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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Draft: Offensive Linemen to Watch

A few offensive linemen to keep an eye on when the NFL Draft kicks off.

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Offensive linemen participate in drills during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. - presented by Florida Hospital.

Early on:** The majority of the offensive linemen projected to be selected in the first round are tackles, led by Alabama's Cam Robinson, Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Utah's Garrett Bolles. Robinson and Ramczyk are graded a first-round prospects by NFL.com while Bolles is graded as a potential first or second-round pick. Robinson is 6-foot-6, 322 pounds and just 21 years old. He has been linked to the Buccaneers in previous mock drafts, but no analysts in the most recent Mock Draft Roundup believe the Bucs will take an offensive lineman at No. 19. Western Kentucky's Forrest Lamp is likely the only guard who will be off the board in the first round and, according to CBS Sports, no centers in this year's class have first-round grades.

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NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock's top 5 players at the offensive line position.

Mid-round picks:** In the weeks leading up to the draft, center has gone from a potential position of need for the Buccaneers to one of the deepest positions on the team's roster. As it stands, third-year pro Ali Marpet will be moving to center. The Bucs also re-signed Joe Hawley, their starter in 2015 and 2016, in March. Evan Smith, a former starting center himself, is still on the roster as well. Keep an eye on USC's Zach Banner, a 6-foot-8, 350-pound tackle who is a former member of the Trojans' basketball team. Some believe Banner could play guard in the NFL in addition to tackle. Texas A&M's Jermaine Elumenor was one of the top performers at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording 34 reps on the bench press, which were tied for the second-most of any player. He could be available as late as the fifth round.

Late-round steals: Adam Pankey was a staple for a West Virginia offense that finished in the top 20 in the nation in several categories. Pankey started 12 games at guard and was on the field for 779 of the team's 816 plays. Behind him, the Mountaineers finished No. 17 in the nation in rushing, No. 18 in first downs and No. 23 in total offense. He could potentially be signed as an undrafted free agent. Other players to keep an eye on following the seventh round include Iowa State's Nick Fett and Marshall's Clint Van Horn.

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