Eagles Notebook: Mayock's take on offensive tackles and interior linemen in NFL draft

FOR THE 12th straight year, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock will break down each of the positions in the draft for the Daily News, providing his assessment of the best player at each position, as well as his top riser and sleeper. Mayock, 54, resides in Newtown Square and is a graduate of the Haverford School. A former safety, he was a 10th-round pick of the Steelers in 1981 and played two seasons with the Giants (1982-83).

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

THE BEST

Name: Luke Joeckel

School: Texas A&M

Height, weight: 6-6, 303

40 time: 5.25

225 bench: 27

Arms: 34 1/4 inches

Round projection: 1

AND

Name: Eric Fisher

School: Central Michigan

Height, weight: 6-7, 306

40 time: 5.03

225 bench: 27

Arms: 34 1/2 inches

Round projection: 1

Mayock: "Joeckel is a little more solid right now than Fisher, but Fisher has more upside. Once or twice a game, every game I watched, somebody crossed Joeckel's face and beat him. But Johnny Football [A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel] cleans all that up because he's so talented. [Joeckel] oversets a little bit, but that's picking nits to be perfectly honest with you. Joeckel is more ready to play right now because of technique and the quality of competition he faced at A&M.

"Fisher has a little more athletic ability and length. His arms are a little longer. When I put his first tape on and was able to see him all week at the Senior Bowl, the first thing I thought of was [49ers left tackle and former Central Michigan star] Joe Staley, and I thought he's better than Joe Staley, which says a lot.

"He's answered every question people had about him. He has proven he has more upper-body strength than people thought he had. He's a prototypical left tackle. Might not be as good a run [blocking] guy right now as Joeckel. But the difference isn't that big."

THE RISER

Name: Terron Armstead

School: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Height, weight: 6-5, 306

40 time: 4.65

225 bench: 31

Arms: 34 inches

Round projection: 2-3

Mayock: "He ran a sub-4.7 40 at his Pro Day. He looks like a tight end running around out there. He's as raw as can be and might be getting pushed up too high because I'm not sure you can plug-and-play him Day 1.

"But some offensive-line coach is going to love working with this kid. Worst case, he's not getting out of the third round. I'd love to see him sit and learn somewhere for a year. But he's got All-Pro potential if he works hard enough.''

THE SLEEPER

Name: Dave Quessenberry

School: San Jose State

Height, weight: 6-5, 302

40 time: 5.06

225 bench: 25

Arms: 34 3/8 inches

Round projection: 4-5

Mayock: "I love his versatility. I know he can play guard, but he's athletic enough to play tackle. He's probably a fourth- or fifth-round pick. If he stays healthy, he's going to play a lot of years in the league because of his versatility."

INTERIOR LINE

THE BEST

Name: Chance Warmack

School: Alabama

Position: guard

Height, weight: 6-2, 317

40 time: 5.49

225 bench: NA

Arms: 34¾ inches

Round projection: 1

AND

Name: Jonathan Cooper

School: North Carolina

Position: guard

Height, weight: 6-2, 311

40 time: 5.06

225 bench: 35

Arms: 33 inches

Round projection: 1

Mayock: "If you asked me to list the 10 best football players in the country, both of them would be in the top 10. They don't play a 'position of value,' but they're both really good.

"Warmack is a road-grader inside in the run game. He's got really long arms. He understands pass protection. I think in 2 years he's an All-Pro interior player.

"Cooper's got great, great feet. When you watch him pull on a screen or pull out to the second level, it's scary. As long as he keeps his weight under control, he's an All-Pro guard. His feet are phenomenal. His ability to adjust in space at 300-plus pounds is pretty cool.

"They both can play in either scheme. But Warmack probably would appeal more to the man teams, and Cooper would appeal more to the zone teams."

THE RISERS

Name: Brian Schwenke

School: California

Position: center

Height, weight: 6-3, 314

40 time: 4.94

225 bench: 31

Arms: 32 inches

Round projection: 2-3

AND

Name: Kyle Long

School: Oregon

Position: guard

Height, weight: 6-4, 313

40 time: 4.91

225 bench: NA

Arms: 33 3/8 inches

Round projection: 2

Mayock: "I love Schwenke on tape. People said he was going to be a little light in the butt and not be able to anchor. But at the Senior Bowl, he had a great week. He's smart. He's tough. He's quick. This kid, to me, is going to end up in the second or third round. He starts Day 1 on a zone team.

"Long, Day 1, he can start as a guard because of his toughness, athletic ability and aggressiveness. You're going to have to live with some issues because he's a converted baseball player. Some technique issues until he learns them.

"But once he learns them, he might even become a tackle because he's got great ability. Teams are getting over the off-the-field issues with him. The kid's built up some equity over the last 2-3 years where he's been good. And once teams meet the kid, they really like him. He's been rising steadily.''

THE SLEEPER

Name: Jeff Bacca

School: UCLA

Position: guard

Height, weight: 6-4, 302

40 time: 4.98

225 bench: NA

Arms: 34 1/2 inches

Round projection: 5

Mayock: "He's played four of the five positions on the line. He can play guard or center. In today's NFL, where on game day, most teams only have seven active linemen, he becomes a very valuable commodity. He's played everywhere but left tackle. I look at him as a very valuable fifth-round pick that's going to play a lot of years in the league because of his versatility."

Thursday: Defensive ends.