Tackle or Guard

Raw, probably will rise if he actually runs a 4.85, but he'll be judged on whether he can lift strong as well. He's actually shown the athleticism that goes with that 40 time, but he's also shown poor technique, including engaging high, having a bit of trouble anchoring, and just outright having trouble in the run game.

 

It was funny, but you might as well make a Colin Branch joke right now. Everyone's argued Bruce Nelson to where I just hope the guy doesn't have a computer.

 

Thanks Mags. Found this on Barnes at Huddle Report:

Strengths
In this draft, Khalif might be the best LT of all the O-linemen, and that is saying a lot because there are a lot of good O-linemen in this draft. He has excellent balance, lateral movement and quickness. He can be used in a pull-trap scheme because he has good foot speed. Khalif has quick feet and does not lunge or get off balance when run blocking and is excellent at getting out in front of an RB to block for a screenplay.

Needs to Improve
Khalif needs is a better PR department at his college. Also, as usual, he needs more upper body strength.

Bottom Line
I’m wondering why no one mentions this kid’s name when they talk about left tackles in this draft? He has 1st round, top ten talent and is an excellent athlete. I know of no character issues on the field or off the field. I would take this kid in a heartbeat over Alex Barron of Florida St. He is much quicker and his lateral movement is much better. Khalif is better at run blocking than Alex and yet I have not heard anyone mentioning his name with the better O-linemen in this draft….so let me be the first! On my personal list, Khalif would be rated in the first round ahead of Alex and I would take him with Alex still on the board and not blink an eye. Let me say this about this draft. This is not a weak draft. This draft is not as good as last year’s draft, but that draft was very unusual. The amount of good O-linemen in this draft is amazing. That alone makes this a good to average draft. Khalif is one of the best pure left tackles in this draft and his talent is equal to Robert Gallery who was the 2nd pick in the draft last year. The difference is that Robert plays with a little more of an edge to his game, but talent wise, Khalif is equal. You read it here first -- remember that!

 

Barron is ranked higher than J Brown most places I''ve seen. J Brown is ranked way higher than E Brown in most of those places I've seen. We have a bigger need at OT, OT is a more critical position, and the player likely to be available at OT is a better prospect IMHO. So I'd go with J Brown. I don't like Barron that much either, but his upside is supposed to be great, so I bet he goes 1st.

 

I'd love it if Barron did go higher than us, and I've seen it roughly 50/50 in my check today of whether he or Brown was higher, but I just don't trust those injuries or the effects of that offense on a guy who never has to block that long.

 

If I had the choice I would trade down to the bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd and take Baas or Elton and then with our second round pick take the best tackle available personally I like Adam Terry. I just think at 14 none of the OL prospects are worth that high a pick plus trading down we can pick up some extra picks. The bottom of this draft looks alot better IMO not many of the cats coming out this year look worthy of the 1st round money.

 

That's the read I'm getting so far too. The way our staff opperates in the off-season I would expect to see them bring a ton of undrafted rooks in and once again try to settle the O-line problems (in part) on the cheap. With as much depth as there seems to be in this years O-line crop they just might have a better chance of lucking into a couple of linemen either later than we are all expecting in the draft and/or by finding that diamond in the rough in the form of a undrafted kid. However, that would likely depend on us bringing in at least one proven mid level vet O-lineman to help stop the bleeding for next season because of the time to develop a couple of non-bluechip rooks.

 

My desire would be to bring in one experienced OL from FA and a high draft pick OL. Our line is too weak to have two rooks starting.

 

Hopefully, there won't be. That's part of why I'd put guard at 3rd or possibly 4th, instead of first or second, because we don't need an immediate starter. Lines get good because they grow their talent, not because they buy them, and while we've got two guys at guard we're letting grow, we could use another. Just don't need one that badly.

 

Absolutely true, but it means teams don't want to trade up either. So unless you're going to trade down for virtually nothing just to get a better money deal with your pick, you might not find a trade partner.