What is the fascination with drafting an offensive lineman in the top-ten? Each year you hear about a top-flight offensive lineman that’s projected as a “can’t miss” prospect, but after the late April spectacle known as the NFL Draft, his name fades into obscurity.

This year’s top offensive lineman is Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas. Thomas is considered to be a franchise caliber bookend who will dominate defenders for the next 10 – 15 years. But as long as I’ve been covering the draft, the same thing is mentioned every year about the best offensive lineman on the board.

Is Thomas going to be a dominate offensive lineman at the next level? I don’t see it.

Looking back at this decade’s drafts, the previous six drafts, in five out of the six an offensive lineman was taken in the top-ten. The one year an offensive lineman wasn’t taken in the top-ten was in 2005, when the New Orleans Saints took Oklahoma’s Jammal Brown (13th overall). Brown was named an All-Pro this past season.

The players that were taken in the top-ten since the 2000 draft are as follows: Chris Samuels (3rd overall in 2000), Leonard Davis (2nd overall in 2001), Mike Williams (4th overall in 2002;

Note: Bryant McKinnie was also a top-ten pick, 7th overall), Jordan Gross (8th overall in 2003), Robert Gallery (2nd overall in 2004), and D’Brickashaw Ferguson (4th overall in 2006).

It’s too early to predict what Ferguson will amount to with the New York Jets, but I think it’s safe to say that the only offensive lineman that’s lived up to his potential is Samuels. With the Redskins, Samuels has appeared in multiple Pro Bowls and is widely considered to be one of the top tackles in the National Football League.

The two former Texas Longhorns, Davis and Williams, have been busts and have not adapted to the NFL. Davis is currently a free agent who is destined to leave the Arizona Cardinals, while Williams is becoming a journeyman early in his career.

Jordan Gross and Robert Gallery are in similar situations thus far. Both have had difficulty grasping the NFL game and struggle against physical, speedy defensive ends. Gallery was hampered by injuries last season, but was a mainstay on the Oakland offensive line the previous two seasons. Gross, who hasn’t missed a game in his four-year NFL career, has been shuffled around on the Panthers offensive line and hasn’t been able to get comfortable.

Both players are viewed as being disappointments and need to step up their games to qualify themselves as worthy high draft picks.

Getting back to this year’s draft, the offensive tackle position is a bit thin this year and Thomas is the best of all tackles available. Penn State’s Levi Brown is another highly regarded tackle, and in my opinion, I believe he will become a better player than Thomas.

Drafting Thomas in the top-five is a mistake for any of the teams selecting in that vicinity. One reason why I believe tackles that are drafted high are not successful is because the team that drafts them isn’t that good. It’s expected that a team drafting first or second overall is going to be in a rebuilding situation, and the team believes that drafting a highly regarded lineman will restructure their offensive line. It just doesn’t work that way.

To have a dominate offensive line, you must have a philosophy. It’s great to get a “blue chip” lineman, but if you surround him with “B” talent, that “blue chip” prospect becomes mediocre. All the rumors I’ve been hearing have the Detroit Lions selecting Thomas with the second pick. If that happens, it will be the biggest mistake the Lions organization… well they’re known for mistakes in the first round.

I am sure Lions fans remember; you may want to close your eyes right now, Bryant Westbrook (5th overall in 1997), Terry Fair (20th overall in 1998), Chris Claiborne (9th overall in 1999), Aaron Gibson (27th overall in 1999), Stockar McDougle (20th overall in 2000), Joey Harrington (3rd overall in 2002), Charles Rogers (2nd overall in 2003), and Mike Williams (10th overall in 2005).
 
But after seeing the Lions miss more than hit in the first round this past decade, I am pretty sure Detroit will make another mistake.

Drafting a franchise quarterback is the right move for the Lions. Either JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn are better options than drafting Thomas. A team that needs a player like Thomas is the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have their franchise quarterback, a star running back, and two All-Pro wide receivers. The only thing missing from Arizona’s offense is a potential “standout” tackle to protect Matt Leinart.

So on a sunny, late April afternoon in New York and another cloudy draft day for the Lions, Commissioner Roger Goodell will make his way to the podium at Radio City Music Hall with a smirk and announce:

“With the second pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions [make another mistake] select Joe Thomas; tackle from the University of Wisconsin.”

… It was only a dream Detroit, here’s your answer. In the first round select Notre Dame quarterback Quinn. Begin the process of developing a young, franchise quarterback behind a capable veteran that’s already on board in Jon Kitna.

In the second round (34th overall), there will be some nice options to choose from as far as offensive tackles are concerned. Aaron Sears (Tennessee), Tony Ugoh (Arkansas), Joe Staley (Central Michigan), Ryan Harris (Notre Dame), and Doug Free (Northern Illinois) will all be available, it’s just up to Lions’ GM Matt Millen and the front office to decide which one fits their offense the best.

The highly touted offensive guard from Auburn, Ben Grubbs, may also be available with the Lions second round pick. The key for any team needing help on the offensive line is to be patient. Every year teams that wait for offensive line talent are rewarded with excellent prospects that eventually emerge as top-tier players.