We'll be running the offensive line story that usually appears in the preseason annual on the website in the next week or so. While researching it, the focus on these players (mostly offensive tackles) at the top of drafts stood out to me. It wasn't surprising, but it was more than I expected.
While you hear a lot about the NFL's desire to land franchise quarterbacks (there were 6 taken in the first 12 picks this year) and the incoming talent at wide receiver (there were 7 first-rounders in April), both positions fall short of the way offensive linemen have been snapped up in the first round of recent drafts. Almost a quarter of first-round picks across the last three seasons have been used on linemen.
This year, there were 9 offensive linemen drafted in the first round, tying for most at the position since the 1970 merger. The tie is with 2022 (and also 2013), making it the second time in three years there have been nine offensive linemen selected in Round 1.
Table shows the distribution by position group of first-round picks in the last three drafts. Offensive line accounts for more than 24 percent, while defensive line players account for a fifth. Quarterback is down at 1 in 10, and not surprisingly, just 2 of 95 first-round picks the last three years have been spent on running backs.
| POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN, DRAFT RD 1 (2022-2024) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total | % |
| Offensive line | 9 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 24.2% |
| Defensive line | 6 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 20.0% |
| Wide receiver | 6 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 17.9% |
| Defensive back | 7 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 14.7% |
| Quarterback | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 10.5% |
| Linebacker | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8.4% |
| Running back | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2.1% |
| Tight end | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2.1% |
This is a small sample set of drafts, and maybe just an unusually good crop of offensive tackles lately. But when you see almost a third of the first-round draft picks used on linemen twice in the past three years, it starts to look like a trend.
This year specifically, there were three teams who I was pleased to see used their top picks -- all in the top 12 -- on offensive line. First up was the Chargers, selecting Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt (pictured), surprising I guess to those who believed (hoped) Jim Harbaugh would be selecting a wide receiver that high. Not the new mindset in town; they settled for Ladd McConkey in the second. The Titans had an even greater need; their line was a disaster a year ago, and they've especially struggled at the tackle spot, so drafting Alabama's JC Latham 7th overall was a good move. If they want Will Levis to be able to get the ball to Hopkins, Ridley, Boyd and everyone else at the skill positions, best to keep him from getting killed if possible.
The Jets selected Penn State's Olu Fashanu at 11th overall. New York has to protect Aaron Rodgers, and free agent signing Tyron Smith has been, how do you say, not durable. Best to line up a lot of options there to keep their 40-year-old passer upright.
--Andy Richardson