NFL Draft 2013: Offensive Tackle Rankings

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Central Michigan offensive lineman Eric Fisher speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

I’m not one to change my rankings because of combine workouts, but I’ve talk myself into doing that at the top of the rankings here. I’m never been completely sold that Luke Joeckel as a franchise left tackel to be honest. He’s very good, but he does get beat by speed rushers a bit too often for me to be comfortable with taking him first overall.

Eric Fisher is a much better athlete, and thus has more upside. He’s a bit more unrefined, but that will pass with experience. If I’m picking in the top 5, I want a player with the potential to be an all-pro, and that’s Fisher in this class, and not Joeckel.

The Seahawks have to get an OT this year. The only one on the roster who’s under contract for 2014 is Russell Okung. With both starters returning, an early round pick isn’t necessary, though finding an upgrade at RT would greatly help the offense.

Both Fluker and Long are a consideration in the first or early 2nd round if the Seahawks decide to go that route, but I think that’s unlikely. Instead, keep you eyes on Terron Armstead from little ArkansasPine Bluff, in the 5th or 6th round. He’s an exceptional athlete for his size, and has tremendous potential, though he has a long way to go before he’s ready to play full time in the NFL.

Here’s my complete rankings:

RankPlayerPosP RankSchoolHeightWeightEric FisherOT1Central Michigan6/7306*Luke JoeckelOT2Texas A&M6/6306Lane JohnsonOT3Oklahoma6/6303*D.J. FlukerOT4Alabama6/5339Kyle LongOT5Oregon6/6313Dallas ThomasOT6Tennessee6/5306*David BakhtiariOT7Colorado6/4299*Menelik WatsonOT8Florida State6/5310Oday AboushiOT9Virginia6/5308David QuessenberryOT10San Jose State6/5302*Chris FaulkOT11LSU6/5331Terron ArmsteadOT12Arkansas-Pine Bluff6/5306Ricky WagnerOT13Wisconsin6/6308Xavier NixonOT14Florida6/6321Brennan WilliamsOT15North Carolina6/6318Reid FragelOT16Ohio State6/8308Jordan MillsOT17Louisiana Tech6/5316Manase FoketiOT18West Texas A&M6/5318Braden BrownOT19Brigham Young6/5310Tanner HawkinsonOT20Kansas6/5298Emmett ClearyOT21Boston College6/7316Jason WeaverOT22Southern Miss6/4313Roger GainesOT23Tennessee State6/6334Luke MarquardtOT23Azusa Pacific6/8315Nick BectonOT25Virginia Tech6/5323