BYU's Bright tops local prospects

Editor's notes: This is the fourth in a nine-part series previewing the NFL draft on April 25-26. Today's installment is a look at the offensive line.

Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith was once expected to be one of the top two or three picks in this weekend's NFL draft.

But in the days leading up to and after the Crimson Tide's loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl, Smith has made some questionable decisions and had his stock modestly drop.

He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl because of possible contact with an agent, disappeared from the scouting combine early without working out, and then flabbily ran the 40-yard dash with his shirt off at his pro-day workout at Alabama. Last week, Smith fired his original agent and hired a new one.

Obviously, NFL draft prospects have made greater missteps than Smith, and just how far he'll slip in the draft remains to be seen. Smith, the Outland Trophy award winner who dominated opponents at Alabama, is now expected to go later in the draft than fellow tackles Jason Smith of Baylor and Virginia's Eugene Monroe.

Some mock drafts have Andre Smith slipping into the 20s of the first round. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said in a conference call last week that he'll probably stay in the top 10.

"He very logically could be the pick at six (going to the Cincinnati Bengals)," Mayock said of Andre Smith. "I'm convinced and I think the NFL is convinced that most of what we saw at the combine was more about immaturity than him being a bad kid. He needs to grow up and take things more seriously. He's a talented kid."

With Andre Smith's stock dipping since he was suspended for the Sugar Bowl, Baylor's Jason Smith has likely become the first offensive lineman to be drafted this weekend. He appears to be the most NFL-ready of the available tackles and is projected by many to go to the Rams with the second pick of the first round.

Mayock believes Monroe is the draft's best player and that the Lions should take him No. 1.

"He has the best feet of any tackle in the draft," Mayock said. "In the NFL the one thing I've learned is that (with) the left tackle position, the run blocking is not as big a deal. You better protect your quarterback, and I think Monroe is the best pass-protection left tackle in this draft."

A record eight offensive tackles went in the first round last year. It will probably take two rounds for eight of them to be selected in the 2009 draft. The two Smiths and Monroe represent the top of the class.