Laken Tomlinson 2015 NFL Draft Preview
By Chris Brown
With the 2015 NFL Draft less than one week away, we’ll take a look at several key graduating players from Duke and where they are projected to go in the upcoming NFL Draft.
More from Duke Blue Devils News
- Duke basketball: The architect behind digital dominance
- NC State vs. Duke prediction and odds for Tuesday, February 28 (Have faith in Blue Devils)
- Pitt vs. Duke prediction and odds for Wednesday, January 11 (Blue Devils strong at home)
- Duke Blue Devils news: Recruiting updates, Coach K wins award, more
- Duke Blue Devils news: Resume gets major boost, women dominate, more
Offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson is currently the highest rated Blue Devil entering this 2015 NFL draft class. CBS and Sports Illustrated have Tomlinson ranked as the #1 overall prospect at the OG position in this year’s draft. He is widely projected to be drafted in the first three rounds by most mock drafts:
- 1st round pick by the New England Patriots (#32 overall, Daniel Jeremiah-NFL Network)
- 2nd round pick (CBS Sports)
- 2nd round pick (NFL Draft Scout)
- 2nd round pick by the San Diego Chargers (#48 overall, DraftTek)
- 2nd round pick by the Houston Texans (#51 overall, WalterFootball)
- 3rd round pick by the New Orleans Saints (#75 overall, NFL Draft Geek)
- 3rd round pick by the Detroit Lions (#88 overall, DraftSite)
- 3rd round pick by the New England Patriots (#97 overall, Bleacher Report)
Live Feed
With the First Pick
Tomlinson would be a good fit for a team looking for one of the top offensive guard prospects to protect their quarterback. Scouts report that he’s got good size and strength for an NFL offensive lineman at 6-3 and 323 lbs, has a very high football IQ, and has a great work ethic that Duke coach David Cutcliffe was “blown away” by, saying Tomlinson never missed a practice in his career with the Blue Devils. The only knock against Tomlinson is his speed and mobility, which is still good compared to other OG prospects and aren’t crucial for the position he plays.
Laken Tomlinson was a senior captain and All-ACC offensive lineman for Duke, also receiving NCAA All-America honors this season. After football, he also has aspirations to attend medical school graduating with a double major in evolutionary anthropology and in May. The 2015 NFL Draft will be held April 30-May 2 in the Jamaican-born Tomlinson’s US hometown Chicago, IL.