As the NFL Draft approaches, one name that appears to be rising up draft boards is that of Indiana left tackle Rodger Saffold.
Saffold, who was a four-year starter at Indiana, seems to be benefiting from what many predict will be a run on tackles in the first round.
Saffold is 6-4, 316 and Peter King predicts he won’t last past the Indianapolis Colts, who pick at No. 31. That’s interesting, considering Saffold was considered a third rounder only a few months ago.
A strong performance at the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL Scouting Combine seem to have moved Saffold up, so that begs the question – will the tackle-needy Green Bay Packers look at him if they stay at No. 23.
It’s hard to get inside Ted Thompson’s head, but he suggested last week the Packers may not take a tackle at all and they certainly won’t reach to select one. Unless the Packers have seen something amazing from Saffold, we’d consider the possibility of the team drafting him to be small.
Still, he’s a name worth noting.
The top tackles in the draft seem to be stacking up as follows.
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Trent Williams, Oklahoma
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
Anthony Davis, Rutgers
Charles Brown, USC
Rodger Saffold, Indiana
Bruce Campbell, Maryland
The first three will surely be gone by No. 23 and the final two are borderline first-round selections at best.
