The guard position in this draft is as good as I have seen in my twenty of years of covering the NFL draft. Quenton Nelson is the best guard prospect I have watched on tape since David DeCastro. He has everything you are looking physically and technically. There are not many flaws in his game.

Here are our top ten guards and some thoughts on the position.

XNOJOE’S Top Ten Guards

1. Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame, 6-5 325

2. Will Hernandez, UTEP, 6-2 327

3. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia, 6-2 313

4. Braden Smith, Auburn, 6-5 315

5. Wyatt Teller, VA Tech, 6-5 308

6. Brendan Mahon, Penn State, 6-4 315

7. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State, 6-2 318

8. Cole Madison, Washington State, 6-5 315

9. Taylor Hearn, Clemson, 6-5 330

10. Colby Gossett, Appalachian State, 6-5 320

Thoughts on the Position

• –Quenton Nelson is big, long, physical and fundamentally sound. He moves well in all directions and is effective as a puller. Nelson has the athleticism necessary to be effective in space. He plays with a mean streak and is legitimately nasty. Nelson has the disposition necessary to play the game at a high level.

• Will Hernandez of UTEP is a phone booth mauler who gets inside hand position on a consistent basis and wins on one on one blocks. Hernandez is athletic and get defenders in space and stay on them. Hernandez is a solid short area pass blocker. He is a bit short armed which could be an issue against bigger tackles.

• Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn is stout. He is a physical run blocker who takes good angles and gets good positioning on a defender. Wynn operates well in space and is effective on plays where he is pulling. Wynn also moves well laterally and can speed and power rushers in pass pro.

• I really like Auburn’s Braden Smith. He is athletic for his size and a natural bender. Smith can handle shade and three technique tackles one on one and he shows enough vertical movement to get off a double team and block a defender in space. Smith needs to play with a better pad level in pass pro. Gives up his chest way too much and loses ground in the pocket as a result.

• Virginia Tech’s Wyatt Teller is thinly built but athletic and can move well in all four directions. Teller is especially effective on zone running schemes to the outside. Teller moves well in space and can locate and engage a moving target and block them. He plays a little high at times which limits his ability to anchor down in closed quarters.

• Penn State’s Brendan Mahon is a lunch pail type guard. He is a physical run blocker who gets good hand placement and takes good Angeles. Mahon is also a good pass blocker who sets quickly, can punch and recoil. He will struggle against speed rusher who can take the gap but he is more than capable of holding his own inside in pass protection.

• If you want a sleeper in this group, look no further than App State’s Colby Gossett. He has the size and the technical skill to potential start at the next level. I don’t buy this small school narrative some scouts are throwing around about Gossett. He is a strong run blocker and moves well in space as a pass blocker.

The career of Nelson will define this position down the road. Don’t sleep on Hernandez and Wynn however. Both have a chance to go in the first round and both could be just as impactful as Nelson in their rookie season.