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08:06 PM ET 01.25 | Offensive tackles are often lumped together over in the corner of unwanted NFL players. But drafting flashy players and ignoring offensive lineman is like building a billion-dollar, beach front mansion with toothpicks as the foundation. Teams that want to sell tickets draft the flashiest player (unless they're solid up front), but teams that want to win, draft for need and not pleasure. Lane Johnson is an offensive tackle out of Oklahoma who is seeing his draft value skyrocket thanks to a great week at the Senior Bowl. Before this week, Johnson was in and out of mock drafts, usually near the bottom five teams in the first round. But Johnson has turned in an impressive performance at practices and drills this week, and in combination with the loss of tackles Taylor Lewan and Jake Matthews, Johnson just got a lot more valuable.

Lane Johnson, AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg

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January 25, 2013 09:24 PM ET

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Mid First Round Rams -Cowboys!!!

Not4Nutten

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January 25, 2013 10:13 PM ET

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Please, Giants, take notice.

SouthernBlueFan

Auburn , AL

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January 26, 2013 06:32 AM ET

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Offensive tackles are "unwanted football players"??? Who wrote this?

A lot of tackles are taken early in the first round every year. It doesn't do any good to get a franchise QB if there isn't anybody protecting him from edge rushers.

DarkArmadillo

San Antonio , TX

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January 26, 2013 06:50 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 06:32 AM ET 01.26 by DarkArmadillo

Offensive tackles are "unwanted football players"??? Who wrote this? A lot of tackles are taken early in the first round every year. It doesn't do any good to get a franchise QB if there isn't anybody protecting him from edge rushers.

And, blind side OT are usually one of the highest paid players on each team!