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Lions draft outlook: Offensive tackles

Two of the major college all-star games took place last Saturday. The Senior Bowl happens this Saturday, with practices all week.

Many of the players selected in May’s draft will come from these three games or from underclassmen who decided the time was right to turn professional. Over the next two weeks, pairing with our position outlook series, we’ll take a quick preview look at some names to become familiar with over the next four months as the NFL draft process crawls along.

Today continues with offensive tackles. The Detroit Lions appear to be set with their starters for the future at the position, but could use depth, which means the team could pick one in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft and see what happens.

Previous looks: Quarterbacks; Running backs; Wide receivers; tight ends.

NFLPA game:

  • Brent Qvale (6-5 5/8, 321, Nebraska). Played tackle and guard in college, and started at left tackle at the end of the 2013 season. No. 37 tackle

  • Ryan McGrath (6-6, 304,Ohio) Played right tackle at Ohio last season and, according to the Bobcats, graded out at a 1.8 for the season. No. 36 tackle.

  • Evan Finkenberg (6-3 7/8, 296, Arizona State) Multiyear starter for the Sun Devils. Has played guard and tackle. No. 51 tackle.

  • Jared Biard (6-7 7/8, 317, Colorado State). Started 24 games at tackle for Colorado State. No. 34 tackle.

  • Kenarious Gates (6-4 3/8, 319, Georgia) Has played tackle and guard, including time at left tackle for the Bulldogs. No. 21 tackle.

  • Josh Wells (6-5 1/2, 307, James Madison). Played high school football as a quarterback. Became a tight end, then a defensive lineman, then an offensive lineman at JMU. No. 31 tackle.

Shrine Game:

  • Justin Britt (6-5 5/8, 320, Missouri) Played both left and right tackle at Missouri. Fun fact, in his Missouri bio, he listed “beating everyone at football on XBox 360” as one of his hobbies. No. 40 tackle.

  • Donald Hawkins (6-5 1/4, 314, Texas) Starter at left tackle his two seasons at Texas. Was named second-team All-Big 12. Fun fact -- his nickname, according to him, is Franchise. No. 22 tackle.

  • Kevin Graf (6-5 1/2, 295, USC). Three year starter at tackle for the Trojans. No. 35 tackle.

  • Dan Kistler (6-6 3/4, 313, Montana). Started at both guard and tackle for the Grizzlies. No. 28 tackle.

  • Charles Leno (6-4 1/8, 293, Boise State). Started at both right and left tackle over the past three seasons for the Broncos. No. 26 tackle.

Senior Bowl prospects:

  • Michael Schofield (6-6 1/4, 309, Michigan, No. 78 North). Started at both guard and tackle over the past three seasons at Michigan. Can play both in the pros. No. 16 tackle.

  • Seantrel Henderson (6-7, 340, Miami (Fla.) No. 76 North). One of the top recruits in the country in high school. Started at right tackle for the Hurricanes. No. 12 tackle.

  • Brandon Thomas (6-3 5/8, 307, Clemson, No. 75 North). Two-year first-team All-ACC for the Tigers. Played both guard and tackle at Clemson. No. 14 tackle.

  • Billy Turner (6-5, 309, North Dakota State, No. 72 South). Started 56 games. Two-time All-American. Didn’t allow a sack, according to the North Dakota State website, during his senior year at left tackle. No. 17 tackle.

Others not in major all-star games:

  • Brett Van Sloten (6-5 1/8, 301, Iowa). Made 25 straight starts at right tackle. Also played with Riley Reiff at Iowa. No. 18 tackle.