Meet the Prospects: Offensive Linemen

Taking an offensive lineman with an early draft pick isn't sexy - figuratively or literally - but it's a decision teams rarely come to regret. No position is bust-proof, but offensive lineman is as close as there is. 

No position other than quarterback (and perhaps kicker) has a longer shelf life, either. Hit on a tackle, guard or center prospect in the draft and you have a player who can be an anchor on your roster for a decade or longer. 

This line of thinking led teams to select offensive tackles with three of the first four picks in last year's draft, as well as two offensive guards in the top ten - both unprecedented occurrences.

Will we see a tackle selected with the No. 1 pick again this year? No. Will we see five offensive linemen go off the board in the first ten picks? Probably not, but only because the top prospects at other positions carry significantly more potential value than 2013's class. 

Offensive linemen should still be a hot commodity this year, though. The tackles at the top of this year's class are considered better prospects than any of the tackles who heard their names called by Roger Goodell a year ago, and the guards and centers aren't too shabby, either.

Let's meet the best of a group of men NFL personnel men affectionately referred to as "the hogs."

10. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas

Measurables

• 6'5"
• 312 lbs.
• 20 bench press reps

Strengths

Swanson's intangibles are exactly what you want in a center. He is intelligent and a natural leader. 

Swanson excels in pass protection. He exhibits good awareness, and his strong lower body allows him to win at the point of contact. He is effective executing combo blocks with his guards.

Weaknesses

Swanson's run blocking needs some work. He lacks ideal athleticism and, though he moves well when pulling, he can occasionally lose his balance when he engages with a defender while on the move.

NFL player comparison: Travis Frederick

Ideal fit: New England Patriots

The Patriots re-signed Ryan Wendell, but the team could look to find an upgrade in the draft. Wendell struggles in pass protection, which is worrisome for a team whose success is wholly dependent on keeping Tom Brady upright. Pass protection is Swanson's specialty. A third-round pick should be sufficient to acquire the former Razorback.

9. Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State

Measurables

• 6'3"
• 336 lbs.
• 30 bench press reps

Strengths

Jackson has four years of experience as a starter in college. He enters the draft as a more polished player than some others on this list.

Jackson is a mauler who punches opponents in the chest with rare power. He excels in short-yardage situations.

Weaknesses

Jackson occasionally demonstrates poor awareness in space. He needs to become more effective when he gets upfield. 

Jackson may not be a fit for zone blocking schemes.

NFL player comparison: Larry Warford

Ideal fit: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings gave Charlie Johnson a new deal, but he doesn't project as a long-term starter. The thought of Jackson manhandling defenders to create lanes for Adrian Peterson is enticing. The Vikings pick early in the third round and Jackson is well worth consideration at that spot.

8. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

Measurables

• 6'7"
• 322 lbs.
• 21 bench press reps

Strengths

Kouandjio has great feet and impressively low body fat for a man his size. Scouts would describe him as a "dancing bear."

Kouandjio is still very young (he won’t turn 21 until after the draft) and has room for improvement.

Weaknesses

Kouandjio has major medical concerns. He tore his ACL and MCL as a freshman, and reportedly still suffers from cartilage issues. His knee caused some teams to fail him on his medical exam at the combine.

NFL player comparison: Tyron Smith

Ideal fit: Carolina Panthers

Former Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross retired after the conclusion of the 2013 season, opening a major hole for the team to address in the draft. Medical concerns should push Kouandjio down to the latter half of the second round, where the Panthers can draft him with the No. 60 overall pick. It will take a leap of faith to overlook Kouandjio's medical concerns, but his upside (and the Panthers' glaring need) make the risk-reward proposition worthwhile.

6. Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA

Measurables

• 6'4"
• 307 lbs.
• 25 bench press reps

Strengths

Su'a-Filo is a rare athlete. His best attribute may be his core strength, but he's also a strong mover. If teams graded prospects on physical upside alone, Su'a-Filo would be significantly higher on this list.

Su'a-Filo played at left tackle last season due to injuries to his teammates. Though he was out of position, he held his own. There's little doubt he'll be a guard as a pro, however.

Weaknesses

Su'a-Filo struggles with fundamentals at times. He needs to improve his technique in order to reach his full potential.

While Su'a-Filo's raw strength is enticing, he doesn't always convert it to functional strength in games.

NFL player comparison: Logan Mankins

Ideal fit: Oakland Raiders

A small run of guards is possible in the first half of the second round. In this scenario, the Raiders jump into the fray and acquire some desperately needed offensive line help by nabbing Su'a-Filo with the No. 36 overall pick.

7. Brandon Thomas, OT/OG, Clemson

Measurables

• 6'3"
• 317 lbs.
• 35 bench press reps

Strengths

Thomas is a strong puncher who connects with defenders and doesn't let them go. He gets out of his stance quickly and is light on his feet when pulling or pushing forward to the second level.

Strong game tape boosted Thomas' draft stock. Facing off against South Carolina rusher Jadeveon Clowney without help from a guard, Thomas held his ground effectively.

Weaknesses

Thomas isn't a premier athlete and his lack of reach could prevent him from succeeding at tackle. He may have to move to an interior line position.

NFL player comparison: Brian Waters

Ideal fit: Cleveland Browns

Thomas played left tackle in college, but will likely make the move to guard in the pros. He projects to be selected in the early second round of the draft. The Browns need to upgrade their guard play and the team owns the No. 35 overall pick, putting them in prime position to grab Thomas before a number of other guard-needy teams make their second-day selections.

Update: Thomas tore his ACL in a private workout with the New Orleans Saints. He's now a likely late-round pick.

5. David Yankey, OG, Stanford

Measurables

• 6'6"
• 315 lbs.
• 22 bench press reps

Strengths

Yankey is a powerful man with strong fundamentals, like another Stanford guard who was taken in the first round two years ago: David DeCastro.

Yankey plays with good footwork and a good pad level. He's very effective getting to the second level. He demonstrates a good ability to handle both speed rushers and power rushers.

Weaknesses

Yankey needs to become a more consistent player, both on a game-by-game basis and on a play-by-play basis. He must improve his power in short-yardage situations.

NFL player comparison: Justin Blalock

Ideal fit: Seattle Seahawks

Yankey is a borderline first-round pick. The Seattle Seahawks, who own the No. 32 overall pick after winning the Super Bowl, would represent an landing spot in terms of team need and scheme.

4. Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame

Measurables

• 6'4"
• 308 lbs.
• 29 bench press reps

Strengths

Martin plays with excellent footwork, good knee bend and good balance. His lateral agility allows him to excel when pulling and trapping. His strong hands allow him to sustain blocks against players with superior speed.

Martin is a highly intelligent player who is a natural leader.

Weaknesses

Martin played tackle in college, but lacks an ideal frame to play the position in the pros. He may project better as a guard. Some teams may view his lack of a true natural position as a negative, but others may value his versatility.

NFL player comparison: Marshall Yanda

Ideal fit: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins need to upgrade their offensive line after losing both Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. Spending the No. 19 pick on an offensive lineman (in addition to at least one other pick in the draft) would be prudent.

3. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

Measurables

• 6'7"
• 309 lbs.
• 29 bench press reps

Strengths

A four-year starter in college, Lewan matured into a leader for the Wolverines. His passion for the game is evident. He has a desire to be great and he plays with a mean streak.

Lewan has strong, quick feet and is rarely knocked off-balance. He is effective against speed and power rushers.

Weaknesses

Lewan lacks some of the natural instincts most elite tackles possess. At times, he's slow to recognize the blitz. Teams considering drafting Lewan must determine whether he can augment his instincts as a pro or whether they are set in stone. 

Minor character concerns accompany Lewan. He reportedly will be charged with three misdemeanors resulting from a December incident in which he allegedly assaulted two Ohio State fans.

NFL player comparison: Nate Solder

Ideal fit: New York Giants

Lewan should expect to hear his name called shortly after the top ten picks are off the board. The Giants at No. 12 are a team to watch.

2. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Measurables

• 6'5"
• 308 lbs.
• 24 bench press reps

Strengths

Matthews has the pedigree of an elite left tackle - literally. He's the son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and the cousin of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Casey Matthews.

Matthews has less raw physical ability than others on this list, including the player who beat him out for the top spot, but he's as technically sound as any tackle prospect to enter the draft in recent memory. He'll be a Week 1 starter and he should hold onto the job for the better part of a decade.

Weaknesses

Matthews is viewed as a can't-miss prospect, but there are some questions about his ceiling. Is he already near the limit of his potential? Some scouts believe the answer is yes.

Matthews displays good footwork and balance, but his overall athleticism leaves a little to be desired. In the NFL, he'll face elite athletes on opposing defensive lines on a weekly basis. He should hold his own most weeks, but he may find it tougher to blow his opponents away than he did in college.

NFL player comparison: Joe Staley

Ideal fit: Buffalo Bills 

The Bills need to keep young quarterback EJ Manuel healthy if they want to have any chance of assessing his progression. The best way to do that is to invest in a high-end blindside protector with the No. 9 pick.

1. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

Measurables

• 6'5"
• 332 lbs.
• 32 bench press reps

Strengths

Perhaps Robinson's greatest strength is his potential. His raw physical ability is the sort of thing that makes scouts' mouths water. He's already an excellent player, but there's reason to believe he can get significantly better. 

You would be hard-pressed to craft a more perfect body for a franchise left tackle than Robinson's. He has long arms, broad shoulders, a thin waist, a big bubble butt and thick legs. 

Robinson's movement is ideal. Despite his hulking size, he explodes out of his stance and demonstrates good agility. 

Weaknesses

Robinson's raw potential can be viewed as a weakness, too. Most scouts believe he has the discipline and work ethic needed to hone his game as a pro, but it's not a lock that he'll ever reach his full potential. There's no question Robinson needs to improve his footwork and the use of his hands to succeed against top NFL defenders.

The other knock on Robinson is that he lacks experience in certain aspects of a traditional NFL offense. The Auburn offense allowed him to play to his strengths, which means that he wasn't often asked to stand and pass block on an island.

NFL player comparison: Anthony Davis

Ideal fit: St. Louis Rams

Robinson almost certainly won’t go No. 1 overall, but he’s in the conversation to be selected as early as the Rams’ No. 2 overall pick. If the Rams opt to pass on him, the Jaguars would be wise to pounce at No. 3.

Scroll down to see a breakdown of the top linebacker and running back prospects.