Guard is a position in the draft where starters can be found in the later rounds. Many Guards are polished players without much upside that fit in certain systems. Teams can go into a draft knowing they can get a guy and plug him in right away. This class is no different. There is a lack of elite prospects. UCLA’s Su’a Filo should be a lock to start right away but after that there is a big drop off. Baylor’s Cyril Richardson has enormous upside but also has bust potential. There are plenty of guys who could find their in to starting lineups as rookies and a few that could wind up being solid players who have long careers. The strength of this year’s Guard class is clearly in its depth.
1. Xavier Su’a Filo – 6’4’’ 307 lbs 5.04 40 UCLA - 6.45- Xavier is clearly the best Interior Line Prospect in the draft. He moves very well and gets great push on film. Looks to have the strength and agility to fit in on any Line. Could get stronger. Doesn’t have elite measureables. Should be an effective run and pass blocker in the NFL as a rookie and has room to improve. Has played LT but is not suited to play the position. Not many Guards are taken in the 1st Round. Su’a Filo is the only Guard that may be able to sneak into the 1st in this draft and would be a decent value late in the Round.
2. Cyril Richardson – 6’5’’ 329 lbs 5.36 40 Baylor 5.9- Monstrous size, incredible wing span. Has very good feet for his size. Doesn’t always play up to his size on film but does dominate in the run game for the most part. Can pull and get to the 2nd level. Awareness could be better, especially in pass pro. Played in an up-tempo, no-huddle offense in College and kept up. Did not wear down much in the 4th quarter. There are concerns about his work ethic and if he really wants it enough to make it on the next level. Cyril has really been downgraded due to these concerns. I’m not close enough to the situation to know. The fact he was able to play in an up tempo offense and finish game’s suggests he was in good shape in College. Most grades I’ve seen on Richardson are in the 3rd to 4th Round range. I think he would be a steal if were drafted after there.
3. David Yankey – 6’6’’ 315 lbs 5.48 40 Stanford - 5.65 - Yankey is a smart player with good size. Playing at Stanford he has a lot more experience in the run game. Looks good on film. Pulled on nearly every play some games. Looks good in pass pro. Uses his long arms well. Gets to the 2nd level quickly and is good at getting his hands on quicker defenders. Lack of top end speed may hurt him at the next level. Isn’t overly powerful. Would do best in a power run based scheme. Has played some Tackle. Yankee isn’t an elite athlete and might not do well on the wrong team. He fits in on enough teams to go as high as the 2nd Round.
4. Gabe Jackson – 6’3’’ 336 lbs 5.51 40 Mississippi -5.55 - Jackson has great size and good strength. He was one of the slowest players at the combine. He looks better than that on film but he doesn’t look dominant. Looks like someone that can be an NFL starter on film. He may not be effective pulling in the run in the game due to his lack of speed. Jackson is known as a hard worker and started every game in College. He will find a place in the league due to his size and experience. He could start as a rookie on a team that doesn’t need him to move much. Jackson is a safe pick in late 2nd or later.
5. Trai Turner - 6’3’’ 310 lbs 4.93 40 LSU - 5.5 - Turner is raw prospect with good athletic ability. He only played 25 games in College. Doesn’t have great size but is big enough. Looks stiff on film. Bends at the waist. Trai was able to get the job done in a tough SEC and does move well enough to play in the NFL. His technique and movement skills should get better with experience. Ran the fastest 40 time of any Guard at the combine. Injuries are a concern. Turner is someone who could get drafted too high by a team that falls in love with his 40 time. He should probably go in the 3rd Round to a team that can develop him.
6. Chris Watt - 6’3’’ 310 lbs 5.5 40 Notre Dame - 5.5 - Watt suffered a knee injury late in the season and missed the Senior Bowl and most drills at the Combine. Has small hands and short arms. Lacks ideal size overall. Definitely more of a finesse player but gets out of his stance quickly enough to be effective in the run game. Has adequate strength. Shows quick feet and good form on film. Can bend and move fluidly. Has a meanstreak. Watt is downgraded due to his injury. If he’s healthy he could be a steal in the mid rounds.
7. Brandon Linder - 6’6’’ 311 lbs Miami - 5.4- Linder has elite measureables. Moves well for a man his size. Can play Guard or Tackle. Played on the Right Side in College. Doesn’t dazzle you on film but looks solid. Plays too high. Good in pass pro. Doesn’t dominate. You would think someone with size and strength would. Looks to wear down late in games. Linder looks like a solid prospect but has a lot of low grades from scouts. I think he’d be a good value in the 3rd Round but he will probably go lower. Potential Late Round Sleeper.
8. Jon Halapio – 6’3’’ 323 lbs 5.34 40 Florida – 5.3 – Halapio is a powerful Guard with good size. He is very quick out of his stance and looks much more athletic than his work out times. Has the mental makeup you want in an Offensive Lineman. Team Captain. Needs to improve his technique. Gets lost a lot both in the run game and in pass pro. Halapio needs to improve all aspects of his game to make it in the NFL. When you watch him on film he looks like he moves better than most Guards in this draft. He is ranked low by most scouts and could go undrafted. I think he has a lot of upside so he is a sleeper. There is no risk involved where he is ranked.
9. Ryan Groy – 6’5’’ 316 lbs 5.19 40 Wisconsin - 5.3- Groy doesn’t look spectacular on film but generally got the job done in College. He is a good enough athlete to play in the NFL. Very good size. Has played LT. Is somewhat of an average overall player and athlete. You kind of know what you’re going to get with Groy. A useful backup who will probably be a mediocre starter. He would be a good pick in the 4th Round or lower because he can help a team plug a hole right away.
10. Anthony Steen – 6’3’’ 314 lbs 5.34 40 Alabama – 5.25 – Steen is a solid hard-nosed player. He has short arms, small hands and a bad build. Very strong and shows a good hand punch. Has good technique. Steen had surgery to repair a partially torn labrum. He missed his Bowl Game the Senior Bowl and Combine. Probably wouldn’t have helped himself tremendously with workouts but is downgraded due to the injury. Steen has a lot more experience than most against top competition and could help a team right away if healthy. Does not have much upside due to physical limitations but is a good enough player to be a potential late round sleeper.
11. Zach Fulton - 6’5’’ 316 lbs 5.26 40 Tennessee - 5.2 - Fulton has good size and decent strength. Looks average on tape. Lacks a mean streak and doesn’t sustain as well as he could. Does have solid upside and moves well enough to start at the next level. Is good in pass pro, shows more leg strength than in the run game. Fulton probably isn’t ready to start right away in the NFL but he has plenty of experience against NFL type players. He is a good enough athlete and has the frame to add needed strength. Fulton is a good value in Round 4 or 5 and has upside to develop into a starter.
12. John Urschcel – 6’3’’ 313 lbs 5.31 40 - Penn State - 5.2- Urschel is a good athlete for the position but does not have ideal size. He is very smart. Has graduated and is a Calculus Teacher. Winner of the William V. Cambell Award for Best Scholar Athlete. He is almost too smart to be an Offensive Lineman. He have adequate strength and plays a physical game. I like my lineman a lot meaner than him. Urschel can make a lot of money doing other things. I don’t know if that is a good thing for a Mid-Late Round Offensive Guard Prospect. Never the less Urschel is a decent prospect in the 4th or 5th Round.
13. Spencer Long – 6’5’’ 320 lbs 5.16 40 Nebraska - 5.1- Huge player with good strength. Had the biggest hands of any Offensive Lineman at the Combine 10 ¾ ‘. Looks average on film. Struggles to get the next level. Does show good leg drive in the run game. Could be something in a power scheme. Has played Tackle. Long was good enough in College to be worth looking at in 4th Round or later.
14. Andrew Norwell - 6’6’’ 315lbs 5.31 40 Ohio State – 5.05 – Scrappy player who looks solid on film. Has a bit of a lanky build for a Lineman and doesn’t look very strong. Looks slow when pulling but moves fairly well in small spaces. Norwell has played Tackle and could add depth right away and possibly start down the line. He is projected to go late and could be a good value.
15. Kadeem Edwards – 6’4’’ 313 lbs 5.25 40 Tennessee State – 5.0 – Small School prospect with a great build for a Guard. Kadeem has incredibly long arms 35 ½’’ and a thick lower body. He doesn’t have good technique and didn’t dominate against a low level of competition. Edwards isn’t ready to play in the NFL but does have the tools to develop. He could be a find in the lower rounds.
16. Trey Hopkins – 6’3’’ 307 lbs 5.26 40 Texas -5.0 – Hopkins is too stiff and awkward to be an impact player in the NFL. He is a solid player with decent leg drive. Has good size and long arms. Moves well in small areas. Does well when he gets his hands on the defender. Hopkins will probably go undrafted and is a sleeper who has the potential to start in the NFL.
17.Austin Wentworth – 6’4’’ 315 lbs 5.18 40 Fresno State – 4.8 – College LT who projects inside in the NFL. Doesn’t have the speed to handle speed rushers. Has short arms. Might move well enough to play Guard in the NFL but doesn’t reach the 2nd level quickly enough to be elite. Should go undrafted and will probably make a team.
Unranked
18. Chris Elkins – 6’2’’ 289 lbs 4.98 40 Youngtown State – Elkins is intriguing because of his 40 time. Elkins could sneak into the draft by a zone team that thinks they can mold him.
19. Antwan Lowery – 6’3’’ 355 lbs Rutgers 5.46 40 – Lowery lost his starting job in 2013 but was 1st Team All Big East in 2012. Struggled with personal issues. If a team can straighten him out and get him in shape he could be a great undrafted find.
20. Brian Clarke – 6’2’’ 305 lbs 5.10 40 Bloomsburg – Raw small school prospect who has caught the eye of some scouts. Will probably get picked up as an undrafted free agent.
