Eugene Monroe Scouting Report

After Mississippi's Michael Oher and Alabama's Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe will be the third offensive tackle on most lists. Monroe went through the 2007 season at Virginia pretty underrated and off the radar. But that will not last much longer and Monroe will get plenty of recognition after he wraps up his senior season with the Cavaliers.

At 6-6 and 315 pounds, Monroe has plenty of size, but it is his nimbleness that makes him special. He has some of the best feet anyone will see from an offensive lineman in college this year and he knows how to use them. However, his strength (especially in his legs) is a concern and so is his focus. He will need to address those issues in order to develop into a Pro Bowl caliber left tackle, but he has the pure skill to be a great player in the NFL for a long time.

Even if Monroe does not gain strength between now and the draft, he will still be a first round pick. If he has a solid 2008 season and a solid combine, he could surpass Oher and Smith on some boards and be one of the top few picks in April.

11/24 Update: Monroe has done nothing to make scouts believe that he is not the third best offensive tackle in the draft. In fact, many will have Monroe above Andre Smith of Alabama and only behind Mississippi's Michael Oher. Monroe will still need to have a solid Senior Week and Combine to cement his spot in the top ten, but it is very likely that he will be gone very quickly on draft day.

3/24 Update: Monroe had a solid NFL Combine, but there is more to the story as to why Monroe is considered a top five selection. Alabama's Andre Smith and Mississippi's Michael Oher had disappointing showings and that catapulted Monroe (as well as Baylor's Jason Smith) into the top of the list as far as offensive tackles are concerned. Even if Monroe is the second tackle taken, he will likely be in the top five or six picks in the 2009 NFL Draft.