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NFL combine Date published: 2/26/2010
BY RICH CAMPBELL INDIANAPOLIS --The incredible hulks of this year's NFL draft class lumbered one by one into the designated media area at the scouting combine yesterday afternoon and faced an army of reporters that thrust everything from recorders to microphones to handheld digital cameras in their direction.Sure, the crush resulted partly from sheer volume--the NFL has credentialed a record 628 media members for the event at Lucas Oil Stadium--but it's also evidence of a recent league-wide trend. As the NFL has evolved into a quarterback-driven league, the value of the offensive linemen that protect those passers has skyrocketed. Stud left tackles, in particular, are now like iPods--everyone has to have one. These behemoths have gone from anonymous to glamorous. And fortunately for the Washington Redskins, who could have a vacancy there depending on Chris Samuels' decision to retire, this draft class has plenty. "I think there are some really good [linemen] that are ready to play, and I also think that there are some good developmental prospects, too," Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said. "It is a good group of players." The Redskins are well-positioned in the draft to have their pick of the entire group and choose an offensive lineman in the first two rounds for the first time since taking Samuels third overall in 2000. Many analysts expect players at other positions to be drafted with the first three selections, giving Washington a chance to address its biggest weakness with the fourth-overall pick. Oklahoma State's Russell Okung, Rutgers' Anthony Davis, Oklahoma's Trent Williams and Iowa's Bryan Bulaga are just some of the offensive tackles that could go in the first round. That would continue a trend from the last two drafts, in which tackles were coveted early. Consider that a total of 14 tackles have been selected with top-50 picks in the last two drafts. Before that, you have to go back four years (2003-07) to amass that many top-50 tackles. Three tackles were drafted in the top eight picks last year, and eight were first-rounders in 2008. That's a stark increase from earlier in the decade. "You're obviously going to be a cornerstone for the team and for the franchise," Okung said. "It's a compliment just to be considered that."
Date published: 2/26/2010
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