2007 NFL Draft: Rating the O-Line Prospects

This is time of the year when every NFL fan gets excited talking about who their favorite NFL team will select in the upcoming draft. The exception, of course, is when your team is in the market for an upgrade to their offensive line. A beefy left tackle, who might be an offspring of Shrek, may not be the sexiest pick, but he could be the secret to turning your team into a Super Bowl contender.

Here’s a look at 10 offensive linemen who can help your quarterback spend more time on the field and less time with the trainers in 2007.

Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin – The consensus stud of this year’s linemen, Thomas will find a home in the top 5 picks. Thomas is 6’6” 310lbs and has a frame capable of carrying some additional weight. He ran a sub-5.0 40 yard dash at the combine and showed decent strength (28 reps). I question whether Thomas has the mean streak to dominate immediately at the pro level, but he certainly has the skill set. Expect Joe to take a year or two to completely grasp life in the pros, but he’ll be an elite tackle from that point forward.

Levi Brown, T, Penn State – Brown has bounced around on draft boards for the past few months. He has gone from being considered in the same class as Joe Thomas, to being a mid-to-late first round pick. Levi is one of the more sizeable prospects on our list, checking in at 6'6" 323lbs. He was a starting left tackle for all four of his seasons with the Nittany Lions, and is clearly the second best talent among the linemen. Brown was dominate in college, but didn’t blow people away with his combine performance (5.39 40yd, 31 reps). He’s got to have a strong pro day to move back into the top 10 on everyone’s board.

Ryan Kalil, C, USC – Kalil also ran a sub-5.0 at the combine and did more bench reps (34) than both Thomas and Brown. He was the centerpiece of the offensive line that has allowed both Matt Leinart and John David Booty to put up gaudy numbers at USC. Kalil could be a top 15 talent, but will probably not find a home until the late first round because teams generally do not put a premium on the center position. Regardless of where he is drafted, Kalil could become the league’s first truly dominant center since Dermonti Dawson.

Justin Blalock, G/T, Texas – Blalock has experience playing both guard and tackle positions at the collegiate level. He ran a 5.1 40 yard dash at the combine and did a whopping 40 reps on the bench. Blalock doesn’t shy away from challengers and has a fairly imposing frame (6’3” 330lbs). He could be a starter from Day 1 in the NFL and could easily find himself among the league's elite in a short period of time. Expect to see Blalock find a home anywhere from Buffalo (12th pick) to Dallas (22nd pick) or any city in-between.

Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn – Grubbs isn’t blowing up anyone’s draft board, but he is the number one guard this year, as he has helped to pave the way for the signature ground attack of the Tigers for the past few seasons. Grubbs turned in a combine workout on par with Levi Brown’s. He lacks the type of bulk most teams look for (at a little over 300lbs), but he’s got good quickness and strength. He may find a home at the end of round one in Chicago, but if he doesn’t, expect Cleveland and Houston to take a hard look at him early in round two.

Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas – Ugoh is another tall lineman (6’5” 305lbs) who could stand to put on a few extra pounds to prepare for the next level. Ugoh ran a decent 40 at the combine and displayed good strength. There are a few questions about his toughness and competitiveness, but few doubt that he is talented. He will be a solid starter for the team that selects him and could develop into a Pro Bowl tackle under the right tutelage.

Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan – Staley may come from a smaller school, but he’s got a game to match up with the big boys. If he was from a better known school, he may have been a first round prospect. Staley has excellent speed for a big man, and could be considered a slightly slimmer Joe Thomas. He has adequate strength, but probably won’t ever be called a “mauler.” Another advantage was the fact that he spent practices going up against an outstanding pass-rusher in Dan Bazuin (2005 MAC Defensive Player of the Year) the past few seasons. Staley could be one of the gems of this year’s draft.

Doug Free, T, Northern Illinois – Doug Free is another small school prospect who could flourish at the next level. Free paved the way for Garrett Wolfe’s amazing career at Northern Illinois. He ran a decent 40 at the combine but struggled a little on the bench (22 reps). Free is yet another lineman in this class who could use some extra weight, but not at the cost of his agility. He moves well for his size and is good at getting to the second level while run blocking. Expect him to be taken in the mid-to-late second round and to be a starter after a year or two of apprenticeship under an aging veteran.

Arron Sears, G, Tennessee – Sears would be a good fit for any NFL team after coming from a program that is known for it’s balanced attack. Sears can run block and pass block. He is also versatile, having spent time at four of the five offensive line positions. Sears didn’t run at the combine and showed only average strength. He could be a third round selection at this point, but a strong pro day could vault him into the mid-second round. He could use a year to get adjusted to the pro game, but should be a solid starter after that time.

Ryan Harris, T, Notre Dame – This list wouldn’t be complete without another 6’5” prospect teetering right around the 300lb marker. Harris ran a decent 40, but didn’t impress with his strength. His play on the field has scouts intrigued and he could find himself in the NFL anywhere between round two and four. Harris has good hands and could develop into a starter at the next level, with the potential to be even better.

Sleeper Selection:
Manuel Ramirez, G, Texas Tech – Ramirez is a sizeable prospect (6’2” 335lbs) with a mean streak to go with it. He put up 40 reps on the bench at the combine and could develop into a solid NFL player. Questions about his agility could cause him to be only a serviceable backup in the NFL, but if he answers them prior to the draft, he could be a real find for any number of teams.


Now that we’re done with the “Big Uglies” up front, stop back next week for the sleeker, faster models when I’ll let you know which wide receivers are going to be breaking games open next season.