fine-tuning on his
skills and his technique. One of his big plusses is his versatility. At
6-3 and 320 pounds he could be a big tackle or a solid guard. While he
won't do any one thing well, he could grow into a nice backup.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
13.
Chester Adams, OG/OT Georgia
He's versatile enough to play either tackle or guard, but he's not
good enough to be a regular at either spot. He has the size, he has the
strength, and he has the athleticism, but he doesn't always play up to
his measurables. He was a good college player who earned enough respect
to be a captain, but he didn't dominate like he should've.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
14. Chris McDuffie, OG Clemson
Very big and very beefy, the 6-4, 329-pounder is surprisingly agile and
very tough. He has had a variety of injuries he's been able to play
through. He's not that great a blocker, and while he has a world of
upside, he's a bit of a project. On size and toughness alone he should
stick in the league for a little while.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
15. Kerry Brown, OG Appalachian State
One of the most athletic and experienced guards in the draft, Brown
started 49 games including 15 in each of the last three seasons. He's
not the most physical of blockers, but he's fantastic at getting down
the field and he can pull extremely well. While he was great against
Michigan, there's still the knock of the competition level he faced and
he wasn't always consistent.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
16.
Mike Fladell, OG/OT Rutgers
At 6-6 and 324 pounds he's a big, versatile pounder of a blocker
able to play either guard or tackle. He's not going to do much on the
move and he's not athletic enough to grow into a star, but he's really
strong, really tough, and have good enough potential to be a serviceable
pro.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
17. Charles Manu, OG/OT Nevada
A still developing prospect who could pay off if he's given time, Manu
started out as a defensive lineman and was moved all over the place
later on the offensive line. Tough, and versatile enough to slip out to
tackle if needed, he could be a jack-of-all-trades backup, but he's not
skilled or athletic enough to be a starter.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
18. Matt Spanos, OG/C USC
Able to play anywhere on the line, he's built like an NFL tackle but
will be better suited for the inside. At 6-5 and 317 pounds, size isn't
an issue, but he plays too tall for a guard. He could stand to get
stronger, much stronger, and he has to be more physical, but his
versatility makes him an interesting prospect.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
19. Adam Kraus, OG/C Michigan
His ability
to play anywhere on the inside could make him a valuable backup, but
he's not strong enough to be a regular. Size is a bit of an issue as
he's not going to move much earth at 292 pounds, but he produced at the
highest level for a few years. He would've been a must-have reserve but
he had major problems in off-season workouts, especially at the
East-West Shrine game.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
20.
Matt Lindner, OG TCU
While he has the muscle and the strength, he's not big enough at
just 284 pounds to be a regular starter. He didn't push too many people
around at the college level and will struggle against the biggest
tackles in the pros. Injuries have also been a problem. He's tough, but
it doesn't mean much if he can't stay healthy.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
ON
THE RADAR
21. Hercules Satele, OG Hawaii
22. L.J. Anderson, OG UCF
23. Kirk Elder, OG Texas A&M
24. Shannon Tevaga, OG UCLA
25. Justin Britt, OG Alabama
26. James Lee, OG South Carolina State
27. James Blair, OG Western Michigan
28. Jason Boone, OG Utah
29. Ian-Yates Cunningham, OG Virginia
30. Derrick Morse, OG Miami
