2016 NFL Draft: Best rounds for right tackles

The Tennessee Titans are focused on finding a right tackle in the 2016 NFL Draft.

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While many think they must take that position in the first round, but I don’t think that is true. The Titans had a ton of cap space this offseason and didn’t go all out to sign a big name right tackle even with players like Andre Smith and Mitchell Schwartz available.

He is a smart GM and I believe that he is comfortable taking someone in the second round or later and letting Byron Bell be the stop gap. Mainly because everything he has done to this point screams that he is a capable GM that wouldn’t force himself into a hole on draft day i.e. being put into a position where you have to lose a trade to get the guy you need.

I believe that he has done his work on this top and has extensively looked at the history of the right tackle position and compared it to this year to decide where the sweet spot for a right tackle may be. So, let’s do the same and find where the top right tackles have been taken in the past.

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It is almost impossible to find a good ranking of right tackles in the NFL. You would think the Pro Bowl would be a good indicator, but no the Pro Bowl only picks left tackle and moves them around.

Alright, the All-Pro list is better anyway right, because it is less subjective? Well, no actually it isn’t. Apparently every major list you can find has decided that the right tackle position doesn’t exist and that they are just going to pick the best left tackles.

However, of course Matt Miller of Bleacher Report to the rescue. He has done a great job the past few years putting together lists ranking every starter (and sometimes going even deeper) by their position. So, let’s look at his rankings and see where the best right tackles have been taken in the past.

2013 season

1. Zach Strief, New Orleans Saints: 7th round

2. Sebastian Vollmer, New England Patriots: 2nd round

3. Doug Free, Dallas Cowboys: 4th round

4. Demar Dotson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: UDFA

5. Orlando Franklin, Denver Broncos: 2nd round

2014 season

1. Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay: 1st round

2. Ricky Wagner, Baltimore Ravens: 5th round

3. Sebastian Vollmer, New England Patriots: 2nd round

4. Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles: 1st round

5. Demar Dotson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: UDFA

2015 season

1. Mitchell Schwartz, Cleveland Browns: 2nd round

2. Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles: 1st round

3. Marcus Gilbert, Pittsburgh Steelers: 2nd round

4. Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers: 1st round

5. Bobby Massie, Arizona Cardinals: 4th round

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So the final tally is:

1st rounders: 4/15 times ranked top-5

2nd rounders: 5/15 times ranked top-5

4th rounders: 2/15 times ranked top-5

5th rounders: 1/15 times ranked top-5

7th rounders: 1/15 times ranked top-5

UDFA: 2/15 times ranked top-5

However, the only multiple time appearances on this list are Lane Johnson, Bryan Bulaga, and Demar Dotson. That is two first round picks and one UDFA which is sort of strange.

So, you could say that if the Titans wanted to play the numbers and pick someone like Germain Ifedi in the second round, history shows that they have a better chance of having at least one year of elite production. However, if they want a player who is great consistently they need to find their right tackle in round one in players like Jack Conklin, Ronnie Stanley or Taylor Decker.

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