Chris Ransom’s Top 20 Offensive Tackles for 2012

USC Left Tackle Matt Kalil may be the top offensive tackle that gets drafted.  Will he have the best career among the offensive tackles when the 2012 NFL Draft ends 5 years from now?

1. Matt Kalil Offensive Tackle USC Before I go in depth into why I believe Kalil will be a bust in this draft, let me start off by saying offensive line is one of my positions that I’m excellent at evaluating.  When evaluating the last 20 offensive lineman drafted dating back to 2004 who got selected in the first round, the only offensive tackle who’s career I failed to predict correct was Chris Williams the 2008 first round pick from Vanderbilt.  I thought Williams would be a pro bowler who competes with Ryan Clady and Jake Long for the right to be the top left tackle in the 2008 NFL Draft, but now he looks like a backup at best.  I saw Joe Thomas in a SI magazine before his senior year at Wisconsin and got the idea that he would be a top 5 left tackle after his second year in the league having a major impact as a rookie.  That’s exactly what happened with Joe Thomas.

Now that I got that out of the way I want to say that I believe Matt Kalil has a strong chance of being the top 5 pick in 2012 with the greatest chance of being a major bust.  Matt Kalil was 6 foot 6 284 pounds straight out of high school.  He is now a junior redshirt and has only put on 9 pounds since weighing in at 6 foot 6 293 pounds.  The weight would not be an issue if he ran a 40 time under 5 seconds because that would prove that Kalil has outstanding footwork, but he projects to run a 40 time over 5 seconds at the moment which causes grave concern if you ask me.

I know Matt Kalil is the younger brother of Ryan Kalil and is a left tackle unlike Ryan Kalil who is a pro bowl center.  I also know that Matt Kalil was a 5 star recruit out of high school.  Still, Matt Kalil is getting more hype than he deserves because he hasn’t shown the work ethic of a pro bowl offensive tackle in the NFL who is willing to bulk up and put on weight. The projected 40 time is still projected to be over 5 seconds.

The only reason Matt Kalil will be drafted higher than Ryan Kalil is because he was a left tackle and because he was a 5 star recruit out of high school unlike pro bowl center Ryan Kalil which is why some NFL Scouts and GMs will assume he will have more long term potential than Ryan Kalil.  The same way people assumed Mike Pouncey will be a better prospect than Maurkice Pouncey because Maurkice did so good as a pro bowl center during his rookie campaign.

Kalil may look like a decent pass blocker, but that is because USC quarterback Matt Barkley has such a quick release he can make a average offensive tackle look decent.  Barkley is a projected top 5 pick if he declares this year and is my top quarterback after Andrew Luck.  With Matt Kalil’s lack of physical ability Kalil needs to improve his run blocking plus I’m not sold on his footwork yet.

Kalil can move to right tackle if he doesn’t work out at left tackle and you can even move him inside to guard due to his lack of size as a left tackle.  He could play center too just like his older brother Ryan.

Matt Kalil is a player that you could plug anywhere on the offensive line.  I said the same thing about Maurkice Pouncey in 2010 and crowned him a pro bowl center before he was drafted while labeling Mike Iupati a bust.

Matt Kalil reminds me a lot of Robert Gallery because both offensive tackles were left tackles who were projected top 5 picks that had to move inside to guard over time.  Plus both offensive tackles were in really strong drafts.

Kalil should return to school for his senior campaign and put on some weight, but he will likely declare in 2012 and be the first offensive tackle selected.

I don’t think there’s going to be any middle ground when scouts are evaluating Matt Kalil.  This is a player that I’m going to be right about by predicting he’s a bust or he is going to be one of the players in this draft who completely proves me wrong while having a productive pro bowl career.  That is if Kalil decides to declare after this season.

I would not draft Kalil in the first two rounds because he lacks the size and blocking strength for a true left tackle, but the consensus is that Matt Kalil is the top left tackle in the 2012 NFL Draft at the moment.  With that being said Matt Kalil will probably be a top 5 pick in April as long as he stays healthy while keeping USC signal caller Matt Barkley healthy in the process.

Projected Round Top 5 Pick

2. Jonathan Martin Offensive Tackle Stanford Jonathan Martin is a pure left tackle from the Stanford Cardinal.  Martin has pro bowl pass blocking, run blocking, and zone blocking ability.  He reminds me of Jonathan Odgen with the high character of a Max Starks causing him to be a fan favorite at left tackle.  I love Martin as a prospect and I’d take him over Kalil without second guessing myself.

Martin may return to school for his senior year.  I just don’t see him returning unless quarterback Andrew Luck returns.

Projected Round Top 10 Pick

3. DJ Fluker Offensive Tackle Alabama DJ Fluker is a sophomore redshirt at right tackle meaning he is eligible to declare as a sophomore after this season if he wants to.  Fluker has elite physical tools with the physical ability, durability, and size that a right tackle needs.  Fluker can pass block, run block, or zone block.  He is best suited in a run blocking scheme as that tenacious powerful run blocker.

At one point DJ Fluker weighed over 400 pounds.  Now he is 6 foot 6 340 pounds with outstanding footwork for an offensive tackle.  Fluker would be a top 5 pick if he played left tackle and may even go #1 overall in 2013 if he returns to school.  There is no guarantee Fluker declares this year, but if Fluker declares he will be a first round pick.

Fluker has a good learning rate along with the elite intangibles and production so he should succeed in the NFL at right tackle whenever he decides to declare.

Projected Round 1st Round

4. Riley Reiff Offensive Tackle Iowa Reiff sat behind 2010 draft picks Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway as a redshirt freshman.  Last year as a sophomore redshirt Reiff became the starting left tackle and offensive captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes last season.

Reiff can play left tackle or right tackle just like Bryan Bulaga.  Reiff is a better run blocker, but has better footwork as a pass blocker.

Riley Reiff has elite physical blocking strength for an offensive tackle.   Reiff learns new plays right away and has the intangibles of a top notch offensive tackle as a pass blocker, run blocker, or zone blocker.

Riley Reiff has excellent production for an offensive tackle and should get selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  The only way he doesn’t get selected is if Reiff returns and tries to put on some weight hoping to position himself as a top 5 pick in 2013.

Projected Round 1st Round

5. Bobbie Massie Offensive Tackle Ole Miss Bobbie Massie has the ability of a pro bowl right tackle who will be an excellent bookend tackle in the NFL contributing as a rookie.  Massie is 6 foot 6 312 pounds and should go in the first round or the early 2nd if he declares.

Projected Round 1st Round

6. Mike Adams Offensive Tackle Ohio State Mike Adams is the left tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Adams is 6 foot 8 308 pounds and has the excellent size for an offensive tackle.  Mike Adams has good attributes in other categories like pass blocking and run blocking, but size is the strong point for Mike Adams.  Adams will go in the late first round or the early 2nd round.

Projected Round 1st Round

7. Levi Adcock Offensive Tackle Oklahoma State Adcock can play right tackle.  Adcock is not a left tackle, but he has great physical strength, excellent durability, and elite size for an offensive tackle.  A good learning rate and great intangibles make him a player with the chance to be a potential pro bowl right tackle down the road.

I don’t see Adcock succeeding at left tackle because his footwork needs some tuning, but he has the ability of an elite right tackle.

The reason Adcock gets the 7 spot is because Ricky Wagner is a bookend tackle who lacks starting experience at left tackle.  Wagner is expected to fill in for Gabe Carimi.  Tanner Hawkinson a tight end turned left tackle is the other offensive tackle expected to challenge Adcock for this spot.

Projected Round 2nd Round

8. Ricky Wagner Offensive Tackle Wisconsin Wagner is a bookend tackle who can play the left or right side.  Wagner is 6 foot 6 320 pounds and sat behind 2011 First Round Pick Gabe Carimi at Wisconsin last season while filling in for Josh Oglesby at right tackle as a bookend when injured.

Wagner did so well at right tackle he’s expected to be the left tackle for Wisconsin with Oglesby remaining on the right side now that Gabe Carimi is gone.

Wagner has elite skills in nearly every blocking attribute for a collegiate left tackle.  The only concern is the learning rate, but this should not be a major issue since he sat behind a 1st round pick at left tackle in Gabe Carimi last season.

I expect Wagner to be a starter with the potential of a pro bowl bookend tackle.  It may take Wagner a few years to get adjusted to the NFL, but your getting a quality starter with Wagner.

There is no guarantee that Wagner declares as a junior redshirt.  He may have a better chance of being a first round pick if he returns for his senior season at Wisconsin.

Projected Round 2nd Round

9. Tanner Hawkinson Offensive Tackle Kansas Hawkinson is a tight end turned left tackle.  I think he has a lot of work to do before he even comes close to succeeding in the NFL.  Hawkinson may have elite footwork as a pass blocker and a run blocker, but he doesn’t have the size for an offensive tackle despite running a 4.93 40 time.  You got rush linebackers who play the 3-4 scheme on defense that have the same size as Hawkinson and they run quicker 40 times too.

That says something about Tanner Hawkinson.  Don’t draft him in the first 2 rounds unless you have a 5 year waiting period to develop an offensive tackle.  30 out of 32 NFL teams don’t have the patience to wait 5 years for a player to develop.  I’d say the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers are the teams with the patience for Hawkinson to develop, but I don’t see either team taking Hawkinson.  I’d take Hawkinson in the 3rd round, but he will probably be the 9th offensive tackle selected in the 2nd round.

Projected Round 2nd Round

10. Andrew Datko Offensive Tackle Florida State Datko is 6 foot 6 312 pound left tackle who was Christian Ponder’s blindside at Florida State.  He is an elite blocker with the football IQ and intangibles to succeed in the NFL.  I personally believe Datko may be the best long term left tackle in this draft after Stanford’s Jonathan Martin in terms of being a premium blindside.

Scouts are not sold on Datko’s durability.  He missed significant time with shoulder injuries and shoulder surgery last season which is why most scouts are down on him.  If Datko didn’t get injured in 2010 I’d probably have him graded out as a first round prospect this season.

Projected Round 3rd Round

11. Matt Reynolds Offensive Tackle BYU Matt Reynolds is a bookend tackle prospect with the elite physical tools combination of strength and size for an offensive lineman.  Reynolds is listed at 6 foot 6 330 pounds.  The problem is he is 25 years old.  Danny Watkins was 27 years old and he was a guard and some team was dumb enough to draft him in round 1 so maybe Matt Reynolds creeps up NFL draft boards.

Matt Reynolds has the athletic ability, pass blocking, run blocking, and zone blocking ability.  Most of the intangibles check out.  Reynolds has horrible hand usage when  making his blocks so he has a very minimal chance of reaching his pro bowl potential based on his 25 year old age and hand usage.

Projected Round 3rd Round

12. Elvis Fisher Offensive Tackle Missouri Fisher was Blaine Gabbert’s blindside at Missouri last year.  Fisher is 6 foot 5 300 pounds and he has very underrated pass blocking ability and pass blocking footwork.  I really believe Fisher’s pass blocking gave Blaine Gabbert more time in the pocket.  Fisher is a bookend that can play either side in the NFL.

Projected Round 3rd Round

13. Mike Ryan Offensive Tackle Connecticut Mike Ryan is 6 foot 5 330 pounds.  Ryan played left tackle at Connecticut, but his elite out of this world run blocking ability as a power run blocker makes me believe he is better suited to be a right tackle.  He has great pass blocking ability also, but he runs a 40 time above the 5.2 range which makes him very vulnerable against 3-4 pass rushers like Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware, Tamba Hali, James Harrison, and Lamaar Woodley.  The reason he’s vulnerable is because the footwork is not there plus he may not have the footwork that a top notch lineman needs to keep those pass rushers in check.

Florida right tackle Marcus Gilbert had very similar flaws in his scouting reports with footwork being the main issue against speed rushers in the 3-4.  Gilbert was a 4th round prospect heading into the 2010-2011 College Football Season, but Gilbert was a late 2nd round pick once the 2011 NFL Draft ended.

Projected Round 4th Round

14. Trevor Olsen Offensive Tackle Northern Illinois Olsen is a sleeper in this draft.  Olsen is the left tackle for Northern Illinois right now.  He can play either offensive tackle spot as a bookend tackle.  The problem with Olsen is he is 6 foot 6 306 pounds and is projected to run a 5.2 40 time.  With that lack of size for an offensive tackle and projected 40 time, Olsen may end up making the transition on the inside to guard.

Projected Round 4th Round

15. Mitchell Schwartz Offensive Tackle California Schwartz is a right tackle sleeper from California.  He was a run blocker who opened up lanes for Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen at California.  Schwartz is 6 foot 5 312 pounds and he has started every game in his 3 year career so durability is a non issue with Schwartz.

Projected Round 4th Round

16. Bradley Sowell Offensive Tackle Ole Miss Sowell is the Ole left tackle that has yet to live up his name replacing Michael Oher at left tackle.  With first round right tackle Bobbie Massie pushing Sowell for this job I think Sowell is due for a breakout year.  Even if Sowell goes in the later rounds, I’m still sold on the idea of Sowell as a sleeper because he kept a first round pick at right tackle from winning the starting left tackle job and that counts for something.

Projected Round 5th Round

17. David Pickard Offensive Tackle West Virginia A starting left tackle for West Virginia that is a late round prospect.  He’s a borderline backup at best in my opinion because he has a mediocre skill set for a left tackle.  PIckard has decent run blocking and poor pass blocking.  He reminds me of Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell who is a left tackle that you never want to be mentioned in the same sentence with.

Projected Round 5th Round

18. Blake DeChristopher Offensive Tackle Virginia Tech DeChristopher has excellent strength and size for an offensive tackle.  Everything else with him is an issue and the potential for Blake DeChristopher is mediocre at best.

Projected Round 5th Round

19. Josh Oglesby Offensive Tackle Wisconsin Oglesby is a right tackle who is a sleeper.  He’d be a pro bowl right tackle if he didn’t have so many durability concerns and is right up there with Levi Adcock as a 2nd round right tackle with pro bowl ability when healthy.

The problem is that durability is an issue for this Wisconsin right tackle.  His bending technique with his knees and the footwork need some major tweaking.   A team with an elite offensive line coach should be able to channel this.

Oglesby is 6 foot 7 331 pounds.  Size is his best attribute.  With pass blocking and run blocking being his next best attributes.  Pass Blocking strength and run blocking strength are another two plus areas when you scout Josh Oglesby.

Projected Round 6th Round

20. JB Shugarts Offensive Tackle Ohio State Shugarts is a bookend to Mike Adams.  He’s a sleeper at best with size being his biggest strength.  I would not be surprised if 7th round right tackle JB Shugarts had a better career than first round left tackle Mike Adams.

Projected Round 7th Round