Any time an OT prospect comes in under 320 and under 6'5", he's going to automatically get tagged with an "or OG" label. Happens every single year without fail. It's like the lab didn't create all of them at 6'6" 325 with 35" arms so they can't be a LT. Hey, a lot of times that's correct, won't say it's not. But then you have guys like Wirfs who got tabbed as an RT or OG. You have Slater. You have Ekwonu. Even Fautanu last year, and then got stuck at RT immediately.

I don't think Banks is going to fail at OT in this league, I just don't.

Did you just put a clip up yesterday talking about how there are going to be 3 top 10 OLs taken and how each of them are premier OT prospects?

Everyone's all over the road here and there's no reason to just presume that Simmons would've just blown past any of them.

The issue isn't Banks in a vacuum -- it's Banks in comparison to Simmons. And there's just nothing about Simmons that's better than Banks. You wanna live and die over a half inch of arm length (when the tape was wonky at the combine to begin with)?

All banks has ever done was be REALLY good at LT even starting as true freshman. And I'm suppose to just handwaive that in favor of what someone who was largely only mediocre over 3 years in college prior to a season where he blew out his patella because he beat the brakes off Alcorn State?

I'm not even completely convinced that Zabel or Milum are 'doomed' to the IOL. Though Zabel also has wingspan issues to go with the arm length which suggests he can't use technique and just being generally broad to help him out the way someone like Banks can.

Banks arms are a little shorter than ideal, yes. But his wingspan is ENORMOUS. Which means he's just a broad dude. And we've seen guys be successful at OT by simply being big enough to take an extra step to get around. And Banks feet are fine -- he's not a slug out there by any means. The wingspan and broad build will play up because of that.

He can -- and will -- be a successful OT in this league, IMO.

I don't know about Zabel and Milum. We're talking two dudes at 32". I think 33" is already pushing it with a guy like Campbell, who is just stellar in almost every other area. If I had to pick one, it'd be Milum, but I think he's going to move to LG and be a Thuney-like rock there. Zabel seems to be a lock to move into OC in the mold of Mitch Morse.

If we can get Banks, sign me the f' up. I don't see how he doesn't go in the top 18 though.

I think those are both the most likely outcomes, for sure.

Zabel, in particular, looks like a C in the making. Most teams likely won't even give him a shot at OT.

I'm just saying that I think draft heads get in a hell of a rush to write some of these guys off. There are some squads that might see a path to a viable OT there.

Zabel's a very tough one, though. I can't complain too loudly about anyone that just calls him an IOL. That length is such a bummer for him because man do I like so much of what else he brings to the table.

He’s going in the top 13. That clip I posted yesterday pretty much confirms that.

And like DJ was saying, he can play, but I am not confident teams want him as a LT. It seems he’s gonna be a RT or possibly G.

I really like Banks. I’m just not sure where the talk of a weak class is coming from? It’s most likely arm length if I had to guess

Well to your point, I think it's the lack of prototypical LT sorts.

It's a weak LT class if Banks, Membou and Campbell are RTs.

And there's no Joe Alt at the top of it.

'Tackles' it's a pretty ordinary class but weaker at LT unless a couple of those guys stick at LT.

I just see no reason to say any of them can't and Simmons is a prototype. A half inch of arm length? Because it ain't experience or movement skills.

It's why I keep saying that he's not getting the full roto rooter treatment that a healthier player would've gotten. People stop at the injury. But had he been healthy, I see no reason to presume he's any more likely to stick at LT than the 'big 3' from the class.

Not sure where to put this, but in Schefter's podcast, he said Pittsburgh is absolutely willing to move back from 21. That opens a trade door. It's rare that Pittsburgh trades down.

Edit:

Here's the excerpt from his column as well:

For giggles, ran that through Dunc's sim.

We had to deal 31 and 66 for 21. The following are on the board:

Pearce
Emmanwori
Simmons
Starks
Grant
Harmon
Nolen
Egbuka
Burden

Who's the pick and was it worth it?

Oooff. Talk about a tough call.

I probably go Harmon, but man oh man, Burden or Egbuka would be SO tempting. Probably too tempting for me to skip one of them. How's Harmon's medicals, again??

The other thing he talked about at length in the podcast was that teams aren't making deals that much because they feel the meat and potatoes of this draft are in rounds 2 and 3 and that players selected anywhere after the middle of round 1 are probably going to be the same around pick 100 before it really drops off.

So, would it be worth it? Doubtful.

For the guys wanting a Nolen or a Harmon or Williams, that might be a doorway. Maybe even a Banks if he slips.

Nolen might be the only player I'd do it for out of that group.

Took Nolen, both Egbuka and Burden were there at 31.

Have a feeling I'm going to hate R2/3 because I'm missing out on someone unless I can trade back.

And Burch went the pick before me.

****.

EDIT: Yep, I hate it.