NFL Draft experts preview the top O-Line prospects on Big Blue Kickoff Live:
The Giants haven't been shy in recent years when it comes to taking an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Big Blue picked Justin Pugh (2013 – 19th overall) and Ereck Flowers (2015 – 9th overall) two of the last four years. They also added Weston Richburg (43rd overall) in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
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The Giants hold the 23rd overall pick in April, and some draft experts believe the Giants may go the O-Line route once more. On Friday's edition of Big Blue Kickoff Live at the NFL Combine, three experts – Matt Miller from Bleacher Report, Tony Pauline from Draft Analyst and Rob Rang from NFL Draft Scout discussed the top linemen in this year's draft, and who might be an option for the Giants.
"I love Garett Bolles out of Utah because he plays with a mean streak," Miller said. "He stepped on the University of Utah football field last August and became the starting left tackle. That's a good football school. The ability to adapt and transition, and he got better throughout the season. You saw improvement from week to week to week. I really like his upside."
Bolles, Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Alabama's Cam Robinson are among the top O-Line prospects this year. Both Bolles and Ramczyk only have one year of FBS football experience. Robinson meanwhile started all 14 games for the Crimson Tide as a true freshman. He won the Outland Trophy his junior year, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in the country.
"Robinson is a very physical run blocker, but he's sporadic as a pass blocker," Rang said. "Ramczyk from Wisconsin doesn't have great length. He came in with a 33 3/4 inch arms and that's pretty short for a left tackle. He has terrific feet but only one year as a starter on the FBS level is pretty scary. Bolles is probably the tackle I'm most excited about athletically speaking."
The O-Line finally got on the field Friday, a day after getting their measurements taken. The 6-foot-5, 297 pound Bolles ran a 4.95 40-yard dash, the second fastest time of all offensive linemen. Robinson measured at 6-foot-6, 332 pounds. He clocked in at 5.15 on his 40-yard dash. Ramczyk will not participate in drills at the combine – he's recovering from hip surgery.
"I thought Bolles also did a tremendous job here today," Pauline said. "He was one of the few offensive lineman to run under a five second 40-yard dash. Not a big deal, but it shows his athleticism and its proof of his athleticism."
Pauline is higher on Bolles than Ramczyk, and thinks the later will need time to develop into a premier NFL tackle.
"When you watch him on film, he's good in spurts," Pauline said. "The fact is when I break him down on film, I think he's not NFL read. The guy is not going to be a day one starter. He gets a little bit funky with his mechanics at time. He plays a little bit with a narrow base so he's all over the place. He's a guy who can be very good 2-3 years down the road. But he has some downside risk. I've said all along he's a late first round pick."
"Cam Robinson is very physical as a run blocker but he is sporadic as a pass blocker," Rang added. "He doesn't have the great length or the great quickness that you're expecting as a left tackle."
Will all three prospects be available when the Giants are on the clock? Pauline doesn't think so.
"Bolles was definitely the premier left tackle coming into the week. Maybe now he has moved into that top 15 maybe potentially top 12 because he's such a tremendous athlete and pass blocker."
View the best photos of the day from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
