2016 NFL Draft Preview: Offensive Linemen

With the 2016 NFL Draft less than two months away, we are looking ahead to the top prospects in this year's draft class. There is good bit of talent in this year's crop, particularly at the offensive tackle position. Many expect Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil to be selected at No. 1 overall. But, there are certainly some other names to watch out for this year. Here's a look at the top offensive linemen in the 2016 draft class.

Tackles:

Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss - Tunsil is widely regarded as the cream of the crop, in terms of offensive linemen this year. He certainly passes the eye test, even before stepping foot on a football field. Standing at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, Tunsil is an intimidating presence and has ideal size for the NFL. His footwork is impeccable and he wins most battles at the line of scrimmage.

Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame - Stanley is the other offensive tackle who has the potential to be taken in the Top-10 picks in the draft. The Notre Dame product possesses quick hands and feet. He showed much growth over the past year or so with his strength and run blocking. He will need to work on leverage and his balance when defending against a bull-rusher.

Taylor Decker, Ohio State - Decker is 6-foot-7, making him the tallest offensive lineman in the draft. But, don't let that size fool you. He played basketball in high school, as evidenced by his surpisingly quick feet. Decker is stronger as a run blocker than as a pass protecter, which may be a worry for some scouts, however. He tends to stand up straight, but he's strong, tough and always packs a punch.

Jack Conklin, Michigan State - People were already high on Conklin heading into the draft, but his stock has risen even more after he impressed at NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 5.0 40-yard dash. Conklin has freakishly long arms and has great size overall. While he is not a superior athlete, he does have outstanding technique.

Shon Coleman, Auburn - Coleman has one of the best stories in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia back in 2010. He beat it and was cleared to play in the spring of 2012. It's apparent that Coleman has the intangibles. His health is still a concern for some, which is just another obstacle that he'll have to overcome. Coleman is very long though, and is extremely physical at the line of scrimmage.

Interior Linemen:

Rivals.com

OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State - Whitehair may very well be the safest bet in terms of interior offensive lineman this year. One thing that stands out about Whitehair is consistency. Each time he steps on the field, you know exactly what you're going to get from him. He is a hard worker and is also highly competitive. Whitehair possesses great strength and body control as well.

OG Joshua Garnett, Stanford - Garnett is one of the most powerful offensive linemen in this year's draft class. He had pretty good hand placement and excels in run blocking. One of the knocks on Garnett, however, is his athleticism, or lack thereof. Although he isn't great in pass protection, he will still likely be an early round selection.

C Ryan Kelly, Alabama - Alabama has done a great job of breeding offensive lineman for the professional level. Kelly fits the bill of a true lineman: tough and gritty. Once he gets his hands on a defenders, more often than not, he's finishing the block. He will need to work on his pad level though.

C Nick Martin, Notre Dame - Martin, the younger brother, of Dallas Cowboys' All-Pro guard, Zack Martin, is projected to be an NFL starter early in his career. He has a high football I.Q. and is versatile, being capable of playing both guard and center. He's not the athlete he once was before a knee injury in 2013, but he's still a solid overall player.

G Vadal Alexander, LSU - Alexander is an enormous human being at 6-foot-5, 326 pounds. At this point, it is unknown whether he'll be a guard or a tackle at the next level, but regardless of where he lines up at, he should thrive. Despite his size, Alexander is limited as an athlete, which may lower his ceiling as an NFL lineman.

#NFL #2016NFLDraft