Offensive lineman drafted in the 1st round.

[eacantdraft]

Debate on another board I'm on. Are offensive lineman worth taking in the 1st round or are do they take away from other needs and can be gotten in later rounds?

Since recent Super Bowl teams have at least one first round stud on their offensive line while teams who draft offensive line low (Cleveland, Dallas, Houston) tend to struggle despite the talent they have at the skilled positions.

[Splat]

They are for sure worth taking in the first but I must say my Chiefs have had alot of luck finding them in later rounds but they are worth the risk for sure.

[bigbluedefense]

Absolutely. Id draft linemen the first 3 rounds and build my skill positions in rounds 4-6. Skill position players are overrated. It all starts with the lines. I draft dline and linebackers on d in the first 3 rounds, and oline and qb in the first 3 rounds on offense. WRs, CBs, S, RBs can all be had in the later rounds with great value.

[yourfavestoner]

Debate on another board I'm on. Are offensive lineman worth taking in the 1st round or are do they take away from other needs and can be gotten in later rounds?

Since recent Super Bowl teams have at least one first round stud on their offensive line while teams who draft offensive line low (Cleveland, Dallas, Houston) tend to struggle despite the talent they have at the skilled positions.

There are only so many big guys in every draft, and they go quickly. If you're in the top 10 and a quality big guy is available, you better take him. Six-foot, 190-pound wide receivers are a dime a dozen, but 6-6, 320-pound men who are athletic and can run are rare.

[AlexDown]

The game is won in the trenches.

[njx9]

Absolutely. Id draft linemen the first 3 rounds and build my skill positions in rounds 4-6. Skill position players are overrated. It all starts with the lines. I draft dline and linebackers on d in the first 3 rounds, and oline and qb in the first 3 rounds on offense. WRs, CBs, S, RBs can all be had in the later rounds with great value.

QFT but with a caveat. if i'm running a system like denver's or atlanta's that's based on speed, i'll take my tackles in the first, but i'll wait on interior linemen.

if i'm on a traditional team, line is the absolute first priority no matter what.

[Zim3031]

I don't see why they wouldn't be worth first round value. I hate to use cliches` but games are won in the trenches.

Although Bill Parcells did pretty well for himself and he never took any linemen early in the draft if I remember.

[draftguru151]

IMO for OL only OTs and absolute monster guards are first rounder worthy.

[bsaza2358]

The Eagles have taken offensive linemen at various stages in the draft. All of their current starters are homegrown, except for Runyan, who they signed in 2000.

Line:

LT: William Thomas (First Round, 1998)
LG: Todd Herremens (4th Round, 2005)
C: Jamaal Jackson (Undrafted, 2003)
RG: Shawn Andrews (First Round, 2004)
RT: John Runyan (Free Agent, 2000, former first day pick)

Backups:

Scott Young (5th Round, 2004), Winston Justice (2nd Round, 2006), Max Jean-Gilles (4th Round, 2006), Pat McCoy (Undrafted, 2006), Nick Cole (Undrafted, 2006)

[bsaza2358]

But yes, it is worth it to draft the right players for OLine in the first round. There are franchise players at pretty much every position. Some positions require more ability to become first round grade (K, P, OG, S), but if a guy can play, he should be taken where he is valued. Linemen go in round 1 every year. It's just the way things go. Many pan out and a few bust. Same with every position. Linemen get less attention, so people remember overhyped players from other positions more.

[draftguru151]

The Eagles OL kinda shows what I am saying, OT and absolute monster guard, aka Shawn Andrews, Justin Blalock.

[bsaza2358]

The Eagles OL kinda shows what I am saying, OT and absolute monster guard, aka Shawn Andrews, Justin Blalock.

They also got a second tier (but very solid) OT in Tra Thomas back in the day. His replacement, Winston Justice, was an early second rounder and could have gone in the first...

[Staubach12]

I think you can get linemen all over the place. I think in some drafts, the o-linemen who you think you can turn into somebody are all rated very high. SAometimes you see a guy down later that you think you can make into a good player. You need to do some of both IMO. Wherever the guys you want are, take 'em there. For example, this year, Dallas got a guy named Pat McQuistan in the 7th round. They liked him, and got him where he was supposed to be. This year in camp, he impressed, and now there are talks that he might be the future at LT.

[bsaza2358]

Hall of Famers at every position can come in any round. Sometimes it's a clear cut situation (Walter Jones, Ogden), and sometimes it's a later round choice that pays off (Larry Allen).

[Number 10]

Games are won and lost in the trenches.

[Ravens1991]

yes

[Splat]

Hall of Famers at every position can come in any round. Sometimes it's a clear cut situation (Walter Jones, Ogden), and sometimes it's a later round choice that pays off (Larry Allen).

Will Shields was a 3rd round pick can you say steal and Brain Waters was undrafted. :shock:

[draftguru151]

Hall of Famers at every position can come in any round. Sometimes it's a clear cut situation (Walter Jones, Ogden), and sometimes it's a later round choice that pays off (Larry Allen).

Will Shields was a 3rd round pick can you say steal and Brain Waters was undrafted. :shock:

Didn't Waters used to play RB?

[Pokeys]

Well Ill be apart of the small minority here. I wouldnt draft an O-lineman in the first round unless he is a sure fire pick like Brickshaw Ferguson. I think you get great O-lineman later in the draft.

[effthiskid11]

Hall of Famers at every position can come in any round. Sometimes it's a clear cut situation (Walter Jones, Ogden), and sometimes it's a later round choice that pays off (Larry Allen).

Will Shields was a 3rd round pick can you say steal and Brain Waters was undrafted. :shock:

Didn't Waters used to play RB?

FB at North Texas, Dallas brought him in as a UDFA, released him, we picked him up, put some weight on him and he went to NFL europe for a season, now he's the best LG in the NFL

[Staubach12]

Hall of Famers at every position can come in any round. Sometimes it's a clear cut situation (Walter Jones, Ogden), and sometimes it's a later round choice that pays off (Larry Allen).

Will Shields was a 3rd round pick can you say steal and Brain Waters was undrafted. :shock:

Didn't Waters used to play RB?

FB at North Texas, Dallas brought him in as a UDFA, released him, we picked him up, put some weight on him and he went to NFL europe for a season, now he's the best LG in the NFL

It's because he was in Dallas :wink:

[PalmerToCJ]

The Bengals have found great success taking OL's early in the draft.

We have three of the better OL in the league in Levi Jones (10th pick), Willie Anderson (10th pick) and Eric Steinbach (1st pick of second round).

So I'm a believe in taking them early... 2nd round is a great spot. Without a Oline your team WILL struggle, regardless of who you have at the other positions (see Bengals current situation).

[jackalope]

O-lineman are worth 1st round picks, but's it's not hard to find on in the later rounds. the Packers have 2 very good 7th round starting linemen (Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells)

[M.O.T.H.]

Mike Williams, Leonard Davis, and Robert Gallery anyone?

Aaron Gibson, the list goes on.

[Pokeys]

Mike Williams, Leonard Davis, and Robert Gallery anyone?

Aaron Gibson, the list goes on.

UT Players :cry:... Well two of those are. Good point though, exactly...

[MichaelJordanEberle (sabf)]

So I guess by that logic, nobody should draft anyone in the first round?


Anyway, the most important unit on a field is the OL. And as DG said, tackles should be first round, as well as great gyuards, and centers (Like Mangold). The very good ones will go 2nd and 3rd, and every once in a while, someone might luck out and get a gem later.

[Pokeys]

every once in a while, someone might luck out and get a gem later.

No this isnt the Quarterback position were talking about here. There are at least 10-20 O-lineman drafted in the middle to late rounds a year that become solid starters in their career. Couldnt say that for the Quarterback position.

[yourfavestoner]

every once in a while, someone might luck out and get a gem later.

No this isnt the Quarterback position were talking about here. There are at least 10-20 O-lineman drafted in the middle to late rounds a year that become solid starters in their career. Couldnt say that for the Quarterback position.

Ten to twenty per year? That's reaching a little bit. I think five or six is a more accurate statement.

[Pokeys]

every once in a while, someone might luck out and get a gem later.

No this isnt the Quarterback position were talking about here. There are at least 10-20 O-lineman drafted in the middle to late rounds a year that become solid starters in their career. Couldnt say that for the Quarterback position.

Ten to twenty per year? That's reaching a little bit. I think five or six is a more accurate statement.

Yeah Reaching a bit... 5-10 per year. But you catch my drift

[HawkeyeFan]

Of course there undervalued.

"Its all about the battle in the trenches!"

[TimD]

well the Jets used 2 first rounders for offensive linemen this year and i think it was a wise decision. With a monster OT and an intelligent C their offensive line is the best it has been in quite a while (even when Mawae was there). i think it is worth it....

[johbur]

Debate on another board I'm on. Are offensive lineman worth taking in the 1st round or are do they take away from other needs and can be gotten in later rounds?

Since recent Super Bowl teams have at least one first round stud on their offensive line while teams who draft offensive line low (Cleveland, Dallas, Houston) tend to struggle despite the talent they have at the skilled positions.

If the OL guy had a high grade, maybe, but I would rather take a stud defender or quality skill player. GB drafted an O-lineman in R2, R3 and R5. All three played against the Vikings yesterday, and no sacks were given up. The LT is an R2 guy, the starting RT was a R7 guy and the center was another R7 guy. Things were rough early having so many young guys, but the group has only given up 11 sacks, tied for 3rd fewest in the NFL and the team has improved to #11 in the NFL for rushing yards.

[eacantdraft]

Mike Williams, Leonard Davis, and Robert Gallery anyone?

Aaron Gibson, the list goes on.

With the exception of Gallery, all of those names you mentioned were overweight run blockers. I had said they were taken too high the year they were drafted (with the exception of Gallery).

Gallery fooled me just like he did everyone else.

[Smooth Criminal]

Lineman definately deserve to go in the first round. A good offensive lien will win you alot of games even if you don't have the best skill positions.

[bsaza2358]

You can point to big busts at the OLine position, but I believe I read somewhere that first round OLine picks are safer (lower bust rate) than any other position in the NFL. That may or may not be true. Every year, you will have huge stars and huge busts in every round. That's why they have a draft and scouting. Given the impact that OLine and DLinemen have on a game, there is no reason not to draft elite and talented players in the first round.

[Iamcanadian]

GM's draft the highest rated player on the board and if the talent level is close, they draft a position of need. They don't care about all the cliques such as games are won in the trenches etc. That's for fans who don't get fired for their ideas. The only exception to the drafting rule is for the #1 overall pick. If a franchise QB is there, he is going to be the #1 overall pick even if it involves a trade.
The key positions on offense are QB and LT followed by RB and WR. The key positions on defense are DE and CB's followed by DT. These positions are always going to be drafted with a high priority by teams. The other positions on a football team are just no considered top priorities. Of course, your rating still counts for a lot but things being relatively equal, these positions will be drafted ahead of others. Does that mean say a LB cannot be drafted high, of course not. If their rating is much higher than the top priority players, they will be drafted ahead of them but if it isn't significantly higher, they'll be drafted after them.

[The Legend]

"Leonard Davis"

hes just amazing

[Shiver]

Look at last year's super bowl, then decide that O/D-Line isn't worth it. To win , you need top tier trench players.

[bsaza2358]

"Leonard Davis"

hes just amazing

Thanks for your incredible post, where you point to a single example of a former #2 overall pick that didn't pan out. Your contributions have been most valuable... I look forward to further insightful analysis later...