Top 5 Offensive Line Prospects That Can Anchor Offenses for Years to Come

An offensive lineman isn't the most glamorous position on the football field. Their main objective is to protect the quarterback and make holes for the running game.

Many offensive linemen go unnoticed and not heard of during the course of a game. Those are great days for them.

The only way an lineman is noticed is if he has committed a penalty or if he is being manhandled by his opponent.

In my eyes many football games are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Whoever gets the most penetration at the line wins the football game usually. If the offensive line is pushing the defense back and controlling the line many times they end up with the win.

Many great linemen have been drafted over the years.

In last year's draft eight were selected in the first round alone. The two previous drafts saw six go in the first round in both years.

In 2008, eight more linemen were drafted in the first round, including first pick Jake Long, the Michigan product who went to the Miami Dolphins.

Teams can usually find their anchors and snag safe picks by drafting a lineman early.

This slideshow is a list of the top five offensive linemen who can help their team out for years to come.

OT Matt Kalil- USC

Matt Kalil is the best offensive lineman available in the 2012 NFL Draft. Kalil could be taken as high as number two behind Andrew Luck who will be surely be taken number one.

I don't see Kalil going past the seventh pick in next year's draft in that the bad teams will surely need some line help.

The 6'6, 295 pound offensive lineman would make a great blocker for a quarterback's blindside.

Kalil is quick and has great upper body strength which allows him to beat his defender to his spot and hold him off with great leverage.

He's also got great balance to take short steps and the ability to keep his defender in front.

Kalil will only get bigger and stronger once he gets in an NFL organization and will make a lasting impact for whatever team he gets drafted by for years to come.

OT Jonathan Martin-Stanford

Jonathan Martin like Matt Kalil is an offensive tackle in the Pac 12. Martin is known for blocking the potential number one pick Andrew Luck's blindside.

The 6'6, 305 pound Martin will surely be drafted in the top ten like Kalil as well.

He's a great pass blocker, obviously since Luck has so much success, but he's just as good as a run blocker as well.

Martin has the quickness to block people with ease and run from sideline to sideline keeping defenders from a scrambling quarterback or making the extra block on a run play.

Martin also plays with a bit of a mean streak too. He's not afraid to play through the whistle which makes him so tough.

He takes short steps like Kalil to keep defenders close and uses his strong lower body to gain an advantage with a push.

Martin will be a household name for years to come.

OT Reilly Reiff- Iowa

Riley Reiff is someone many people have probably never heard of. The 6'6, 300 pound offensive tackle will most likely be a first round pick in next year's draft.

He will be a solid pro for any franchise.

Reiff compares more to Martin than Kalil.  He's another hard nosed player that has no problem playing through the whistle.

Reiff definitely has the longest arms of the two guys in my projections ahead of him which will help him tremendously in the next level.

Reiff has some inconsistencies but I feel any franchise can fix that and make him better than he already is. 

I expect Reiff to be a great right tackle for many years to come.

OG David DeCastro- Stanford

David DeCastro doesn't have to declare for the NFL Draft next year, but he would be out of his mind if he doesn't.

His stock won't get any higher since fellow offensive teammates at Stanford Andrew Luck and Jonathan Martin will be first round draft picks.

DeCastro I feel will be a first round pick himself.

The 6'5, 310 pound offensive guard is the best guard available in the 2012 Draft.

He's a great pass blocker and even better run blocker.

DeCastro and Martin are the anchors on the best offensive line in the nation that protect the best quarterback in the nation.

DeCastro will be a great NFL guard for many years.

OT Mike Adams- Ohio State

Mike Adams would be higher if it wasn't for the trouble he got in at Ohio State. He was suspended for the first five games this season due to receiving improper benefits, an NCAA violation, and got pulled over for running a stop sign and having drug paraphernalia on him at a traffic stop in January of 2009.

That aside he's a great offensive tackle and could be a top 20 pick.

He's got great size and is big, but extremely fast.

The 6'8, 320 pound tackle was a first team All-Big Ten last year as a Junior and would have repeated this year and still could if the suspension doesn't get in the way.

He uses his size and upper body strength to his advantage and has helped Ohio State stay a force in the Big Ten over his four years as a Buckeye.

If he gets the right discipline in the NFL, he could be the steal of the first round of the 2012 draft.