2016 NFL draft positional breakdown: Offensive line

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We continue our weekly positional breakdowns leading up to the 2016 NFL draft with the offensive linemen. Instead of a traditional top 5, we'll highlight players at these positions who fit the Eagles and have a chance to be available when the team picks. 

At No. 8
Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame, (6-6, 312)
If everything goes in the draft the way we expect it to go, the top offensive lineman off the board will be Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil. If the Tennessee Titans stay at No. 1, many expect Tunsil to come off the board with that pick. Then, it’s Stanley, so he’s a good possibility at No. 8. Stanley came back to Notre Dame in 2015 and had another solid season. He’s played at right and left tackle and could probably be a starter from Day 1 in the NFL. 

Jack Conklin, Michigan State, (6-6, 307)
How close is Conklin to Stanley? Some talent evaluators think he’s significantly lower on the totem pole, while others think he’s right there. Conklin was a quick riser in his college career. He went from being very under-recruited to eventually making it to Michigan State and becoming a legitimate first-round pick. The NFL.com profile of Conklin cites a scout saying he’s “tougher than beef jerky” and compares him to Jon Runyan. 

Outlook: The Eagles still have Jason Peters on the roster and re-signed Lane Johnson to a big extension this offseason. But NFL teams can never have too many offensive linemen and Peters, who's 34, isn’t getting any younger. Howie Roseman said the team wants to get back to drafting offensive linemen and these two are the most likely with that eighth pick. Conklin might be a little early here. 

In the middle 
John Theus, Georgia, (6-6, 313)
About as reliable as they come, Theus was a starter at tackle for most of his time as a Bulldog in the tough SEC, facing some of the best competition in college football. He’s not among the top tackles in this class but would be a solid pick in the third or fourth round. He might not have the upside of some others, but at the worst, he’ll be a competent pro. 

Spencer Drango, Baylor, (6-6, 315)
Drango was a tackle in college in the Big 12 for Baylor, but most see him as an offensive guard at the next level. He was the Big 12 offensive lineman for the second consecutive year in 2015, but he’s still not a top-flight prospect. Drango is stout and strong at the line of scrimmage, so he should be fine as a guard in the league. While he projects as a guard, he could maybe fill in at tackle in a pinch. 

Outlook: If the Eagles don’t take an offensive lineman with the first-overall pick it would be pretty surprising if they didn’t address the position group over the next few rounds. The team wants to make a concerted effort to draft offensive linemen, and there are several in the middle rounds who are appealing. 

Late-round sleeper 
Kyle Friend, Temple, (6-1, 295)
Friend is a possible seventh-round pick or a priority free agent. He isn’t a great prospect, but it’s hard to ignore his strength. He put up 41 reps at 225 on the bench press during Temple’s pro day. The highest number at this year’s combine was 34. His height is an obvious concern, but he might be able to squeak by as a depth interior lineman at the next level. 

Outlook: Honestly, Friend is on this list because he’s a local college prospect, but those 41 reps are hard to ignore. He doesn’t project well in the NFL, but he would probably we worth a late seventh-round pick. Either way, there’s a good chance the Eagles use more than one of their nine draft picks on the O-line, so they could scoop one up late. 

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