More thoughts on why a tackle in the second round might be as good as the tackles likely to be taken in the top five...and, like I said, something for Rams fans to think about before Saturday.
"In another draft none of these guys would be top five," Seattle Seahawks scout Charles Fisher said. "They're good players, but I wouldn't consider any of these guys as pure franchise cornerstones. Branden Albert is more athletic than all these guys."
That's from Bob McGinn's story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which I strongly encourage you to read. (Hat tip to Mocking the Draft).
A little futher down the page, he asks scouts to declare which OT was likely to bust. Andre Smith and Michael Oher get the most votes by far, but perhaps more telling is that the scouts McGinn talks to give the later OT picks - Eben Britton, William Beatty and Phil Loadholt - equally low chances of becoming busts as they do Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe.
Days away from the draft and pundits universally declaring that the Rams will take an OT, this should at least give you pause. And, of course, none of this is to say that the Rams will be sunk if they take Monroe or Smith at #2, not at all. They'll both be fine players, but it does make me wonder if it's not better to take a chance on a guy who could be a real difference maker, like Aaron Curry or Michael Crabtree.