Editor's note: NFL.com analysts Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter will provide overviews for each position group in the 2017 NFL Draft (April 27-29 in Philadelphia) over the next two weeks, continuing today with offensive linemen.
This post begins with an overview for offensive tackles. Scroll down to see the overview for interior O-linemen.
Note: Click through the tabs above to see overviews for each position.
If your favorite team is looking for an offensive tackle, this draft class certainly isn't your dream scenario. This draft class has three tackles in the first tier, and there is a big dropoff after that.
There is a five-star tackle with a winning pedigree in Alabama's Cam Robinson, but he has issues that might be difficult to coach out of him. Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk is the safest of the tackles, but it seems teams believe he'll have to move to right tackle. Did I mention that Ramczyk has only one year of major college football experience? Garett Bolles from Utah fits in the same boat. Bolles is undersized and will turn 25 during camp. He also has only a year of major college football under his belt. This class is hardly can't-miss.
Let's explore it.
Teams with greatest need at OT
Top 5 players at OT
1. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin: He's easily the safest of the tackles in this draft. He has some weaknesses, but none of them are glaring. While he's average in pass protection, he's very good as a run blocker. Ramczyk should be able to step right into a starting right tackle spot and perform at a decent level as a rookie.
2. Cam Robinson, Alabama: Robinson has the size and physical traits that offensive line coaches covet. However, he hasn't shown as much growth from his freshman season as expected and his issues with playing on his toes cause balance concerns that might take time to eliminate. Robinson has a high ceiling, but he's not a "safe" tackle.
3. Garett Bolles, Utah: He will be a 25-year-old rookie this season and I believe it is fair to wonder if his frame will be able to carry 300 pounds since he was under that mark at the NFL Scouting Combine (297). Bolles has elite foot quickness and plays with an edge that every team loves, but his lack of power as a drive blocker means he could be scheme-limited.
4. Antonio Garcia, Troy: Garcia is another player who has a hard time keeping weight on, but he plays with a little better anchor than expected. He plays tough, too. Zone teams figure to show interest in him and it isn't out of the question that he could transition inside as a guard in a zone scheme.
5. Dion Dawkins, Temple: Dawkins played at tackle for Temple but proved he had the ability to bump inside and play guard during Senior Bowl week in January. He plays with adequate foot quickness and is a plus run blocker with the ability to maul defenders off the spot. He has some inconsistency in his pass protection that could force him inside to guard.
Note: Click on a prospect's name for a complete scouting report.
Sources Tell Us
"He's really athletic and he's really smart. There are a lot of Wisconsin linemen who start in the league because they learn an NFL system and they are taught the right way. He played against Arden Key, Sam Hubbard and Taco Charlton. This guy is battle-tested against three future first-rounders." -- NFC Midwest scout on Ryan Ramczyk
Most overrated
Roderick Johnson, Florida State: It's tough to label any of these tackles as "overrated" since I believe that teams have their eyes wide open to the deficiencies of this year's draft class. Johnson was beloved by some in the media early in the process, but his poor footwork and balance issues have become too tough to ignore. He could be drafted as early as the second round due to the importance of the position, but that would be way too early, in my estimation.
Most underrated
Aviante Collins, TCU: Collins' incredible combination of speed (4.81 40) and power (34 bench-press reps) at the combine made him one of the most unique testers we have seen at the tackle position in quite some time. He comes from a family of sprinters, which accounts for his terrific athleticism. However, what might be slept on by some evaluators is his ability to sustain blocks longer than expected. While he's likely a zone blocker only, he has a shot at working his way into a starting role if he can carry a little more mass.
Boom or bust
Garett Bolles, Utah: Bolles has impressed offensive line coaches with his nastiness on tape and his ability to show an understanding of blocking concepts on the white board in individual meetings. Bolles' elite athleticism has a chance to turn him into the best tackle out of this draft, but if his core strength proves to be below the NFL standard, he could become a first-round flop.
Sleeper alert
Brad Seaton, Villanova: This tackle is very tall at just over 6-foot-8, but unlike tall tackles like Arkansas' Dan Skipper and UCLA's Conor McDermott, Seaton weighed in at 329 pounds at his pro day -- that translates to a much better anchor than the aforementioned tackles. Seaton has good arm length, is athletic enough and has a chance to make an NFL roster.
Interior O-linemen
Yes, the tackle class appears to be very light this season, but the draft along the interior line isn't exactly loaded with high-impact, future starters.
It's worth noting that the strength of the guard position could be bolstered if teams see players like Zach Banner, David Sharpe and Dion Dawkins as guards. Even then, the only two interior linemen I feel good about grading as immediate starters are Forrest Lamp and Pat Elflein.
There are some interesting middle-round options at guard and late-rounders at center who could project as eventual starters with more coaching and more time. San Diego State's Nico Siragusa and Utah's Isaac Asiata have starter's size and traits, while Wyoming's Chase Roullier has experience at both guard and center. He could be a late-round value pick who becomes a starter.
Let's explore the 2017 interior OL class.
Teams with greatest need at interior O-line
Top 5 interior O-linemen
Note: Click on a prospect's name for a complete scouting report.
1. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky: My player comparison for Lamp is Zack Martin. Lamp was a college tackle, but lacks the desired arm length and height for the position. However, don't be shocked if a team tries him at tackle due to his overall talent.
2. Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State: He is smart and tough and his background in wrestling gives him the necessary core strength and body control to fend off NFL power along the interior.
3. Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana: Feeney plays a little narrow and has a tendency to fall off of blocks, but he uses good angles in his blocks and he's solid on the move. Feeney's ability to recognize twists and stunts helps him in pass protection.
4. Dorian Johnson, OG, Pittsburgh: Johnson came to college as a tackle prospect and he has the long arms to prove it. It's hard to get too high or too low on Johnson, as he doesn't have the typical glaring weaknesses and strengths.
5. Ethan Pocic, C, LSU: Pocic has played tackle, guard and center at LSU and he has loads of starting experience against quality opposition. He's very consistent in space and in his movement, but his lack of power concerns some evaluators.
Sources Tell Us
"He's the real deal. If he can snap, you could get away with playing him all up and down the line. Great feet, strong, smart." -- AFC executive on Forrest Lamp
Most overrated
Taylor Moton, OG, Western Michigan: I like Moton, but it has to be in the right spot and I feel like NFL teams are going to overdraft him thanks to his impressive body composition and potential. Moton could struggle badly if teams keep him at tackle and that could stunt his growth as a guard, which is his more likely NFL spot in my opinion.
Most underrated
Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State: Hard to call my No. 2 interior lineman underrated, but I feel like he is a little underappreciated in draft circles. Strength is sometimes an underrated quality inside, and Elflein has it. It doesn't hurt that he has starting experience at both guard and center. He should be able to come in and start early on.
Boom or bust
Ethan Pocic, C, LSU: In a weak offensive line class, this isn't the greatest fit for this category, but there does seem to be quite a difference of opinion regarding Pocic in league circles. Some see him as a rock-solid guard who will be one of the safest interior linemen in the draft, while others believe he lacks functional strength and is highly overrated.
Sleeper alert
Jake Eldrenkamp, OG, Washington: Eldrenkamp trained with legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd before the combine and coach Mudd is a firm believer in Eldrenkamp's ability to make it in the league. He plays with good body control and lateral quickness and works hard to sustain. Eldrenkamp has the potential to be a late-round pick who ends up becoming a starting guard in the league.
Follow Lance Zierlein on Twitter @LanceZierlein.
