In terms of the Draft, this is not the strongest class of tackles we have seen recently. Even last year there were two tackles taken in the first six picks in Trent Williams (Washington) and Russel Okung (Seattle). But this year, there might not even be a tackle taken in the top ten.
Whenever it happens, USC's Tyron Smith is in the conversation to be the first tackle taken off the board. Andrew Carter of the Orlando Sentinel recently compared Smith to another top tackle in the Draft, Boston College's Anthony Castonzo. Here is what he found.
If it's a question of talent alone it'd be difficult to pass up Smith. But Castonzo is more the sure-thing entering the league. Unlike Smith, Castonzo was an unheralded signee entering college. He had to work for every opportunity and he made the most of his chance.
In a league where teams can easily fall in love with potential, I would expect to see Smith go first. but the team that drafts Castonzo will probably see a more immediate impact, and could eventually wind up with the better player.