Top O-linemen:
Our weekly series ranks the best NFL draft prospects among offensive guards, tackles and centers.
Sports Weekly is taking a position-by-position look at the top prospects for the NFL draft, which runs April 27-29 in Philadelphia. This week: offensive linemen.
1. FORREST LAMP, GUARD, WESTERN KENTUCKY
Height, weight: 6-4, 309 Lamp had an outstanding collegiate career as a left tackle, and there is a small chance an NFL team could try to keep him outside. But the prevailing opinion is that his NFL future is at guard — or perhaps even at center, even though he has never snapped the ball in a game. Lamp is strong and fundamentally sound, but his frame (and arms that measured at 321⁄4 inch) make him look more like a guard. In a draft thin on offensive linemen, Lamp looks like one of the few prospects who can be a Week 1 starter at a variety of positions.
2. RYAN RAMCZYK, TACKLE, WISCONSIN
Height, weight: 6-6, 210 Ramczyk looks like he’ll be the latest Wisconsin lineman to easily transition to the NFL. He is among the most athletic offensive tackles in this draft class and might be the most polished, thanks to his experience in Wisconsin’s pro-style offense. The only red flag is that Ramczyk hasn’t been healthy this spring. He had hip surgery after the season.
3. GARETT BOLLES, TACKLE, UTAH
Height, weight: 6-5, 297 Bolles is an intriguing prospect because he certainly looks the part of a starting-caliber NFL left tackle — and he often played like one for Utah last season. But Bolles has only one season playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level after transferring to Utah, and he’ll turn 25 next month, the age at which many players get their second NFL contract. But with so many teams needing to upgrade at tackle, look for someone to look past those questions and draft Bolles in the first round.
4. CAM ROBINSON, TACKLE, ALABAMA
Height, weight: 6-6, 322 No one looks more like a potential star left tackle in this class than Robinson, who left Alabama after his junior year. But with Robinson, the scouting process is about more than his measurables. Robinson has off-the-field questions after a 2016 arrest on marijuana and gun charges (they were dropped), and his college tape shows some inconsistent effort. In the right locker room — with veteran teammates and strict coaching — Robinson looks like he quickly could develop into a dependable player.
5. DION DAWKINS, TACKLE-GUARD, TEMPLE
Height, weight: 6-4, 314 Another college tackle, Dawkins projects best as a guard in the NFL, at least initially. He started that position switch at the Senior Bowl. Dawkins could be especially attractive to teams that run a power blocking scheme. That’s because Dawkins’ sheer strength is his best attribute, and he should be able to contribute right away as a solid run blocker while he works to develop in pass protection.
6. RODERICK JOHNSON, TACKLE, FLORIDA STATE
Height, weight: 6-7, 298 Johnson is one of the most experienced tackles in this class, having started the last 21⁄2 seasons at left tackle for Florida State, yet he is still unpolished. He’s the tallest of the top-tier offensive tackles, but he needs to develop an NFL body and learn how to better manage his lanky frame.
7. DAN FEENEY, GUARD, INDIANA
Height, weight: 6-4, 305 Feeney is the most accomplished collegiate guard in this draft class, and that experience playing on the interior line at Indiana should mean a smaller learning curve as he tries to earn a starting job as an NFL rookie. Because of his size (slightly smaller at 305 pounds) and superior footwork, Feeney appears to be best suited for a team running a zone-blocking scheme.
8. ANTONIO GARCIA, TACKLE, TROY
Height, weight: 6-6, 302 Garcia’s draft stock started to rise after a strong week of practices at the Senior Bowl, where he could measure himself against top-tier defensive line talent. That just reinforced the reputation he built at Troy for being an exceptional pass blocker, after allowing only three sacks in the last two years. To have similar success at the NFL level, Garcia likely will need to add weight. In college he could get away with playing at less than 300 pounds, but he’ll need to be bigger and stronger to hold up against NFL pass rushers.
9. TAYLOR MOTON, GUARD, WESTERN MICHIGAN
Height, weight: 6-5, 319 NFL teams scouting Moton are likely poring over his 2015 game tape just as much as his 2016 film, because that’s when Moton spent the year playing guard, the position he projects to in the NFL. Moton had a decent senior year playing tackle, and teams will appreciate that he could fill in as a right tackle if necessary, but he looks like a prototypical NFL guard.
10. ETHAN POCIC, CENTER, LSU
Height, weight: 6-6, 310 Teams looking for a center with position flexibility on the offensive line should give Pocic a hard look because of his experience playing center, guard and tackle at LSU. His true position is center, and though he’s slightly taller than the NFL standard at the position, he’s athletic enough to make up for whatever leverage he might lose because of his height. The fact that he has experience playing against some of the best college defensive lines in recent seasons should help speed his NFL development. Next week: Running backs