In sitting with NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan, it became obvious that the trend of left tackles being drafted near the top of the first round is likely to continue.

Kirwan said this year’s class features a number of top-flight tackles, but their value is so high that waiting on one to drop into the later rounds is not a good decision. If a team wants or needs a left tackle, it’s going to have to use its first-round pick on one. There just isn’t enough quality depth.

That said, teams can find a number of tackles that can be placed on the right side at later points in the draft.

As always, though, there are exceptions to the rule. Giants LT David Diehl was taken in the fifth round of the 2003 draft, and he is a key contributor for one of the league’s best teams.