Draft Spotlight: Offensive Tackle

Chris Samuels was a rock on the Redskins offensive line.

And that should be the last time the Redskins look backward or internally for a solution to their hole at Left Tackle.

The Skins have no left tackles of note to speak of on their roster. Looking internally for Samuels' replacement is a fool-hardy (and with this Skins administration, probably unlikely) possibility.

Available in this year's draft are several top-tier, though not otherworldly, prospects at left tackle.

Oklahoma State's Russell Okung (6'7, 300 pounds) led most draft boards at the position all season long. He's done nothing to dissuade that notion in his postseason workouts. He's known for his run blocking; the Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing the past four years. Coincidentally, Okung started for four years.

Rutger's Anthony Davis (6'7, 330 pounds) is an intriguing prospect. Described by Scouts, Inc. as having "brute strength", his evaluation also reveals inconsistent tendencies. Coaching at the NFL level should do him some good, and he may ultimately be better than Okung because of his enormous frame.

Maryland's Bruce Campbell has raised eyebrows with his size (6'7, 310 pounds) and physical traits: a 490-pound bench press and a 4.85 40-yard dash, the fastest time at this year's combine among big boys up front. However, Campbell is regarded as even more inconsistent than Davis and needs coaching to tap into his potential.

Iowa's Bryan Bulaga (6'5, 315 pounds) is closing in on the #2 left tackle position in the draft because of his solid fundamentals. Scouts, Inc. gives Bulaga above average grades in all areas, including Awareness, Toughness, Pass Protection and Run Blocking. He also possesses tremendous intangibles which remind some of Joe Thomas, the #3 overall pick several years ago. He's seen as a safe bet, while Campbell and Davis are seen as higher-risk, higher-reward prospects.

Oklahoma's Trent Williams struggled at times at the left tackle position and many scouts see him as a right tackle.

With the fourth pick in the first round, the Redskins should have a good shot at Okung. He seems to be the best choice for the Skins, based on his overall grade and consistency. If some team were to nab Okung, which is unlikely considering the hype surrounding top prospects (DT's Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh, and QB Sam Bradford), the Skins could possibly look to slide down in the top 10 to nab Bulaga, or the top 15 to pick up Campbell or Davis.

But take all Redskins draft advice with a grain of salt: many draft pundits predict the Skins will make a play for OU's Sam Bradford, he of the Blessed Arm and Cursed Injury History. That said, those same pundits were left speechless when the New York Jets took USC's Mark Sanchez, not the Redskins.