There is one clear-cut blue chip prospect at offensive tackle in the 2016 NFL Draft. After Laremy Tunsil there are several players who have potential to be pretty good NFL starters but also just enough questions on one aspect or another to keep me from being sold.

Notes

Tunsil is handily the top tackle. He’s the best tackle prospect since Joe Thomas, who remains the highest-rated player I’ve ever scouted. His footwork, coordinated athleticism, power and tenacity are all fantastic. The only real issue is durability, as he missed a handful of games over his sterling Rebels career. There is a small off-field question regarding the hotel incident with teammate Robert Nkemdiche that does need to be resolved. Even so, Tunsil has all the tools to be an immediate above-average starter in any sort of offensive scheme. Worthy of the No. 1 overall pick.

Decker has optimal size at 6’7” and 315 pounds, and he plays with an outstanding awareness of protecting the edge. His length, smooth kick and powerful punch even from a pass set are quite impressive. He consistently squares his target in both run and pass blocking but also remains capable of adapting on the fly. As I wrote last summer, he still has a bad tendency to play too tall in space, and while he did a better job in 2015 of keeping his pads and center of gravity down while engaged, it remains an issue at times. Very reliable in pass protection against both speed and power, which makes Decker highly valuable as a left tackle prospect. Top 15 talent.

Spriggs is no better than about 10^th on the list if you are basing strictly on collegiate accomplishment. His hands are a wide mess and if he guesses wrong or gets beat on the initial combat, Spriggs is burnt toast. NFL teams will be banking on his easy natural athleticism and movement skills, ability to seek and destroy in space in the run game and brute in-line power. I like that he steadily improved, and played better on an island in Senior Bowl practices than expected. Great fit for a team with an aging veteran LT or one that uses a lot of 2 TE sets while he polishes his skills.

Stanley comes from a program noted for churning out NFL-ready linemen, and his floor is incredibly high. Technically sound and smooth, he excels at hand placement and staying engaged after the initial contact. With this high floor comes a lower ceiling, primarily because he doesn’t play with power. Stanley almost seems afraid to drive into blocks for fear of missing or getting off-balance. As a result, he doesn’t get much power from his core or legs. Power rushers and guys who can go inside or out gave him issues. Late first-rounder who can start right away.

Ifedi plays with incredible width on the edge. He’s quite long naturally at 6’6” with 36” arms, but the three-year starter augments that by taking an unusually wide base stance. He seldom gets beat clean and moves his feet well to stay in contact. Playing the right side at both guard and tackle, Ifedi creates movement and can seal. The biggest concern is his hands can be slow and wide, which leads to a lot of grabbing. Right tackle (or guard) only, but Ifedi could be very good if he can improve his hands and get better depth on his kick step.

I wrote extensively about Conklin and how well he down blocks and uses power and maximum effort on every snap to his advantage. Nobody will bull him, and he eradicates straight-up targets in the run game. He also has truly awful balance for a tackle prospect, the result of terrible footwork and top-heavy movement. Right tackle only who optimally is a right guard, where he could be quite good if he embraces the move inside.

Clark has length and athleticism in spades, with powerful long arms and surprisingly quick feet. Unfortunately he doesn’t utilize that beyond his fantastic initial burst. His hands are slow and he doesn’t ever seem to have a plan beyond his first move. His collegiate scheme will require some technical transition as well. Don’t be surprised if he’s drafted in the top 40 on his athletic potential. Compares to a rawer Duane Brown coming out of Virginia Tech, they win in the same way.

Haeg comes from a run-heavy FCS offense and is very good for a movement-based blocking scheme. He understands angles and has lithe athleticism with some twitch. His outside pass set doesn’t get enough depth and he doesn’t use his length all that well in pass protection yet. A lot to work with as me makes a big jump in level of competition.

Robertson is a player on which I have a limited scope, as I saw just two games. Two games of sheer dominance. He has jolting power that sustains throughout the action, and his feet and hips move with fluid coordination. Biggest issue I saw was inactive hands once he latched on. A D-II player with a lot of real potential, reminds me some of Trent Williams.

Going deeper:

Odhiambo is a skilled player but injuries have ravaged his Boise career. That has impeded progress for a native Kenyan who doesn’t have great football instincts. Might be a OT/OG tweener but if he ever stays on the field he could be a quality starter at either spot.

Toner acquitted himself well during Senior Bowl week and looked impressive at Harvard. Doesn’t look like more than an average athlete but has some power and potential to work with.

Beavers is powerful and often exhibits tremendous short-area prowess, but doesn’t sustain his advantage and overreaches far too often. Probably needs to move to guard.

Lewis would rank higher on pure talent, but he’s got significant character flags that will keep him from being drafted. They might keep him from even getting into a camp.

Cooper at times looks like a future stud right tackle, but his inconsistent play and demeanor make him more of a boom/bust prospect in the middle rounds. Good Fahn Cooper would rank above Haeg, but I only saw that guy about half the time I watched in several Ole Miss games.

Theus showed versatility and outstanding football character at Georgia, but his “Dad Bod” and lack of athletic traits are severely limiting factors at the next level.

There are a few college tackles who I see projecting strictly to guard in the NFL:

• Spencer Drango, Baylor
• Avery Young, Auburn
• Dominick Jackson, Alabama
• Lene Maiava, Arizona State

Two players whom I liked on first blush but haven’t seen enough of to properly rate their potential are Tulane’s Arturo Uzdavinis and Rotchill Medor from Monmouth.