When it comes to the Top Five offensive linemen in the 2017 NFL Draft, we all have pretty much the same guys on our list in varying order. Of all the positions on an NFL team, the place where a coach can do the most development with raw talent is the line. A large, strong guy with quick feet can learn how to be a legitimate NFL player if he puts the work in. NFL teams convert players from other positions to the offensive line all the time. Back in January the Philadelphia Eagles announced they were converting defensive tackle Taylor Hart to an offensive guard.
Coming in a lot of the men in this draft will have the raw talent, size and footspeed to play in the NFL. But the rookie, day-one starting offensive lineman is almost as rare as the day-one starting quarterback because of the learning curve. Look no farther than the NFL results of the Top Three offensive linemen taken in the 2014 draft. Greg Robinson went first and, unless Sean McVay and his staff can rebuild him from the ground up after Jeff Fisher’s inept staff ruined him over three seasons, he’s heading toward bust territory. Jake Matthews was the second offensive tackle taken and he’s been decent, but the best tackle in that draft by far was Taylor Lewan who went to the Tennessee Titans and no one had him rated No. 1 in any pre-draft scouting report.
5. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
6-foot-4, 309 pounds
Lamp has played in a spread offense with WKU for his entire career and I actually like that for a guard. It means he should have most pass protection concepts down before taking the field in the NFL.
Lamp can move and, more importantly, he can pull as proved it by notching the fourth fastest offensive line 40 time in the NFL combine. He was also a top performer in the cone and the shuttle drills. He’s plenty strong too, putting up 250 pounds 34 times in the bench press.
Ideal situation: Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints
4. Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
6-foot-4, 305 pounds
Feeney is a first-team All-American on a team that really likes to run it up their opponent’s ass. He’s quick and, can move laterally and has the speed to pull on slower developing outside run plays. With the Hoosier’s quick-paced offensive attack, Feeney has seen plenty of blitzes from all over the defense in his day and knows how to slide and pick them up.
Feeney is a lot like Lamp in the skill department, but he’s not as strong. It showed up in the bench press when he put up 26 reps at the combine. So while Lamp may have the edge in a few measurables, Feeney has has the better career playing against legitimate NFL opposition nearly every single Saturday. The fact that he have up just one sack in 37 starts makes him a potential first round pick.
Ideal situation: New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins
3. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
6-foot-6, 322 pounds
Cam Robinson sits atop plenty of offensive linemen lists for a reason. He’s huge, physical, strong and plays in a productive, pro-style offense. There’s every chance he’ll be the best offensive lineman to come out of this class in three years. I just don’t think it’ll happen in his first year, which is why I rank him at No. 3.
While Robinson is an elite tackle, he’s not been asked to do a ton of pass blocking at Alabama over the last couple of seasons. That’s not his fault, but when the entire Bama offensive line was pressed into straight pass blocking in the national title game against Clemson, they kind of got eaten alive by the Tigers’ pass rushers. It’s certainly not from a talent or size standpoint, it’s just that when you’re a primarily running team that always plays with a lead, holding a pass rusher for three seconds or more doesn’t come up a lot.
Robinson is going to have plenty of opportunity to get more experience blocking pass rushers in the pros and should land on a good enough team, with a good enough staff, to develop him quickly.
Ideal situation: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills
2. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
6-foot-6, 310 pounds
Ramczyk is sitting out of the running combine drills recovering from hip surgery, but it’s not hurt his draft stock at all. The film he put forth in his time at Wisconsin is plenty enough to justify drafting him in the first round. Ramczyk has fast feet and good speed, easily making it out to the second level on run plays and plowing down hapless defensive backs.
Ramczyk has also faced solid, legit pass rushers in his time with the Badgers and help produce a consistent run-first offensive attack. He’s tough too, playing all of 2016 with a hip injury that required offseason surgery.
Ideal situation: Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts
1. Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah
6-foot-5, 297 pounds
Boles is near the top of plenty of offensive linemen lists, but I’m probably the only guy you’ll see him listed as No. 1. And I’ll explain why. Boles is probably the most athletic offensive linemen in this draft. He was a top performer in every single NFL combine drill he participated in. Not only does an offensive tackle need strength and good feet, which Bolles has, but he also has the athletic ability to recover from getting beaten early and still get down a block.
Bolles is a great story too. A juvenile delinquent, he didn’t even go to college until two years after he graduated after turning his life completely around. Bolles was a model citizen at Snow Junior College and came out of it a five-star recruit. He was the highest-ranked recruit for Utah in the program’s history and never let up a single day. Like Lamp, playing in a spread system should actually help Bolles develop as an NFL tackle quicker because he should have most of the pass and shotgun concepts in his head when he gets to camp.
Ideal situation: Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants
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