Supply will likely meet demand for offensive tackles at the top of the draft this month. At least three tackles -- Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, Trent Williams of Oklahoma and Bryan Bulaga of Iowa -- figure to be taken in the first 10 picks of the first round on April 22.
At least five teams in the first eight picks have need of one -- the Redskins (No. 4), Chiefs (5), Seahawks (6), Raiders (8) and Bills (9). The Lions, who pick second, also have a need, but may not be able to resist one of the two elite defensive tackles at the top.
But what about the teams that miss out? Do they go for high risk picks Bruce Campbell (Maryland) or Anthony Davis (Rutgers), or settle for a second-tier tackle like Charles Brown of USC?
Or maybe trade for the Ravens' Jared Gaither, who is believed to be available for the price of a second-round pick?
Consider this scenario making the rounds: Buffalo, which needs both a quarterback and a left tackle, takes quarterback Jimmy Clausen with its ninth pick and trades its second (No. 41 overall) to the Ravens for Gaither.
Or this scenario: Oakland takes Clausen at No. 8 and trades its second-round pick (No. 39 overall) to the Ravens for Gaither.
The Ravens should have takers for Gaither, if, in fact, they have had enough of his half-baked work ethic. Gaither would have a better starting point than raw rookies coming into the NFL, but those top rookies probably have a better long-term projection.