NFL Draft 2016 Rankings: Top 10 interior offensive linemen
Ranking the best offensive guards and centers in the 2016 NFL Draft, including a Big 12 player who could be the lone first round pick from the interior offensive linemen.
The interior offensive linemen don’t get the publicity, love, attention and affection that accompanies their offensive tackle brethren and rarely do you see guards and centers taken in the first round.
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This year likely won’t be any different because there isn’t a Chance Warmack player at the guard spots who goes in the top 10 picks and there isn’t a Nick Mangold player from the center position who goes in the first round and becomes a fixture in the middle of a line.
But it’s not a class devoid of talent, potential or immediate impact help. Just because a player doesn’t go in the first round doesn’t mean that player isn’t a draft prospect you should sleep on or discount.
Here’s how I rank the five best centers and the five best guards heading into the NFL Combine.
Top five guards
Whitehair is the one player from this group of centers and guards I think can crack the first round. He is a physical and tough player who gets the most of his ability and has the strong punch and hands you want in an interior lineman.
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Garnett won the Outland as the best interior offensive lineman but don’t think he is the elite athlete that would merit first round consideration but has the strength and agility to be a top 50 pick.
Players with the most to gain at the combine include Alexander who could also play right tackle and all the centers I mentioned can fluctuate a spot or two depending on how things play out at the combine. There isn’t a lot separating Kelly at No. 1 and Allen at No. 5 so post-combine rankings could see it flipped upside down.