Top 10 Guards in the NFL Draft

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Apr 21, 2014

Top 10 Guards in the NFL Draft

Xavier Su'a-Filo

Put simply, the 2014 draft class at guard consists of Xavier Su'a-Filo and a few tiers of Everybody Else. There's nobody else who possesses his combination of root strength, understanding of technique and agility to the second level. He has the versatility to play left tackle -- which he did for the Bruins at times -- but at his heart, Su'a-Filo has the nasty streak you like in an elite guard. It all adds up to a guy who should hear his name called in the first 20 picks. <italics>Draft projection: Mid-Round 1</italics>

David Yankey

David Yankey played left tackle and left guard for an elite Pac-12 program in Stanford. In fact, he replaced Jonathan Martin at left tackle in 2012 and allowed just one sack all season. He's not as definitive when locking into defenders, and he can be bulled back at times, but he's an excellent technician who would be an asset to any power zone team. Some teams may think he's too tall to be a guard -- at 6-foot-6, 315, he's right on the cusp. <italics>Draft projection: Late-Round 1</italics>

Gabe Jackson

Gabe Jackson is the best of the pure maulers in this class. At 6-foot-3 and 331 pounds, and running a 5.51 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, he's not going to blow anyone away with his pure athleticism. He has a lot of good tape against SEC defenses, was a key cog in an offense that set a number of school records in 2013 and his tenure as a three-year starter implies consistency. <italics>Draft projection: Round 2</italics>

Dakota Dozier

Dakota Dozier played left tackle in college, but was moved to guard for the Shrine Game, and he might be the most intriguing guard prospect in this class. One thing is clear -- a lot of bigger schools missed the boat with him. Dozier has the frame (6-4, 313) and strength to excel at guard in the NFL, and the athleticism to hit the second level and pull with authority. Concerns about level of competition can be erased by his Clemson tape. Someone's going to get a steal here. <italics>Draft projection: Round 2</italics>

Cyril Richardson

Cyril Richardson earned Big 12 Lineman of the Year honors in 2012 and protected Robert Griffin's blind side the season before. He's a huge presence at 6-5 and 329, and he brought a lot of power to one of the nation's most prolific and snap-heavy offenses. However, he may be limited in the NFL because of specific issues -- he struggles to redirect in zone blocking concepts, he tends to be late to the party when asked to block a target upfield and he'll let defenders through on either side. To be a reliable starter at the next level, he has some work ahead of him. <italics>Draft projection: Round 3</italics>

Trai Turner

Trai Turner (6-3, 310) is a limited player, but he's very good at what he does well, which is taking defenders and rocking them back with impressive strength. He projects best as a right guard because he struggles with his footwork when pulling, and he's not the most agile fellow, though he clocked in under five seconds when running his 40 at the combine. But he'd be a major asset for any right-handed, run-heavy team. <italics>Draft projection: Round 3-4</italics>

Kadeem Edwards

Some have Kadeem Edwards lower due to strength of competition, but when you isolate his skillset and project him as a developmental prospect in the NFL, there's a lot to be excited about. The first player from his school to be invited to the Senior Bowl since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in 2008, Edwards held his own in Mobile, Ala. And when you look at his tape, you see what you want to see from a small-school player -- complete dominance against lesser opponents. NFL teams that dig deep to find players from less prominent programs will be all over Edwards in the middle rounds, and they should be. <italics>Draft projection: Round 3-4</italics>

Brandon Thomas

Brandon Thomas unquestionably has the pure athleticism to play NFL guard in any scheme, and at 6-3, 317, that's where he best projects. He played nine games at guard in college, and that's where they wanted to see him at the Senior Bowl. If a team wants a guard who can move from gap to gap, pull with agility and kick-slide in pass pro, Thomas is an interesting prospect. <italics>Draft projection: Round 4</italics>

Anthony Steen

Anthony Steen will be drafted because he logged 36 starts in three seasons for a premier program, and he shows all the technical and mechanical efficiency one would expect. But there are limitations that will likely push him to the third day ? he was a right guard for the Crimson Tide, and he lacks the kind of power and agility most left guards have in the NFL. Steen is a relatively ready-made player with a low ceiling, and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as the team drafting him understands what it's getting ? and what it's not. <italics>Draft projection: Round 6-7</italics>

Jon Halapio

Of all the draftable guards this year, Jon Halapio has the most frustrating divide between potential and output. At 6-4, 323, he has all the physical traits to be a dominant guard at any level, but he has some pretty serious spatial awareness issues, and he gives up inside pressure to elite competition too easily. Florida's offense was a hot mess last season, and Halapio's issues could well be related to coaching. In that case, some NFL team looking to put in the work will have its right guard of the future in Halapio. <italics>Draft projection: Round 6-7</italics> > <bold>GALLERY: Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Draft</bold> <bold>> </bold><bold>GALLERY: Top 10 Running Backs in the NFL Draft</bold> <bold>> </bold><bold>GALLERY: Top 10 Wide Receivers in the NFL Draft</bold> <bold>> </bold><bold>GALLERY: Top 10 Tight Ends in the NFL Draft</bold> <bold>> </bold><bold>GALLERY: Top 10 Tackles in the NFL Draft</bold>