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2009 NFL Draft - The Offensive Tackles
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CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Apr 22, 2009
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The 2009 NFL Draft is almost here. From a college football perspective, here's the CFN ranking of the top 25 offensive tackle prospects led by Jason Smith, Andre Smith, and Michael Oher, along with the most overrated and underrated prospects and the deepest sleeper.
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2009 NFL Draft Position Rankings
The Offensive Tackles
2009 NFL Draft Post-Workout Rankings
Quarterbacks
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Running Backs |
Fullbacks |
Receivers |
Tight Ends
Centers |
Guards |
Off. Tackles |
Def. Ends |
Def. Tackles
Inside LBs |
Outside LBs |
Cornerbacks |
Safeties
By
Pete Fiutak
- 2009 NFL Prospect Rankings
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends |
Off. Tackles |
Off. Guards |
Centers
Defensive Ends |
Defensive Tackles |
Inside LBs
Outside LBs |
Safeties |
Cornerbacks
THE FRANCHISE
1. Jason
Smith, Baylor 6-4, 309
One of
the hottest prospects since the end of the season, Smith went from being
a first rounder to a sure-thing, top five type of pick after doing
everything right in post-season workouts and the Combine. The former
tight end is a fantastic athlete who has gotten better and better the
more he’s been scrutinized. Not only is he extremely smart, but he has a
nasty streak to the point of being over-competitive (re: cocky … but not
necessarily in a bad way). While he needs work on his technique to be
ready at a pro level, there’s nothing that can’t be tweaked a little bit
and he’s more than willing to work on being the best he can be. There’s
no real knock on him that should send up any sort of red flag, and the
sky’s the limit on how good he can become. There’s a limitless upside.
CFN Projection: First Round, Top Five Overall
2.
Eugene Monroe, Virginia 6-5, 309
A
superstar high school prospect and a big-time get for Virginia, he
didn’t disappoint. While Jason Smith might have the best all-around
combination of skills and potential, Monroe is the most ready to start
right now. He played in a pro style offense and showed he could play to
the level needed. When he needed to blast over a defender for the
running game, he did it. When he needed to match up with a speed rusher,
he did it. Great at the Combine looking polished and smooth, there’s
little work needing to be done on his technique. The main concern is a
nagging knee problem that could be an off-and-on issue over the course
of his career. The only other question mark is whether or not he has the
desire to be a killer, but that has been a bit overblown. He’s just not
a screamer, get-in-your-face type of player. He simply goes out and does
his job.
CFN Projection: First Round
3. Michael Oher, Ole
Miss 6-5, 310
There’s
absolutely no question that from the neck down, with a year in a pro
weight room and with a little bit of work, he has perennial Pro Bowl
written all over him. But from the neck up … well, from the neck down
he’s a great physical talent. There’s a major concern about his desire
to be the best in the game and there’s a bigger concern that he could
struggle to handle everything that goes with being a franchise-caliber
tackle who’s supposed to stick on a left side for the next decade. He
needs the right coaching staff and a mentor who’s willing to provide a
bit of a push, but to be fair, he was groomed by one of the best in the
business, former Ole Miss head coach and current Tennessee assistant, Ed
Orgeron. Orgeron isn’t exactly known for being soft and is peerless when
it comes to line development. It might take a little while, but Oher
will be solid as long as he’s able to overcome adversity quickly and
easily.
CFN Projection: First Round
4. Eben Britton, OT
Arizona 6-6, 310
(Jr.)
It all
depends on what you want out of him. If you’re looking for a left tackle
to protect a quarterback’s blind side, there are going to be problems.
He was fine in college, but he’s not athletic enough to be a consistent
pass blocker against the faster pass rushers. In the pros, he’ll be
tried out at left tackle, but he’ll have a long, solid career on the
right side. Being labeled as a right-side-only tackle is the kiss of
death, but it might not be a bad thing here. Britton is a very smart,
very tough blocker who doesn’t make mistakes; his problems will come
from simply not being an elite enough athlete. In a perfect world,
there’s no reason to mess with it. Put him on the right side and sleep
well for the next decade. When needed, put him on the left from time to
time and he’ll be more than serviceable as long as it’s not for a full
season.
CFN Projection: First Round
5. Phil Loadholt,
Oklahoma 6-7, 335
Loadholt is a
classic case of a prospect getting a little negative momentum and then
seeing it steamroll. It’s like scouts are looking for the problems in
his game rather than focus on what he is and the good things that he
did. No, he’s not the most nimble of tackles, but he proved he could
keep up and thrive in the OU up-tempo offense and did a great job of
keeping Sam Bradford upright. The positive is his size … he’s huge, and
not in a doughy sort of way. He’s tall, long, and fantastic at getting
his arms extended and punching defenders just enough to give the
quarterback the extra half-click needed. Yes, he has problems against
the fastest of speed rushers, but it’s not like he doesn’t win his share
of battles. He might be pigeonholed as a right side blocker because his
lack of foot quickness, but he’ll be better than expected on the left.
CFN Projection: Second Round
PROBABLE NFL
STARTERS
6. William Beatty, Connecticut 6-6, 308
On of the
high-rising prospects since the end of the season, his athleticism has
been eye-opening and he’s done a great job of bulking up. He still has
room to add more weight and still not lose a step. He moves well from
side to side and he did a great job against top pass rushers, even
though Connecticut didn’t exactly wing it around. If he gets the right
coach who can light a fire under him and keep him motivated, he could be
special. He wouldn’t be a great fit on a power running offense, even
though he did a great job of run blocking in college, and would be
stronger in a West Coast type of attack where he’s able to get on the
move. He’ll need to get the motor running at full-tilt all the time, but
with his combination of size and quickness, he’ll be worth the risk.
CFN Projection: Second Round
7. Andre Smith, Alabama 6-5,
332 (Jr.)
Smith has
been a textbook example of how not to handle yourself before being
drafted. The character questions started after he was suspended from the
Sugar Bowl against Utah, and then came the public relations disaster of
leaving the Combine without telling anyone. And then there was the
shirtless private workout, showing off a chest normally seen in Russ
Meyer movie, which only threw gasoline on the fire for some teams. On
the field, there weren’t many better over the last few seasons. It
could’ve been argued that he deserved Heisman consideration in a Most
Valuable Player sort of way for what he did for the Alabama line last
year. Watch the Sugar Bowl again and it’ll show in dramatic fashion just
how important he was. But his character questions are too great to
ignore, and he could end up making most of his money as a guard and not
a tackle. The bust potential is too great to invest heavily, but on
talent he’s worth the risk further down the first round.
CFN
Projection: First Round
8.
Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
6-5, 305
Tremendously athletic and versatile, he turned out to be surprisingly
fast running a sub-5.0 40 in a workout. He’s not going to push anyone
around and he’s not a killer, lacking the nasty streak needed to be
special, but he has good size and he moves well enough to be a steady
starter at left tackle. He needs to mature a bit and he needs to be in
the right system that can take advantage of his athleticism. It’ll take
the right coach to take his talent and make him into an NFL player, but
he has too much skill to ignore.
CFN Projection:
Second Round
9. Troy Kropog, Tulane 6-5,
309
A finesse
blocker, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In a draft that lacks a
slew of athletic tackles, Kropog can move and can handle NFL speed
rushers. What he can’t do is pound away in a power running game. He’ll
work to make himself better and will step up in the weight room to add
more bulk and get stronger. The talent isn’t there to be a Pro Bowl
star, but he’ll be a very nice piece to a puzzle if he’s not asked to
beat people up.
CFN Projection: Third Round
10. Gerald Cadogan,
Penn State 6-5, 310
Very smart and very good, Cadogan doesn’t need a whole bunch of work,
especially as a run blocker. Eventually, he should be a strong guard and
could be a superstar if he moves inside. He’ll be tried out at tackle
early on, and he should be fine on the left side with the ability to
hold his own by doing everything correctly. However, as big as he is and
as good as he was in college, there’s a hard ceiling on what he can do
as a tackle. Lacking great athleticism, he can be penciled in from day
one at right tackle, but he’ll be fine on the left for at least a short
stretch.
CFN Projection: Third Round
11. T.J. Lang, Eastern
Michigan 6-4, 310
Coaches will
adore him. While he’s not a tremendous athlete, he makes up for it with
one of the most intense work ethics in the draft. He’s a nasty, beat-‘em-up
blocker who could end up as a star at guard after starting out at one of
the tackle spots. His attitude and fire alone will make him a starter,
but there’s a limit on how far he can go on the outside without the feet
to handle the better pass rushers.
CFN Projection:
Fourth Round
BEST OF THE REST
12. Alex Boone, Ohio State
6-7, 325
A
mega-disappointment considering his raw skills, Boone has a large frame
and the strength to go with it as a blaster for the running game and an
occasional dominant force. Occasional. He’s not consistent, is a bit of
a prima donna, and he has major character issues in the eyes of most of
the NFL types. If he gets the right attitude and decides he wants to do
the dirty work on his technique, he could be a ten-year starter on the
right side. As is, he’s a good-chance pick just because of his size.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
13. Fenuki Tupou, Oregon 6-5,
314
If he’s asked to
plow ahead and pound away for the running game, he’ll be great. If he’s
asked to become a consistent left tackle who can neutralize a top pass
rusher, forget about it. Likely to grow into a guard, if he doesn’t
stick at right tackle, he’s a run blocker who needs to get a fire lit
under him. On the plus side, he’s big, can push some people around, and
will open up some holes.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
14. Xavier Fulton,
Illinois 6-5, 300
Fulton could be
one of the biggest value picks in the draft. The former defensive end
needs a lot more work on his technique and needs to do far more to be
consistent, but he’s a fantastic athlete and the rare left tackle
prospect that can be found later on in the draft. Injuries have been a
problem and he needs to be better for the power running game, but his
size and quickness are intriguing.
CFN Projection:
Fourth Round
15. Andrew Gardner, Georgia
Tech 6-7, 300
Gardner worked
his tail off, or on, and bulked up over the course of his Yellow Jacket
career to become a strong all-around blocker. He’s always working and
always willing to do whatever is asked, but he’s not a natural blocker
or an athlete and he’ll always be an overachiever. However, he could
stick around thanks to his versatility and attitude. He could end up at
guard.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
16. Cornelius Lewis, Tennessee State 6-4, 330
Huge, on bulk alone he’ll get
a long look after an ultra-productive career at the lower level. The
former Florida State Seminole dominated at Tennessee State showing good
athleticism and tremendous strength. Able to play either tackle or guard
spot, he should find a job somewhere. However, there’s a question about
whether or not he’ll wilt under the pressure and toughness of being an
NFL caliber lineman. If he has the right attitude and is willing to get
tough, he could be a steal.
CFN Projection: Sixth
Round
17. Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina 6-7, 310
A potential first day prospect
before the off-season, he had a disastrous Combine showing no strength
and no athleticism. However, he has the perfect size and is a warrior.
He has the attitude and the nastiness that everyone looks for, and he’s
great when he’s gets his hands on someone. However, he can’t play on the
left side and needs to become a workout warrior to have any sort of pro
career.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
18. Augustus Parrish, Kent State 6-4, 300
On size and
potential he’s worth a late pick, but he doesn’t have the right focus or
consistency to be a major factor on a regular basis. He stayed on the
field playing through nicks and was the key blocker for the strong
Golden Flash running game, but he doesn’t have a position in the pros.
Not quick enough to be a top tackle and not tough enough to play guard,
he’ll either be a right tackle or he won’t make it.
CFN
Projection: Free Agent
19. Lydon Murtha, Nebraska
6-7, 305
He was supposed to
be a superstar coming out of high school and it never happened. He’s on
the map because he’s very big, very long, and shockingly fast and
athletic. After a great Combine, he’s worthy of getting a harder look,
but he’s always going to have health issues and he’s never going to be
powerful enough to be a good run blocker. However, if it all comes
together, he could be a rare left tackle prospect found late in the
draft.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
20. Sebastian Vollmer,
Houston 6-7, 315
An extremely
interesting prospect with size, attitude, and room to grow. He’s just
scratching the surface on what he can do, but who wants to invest the
time and effort? He needs to get a lot stronger and he needs to improve
his quickness, but he’s never going to be a top athlete and he can’t
play left tackle.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
21. Jason Watkins, Florida 6-6, 310
A major
work in progress, Watkins needs a ton of technique work and is a strong
athlete for his size. Get him on the move, and he’s a road grater.
However, he’s totally unrefined and got by on his raw skills. While he
could be a great guard, he’s just good enough on his feet to be tried
out at tackle to see if he’s worth the development time.
CFN
Projection: Sixth Round
22. Robert
Brewster, Ball State 6-4, 325
Very
quick for his size, he’s a very durable, very reliable pass blocker who
did a little of everything well for the high-octane Ball State attack.
He needs to get himself into a weight room and go from being big to big
and NFL strong. Even with his athleticism he’s not a pro left tackle and
could end up at guard, but he could be a nice backup for a long time and
a decent prospect at right tackle with a little bit of work.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
23. George
Bussey, Louisville 6-3, 300
Bussey
worked himself into an all-star with decent smarts and quickness.
However, he lacks big-time bulk and needs a ton of work to become an NFL
caliber blocker. Best suited for a finesse offense, he’s never going to
pound over anyone and will either make it as a backup right tackle or
he’ll be cut immediately.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
24.
Seth Olsen, Iowa 6-5, 306
A solid,
reliable all-around blocker, he has the versatility to play either guard
spot and could project to be a decent right tackle. Not all that
athletic, he’s limited on what he can do and what he can become on the
outside, but he needs to get a lot stronger to be a regular on the
inside. If he makes a roster, it’ll be because he’s able to be a decent
backup at several spots.
CFN Projection: Seventh
Round
25. Fred Roland, Duke 6-8, 310
Very tall
and very strong, he’s excellent when he’s able to extend his arms and
push away an end. He’s not all that fast and can be beaten by anyone
with any semblance of quickness. A potential right tackle for a power
game, he needs to be in the right offense to make a team.
CFN
Projection: Free Agent
ON THE RADAR
26. Jose Valdez, Arkansas 6-5, 315
27.
Dan Gay, Baylor 6-4, 308
28. Maurice Miller, Ole Miss 6-4, 325
29. Joel Bell, Furman, 6-7, 315
30. Dallas Reynolds, BYU 6-5, 314
31. Phil Trautewin, Florida 6-6,
308
32. Michael Brown, Mississippi State 6-5, 310
33. Eric
Vandenhuevel, Wisconsin, 6-8, 330
34. Rylan Reed, Texas Tech 6-6, 290
35. Sean Sester, Purdue, 6-7, 325
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