NFL Draft 2012: Examining the Depth of the Offensive Line Class

Other than quarterback, offensive line is arguably the most important position on a football field. To build a championship contender, a franchise must construct a good, deep group of offensive linemen. Luckily for those teams starved for help along the offensive front there are at least six O-linemen that are worthy of first-round selections in the 2012 NFL draft.

Top Tier

At the top of the board this year is USC left tackle Matt Kalil. If not for Andrew Luck, Kalil would be the top prospect in this draft bar none. He is big (6'7" and 295 pounds) with room to add muscle, fast for his size, incredibly athletic and has great bloodlines—his brother Ryan is a Pro Bowl center for the Carolina Panthers and his father Frank played professionally as well.

Kalil will be off the board in the top three and could be the second player taken. He is destined to be a perennial Pro Bowler.

Second Tier

Iowa's Reilly Reiff and Stanford's Jonathan Martin are battling to be the second tackle taken this year. Both guys have size and strength, but Reiff might be the most technically sound offensive lineman in this class. Martin's ceiling is higher, and while I project him as a right tackle at the next level because of his lack of polish in pass protection, he could blossom into a blind side protector.

If a team wants a solid guy who will be a starter for the next decade on the left side of the offensive line, it will take Reiff. If they're looking at potential upside with slight risk, Martin will be the guy. Both should be gone within the top 20.

Stanford guard David DeCastro may actually be the second-best lineman in this draft, but guards are not valued as highly as tackles, so he will slip into the middle of the first-round. That said, he was the most dominant interior lineman in the nation on either side of the ball in 2011 and he should be a starter from the first day of training camp.

DeCastro is a mean, nasty, strong road-grader who can dominate in the run game and should become one of the best guards in the league very soon. If a team with a need on the interior of its line decides to go with him, he could be off the board in the top 15, if not he could drop simply because guard is an easier position to fill than some others.

Third Tier

Several guys could jump up into the back of the first-round but I think Georgia guard/tackle Cordy Glenn and Florida State tackle Zerbie Sanders are the only ones left worthy of a first-round grade.

Glenn is a massive 6'5" and 346 pounds, and has experience playing both guard and tackle. While he could end up as a solid right tackle, my guess is teams will profile him as a guard who can maul people in the run game and hold his own against interior pass rushers.

Sanders is also has prototypical size (6'5" and 308 pounds) and has been durable and reliable throughout his career. He has mainly played right tackle but could probably slide to the left side if needed. He's good as a pass protector, great in the run game and has phenomenal awareness.

Both Glenn and Sanders are likely to come off the board in the 20s, and will certainly be first-round selections.

Just Missed: Mike Adams, Tackle, Ohio State; Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin.