Rating the offensive line:
| Player | School | Ht/Wt. | 40-time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 T Matt Kalil | Southern Cal | 6-7/306 | 4.99 |
| 2 G David DeCastro | Stanford | 6-5/316 | 5.43 |
| 3 T Riley Reiff | Iowa | 6-6/313 | 5.23 |
| 4 T-G Cordy Glenn | Georgia | 6-6/345 | 5.15 |
| 5 T Jonathan Martin | Stanford | 6-5/312 | 5.35 |
| 6 T Mike Adams | Ohio St. | 6-7/323 | 5.40 |
| 7 C Peter Konz | Wisconsin | 6-5/314 | 5.16 |
| 8 G Kevin Zeitler | Wisconsin | 6-4/314 | 5.39 |
| 9 T Bobby Massie | Miss. | 6-6/316 | 5.23 |
| 10 G Jeff Allen | Illinois | 6-4/307 | 5.28 |
Others: T Mitchell Schwartz, California; T Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma; G Amini Solatolu, Midwestern St.; G Brandon Brooks, Miami, Ohio; G James Brown, Troy; T Zebrie Sanders, Florida; C Ben Jones, Georgia; C Michael Brewster, Ohio St.; C David Molk, Michigan.
(Note: Position ratings on Detroitlions.com are based on research with no input from Lions coaches or scouts.)
Lions depth chart: The starting five is intact for the fifth straight year - LT 
Reviewing the 2011 OL draft: 34 were drafted - 18 tackles, 16 guards but no true centers. Six tackles and two guards were first-round draft picks.
The all-rookie team, as picked by the Pro Football Writers: Center, Mike Pouncey, Dolphins; Tackles, Tyron Smith, Cowboys, Nate Solder, Patriots; Guards, Danny Watkins, Eagles, Stefen Wisniewski, Raiders. Wisniewski was a second-round draft pick. The other four were first-rounders.
Lions 2011 pick: The only offensive lineman they took was tackle Johnny Culbreath of South Carolina State on the seventh round. He missed all of the season with a health issue.
Twentyman on the 2012 draft class: USC tackle Matt Kalil has all the attributes to be an elite tackle for the next 10 years. There aren't a lot of holes in his game. After Kalil, there are question marks with Riley Reiff, Mike Adams and Jonathan Martin, though all are expected to be first-round picks. I really like Cordy Glenn as both a guard and tackle prospect in the NFL.
O'Hara on the 2012 draft class: Tackle Matt Kalil of Southern Cal is the standout prospect in this year's group. After that, there are almost as many first-round guard prospects as tackles, and that's unusual. Cordy Glenn, Mike Adams and Jonathan Martin will go off the board in the second half of the first round.
Twentyman on the OL draft impact on Lions: The Lions have all five starters returning up front, but I wouldn't be upset if they drafted a left tackle of the future or a player like DeCastro or Glenn who could play guard for the next 10 years. The Lions have immediate needs at other spots, but you can never have enough skilled 300 pounders up front.
O'Hara on the OL draft impact on the Lions: The primary immediate need is a cornerback. Offensive line comes after that because of age on the offensive line. If an offensive lineman is drafted high, he'll probably serve an apprenticeship as a rookie. Cordy Glenn appeals to me most late on the first round because of his size and athleticism.
