NFL analyst: Scherff top O-lineman, UNI’s Johnson grades high

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock compared Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff to Dallas Cowboys rookie guard Zack Martin and said the Outland Trophy winner is the top offensive linemen entering this year's draft.

Scherff, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound Denison native, started at left tackle for Iowa the last three seasons. Mayock projects Scherff as a better prospect at guard but added that Scherff could play either position.

'I think (Scherff) can play tackle. I think he can start,” Mayock said in a conference call with reporters on Monday. 'I said this about Zack Martin last year. I thought Zach could play all five positions in the offensive line.

I think it's a question of a very similar conversation we had with Zack Martin last year. You could start at left tackle, probably be a good left tackle. You could start at right tackle, be a very good right tackle. As it turned out, he was an All-Pro year one at right guard.

When I look at Brandon Scherff, I see a similar example. I see a bigger kid with longer arms. That lends you to believe that he could play outside more easily.”

Martin helped Dallas running back DeMarco Murray become the NFL's rushing champion. Mayock said Scherff anchor an offensive line for whatever team drafts him.

'I believe (Scherff) can play outside,” Mayock said. 'However, I think his best position, because of his power, his toughness, his football sense, is inside.

'I think he's an All-Pro guard. But that doesn't mean he can't play tackle in the NFL.”

Scherff was a two-time all-Big Ten tackle at Iowa. He was a consensus All-American this year as well as the school third Outland Trophy winner, which goes to the nation's best offensive lineman. Scherff's position flexibility is an asset for whatever team picks him. A majority of mock drafts have the New York Giants selecting Scherff with the ninth overall pick.

'Ill tell you, to me it's intriguing because Brandon Scherff is going to be whatever he's going to be by whatever team picks him,” Mayock said.

Mayock considers Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis 'a high-level player” who potentially could enter the first round.

'Carl Davis from Iowa is a guy that flashed a lot in college but never was quite consistent until Senior Bowl,” Mayock said. '(Davis) had a great Senior Bowl week.”

Mayock graded Northern Iowa running back David Johnson as a third-round pick entering this week's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

'Intriguing kid, tremendous size at running back,” Mayock said of Johnson. 'Combined with an ability to catch the football. I would imagine the game he had against Iowa this year made him and his family feel pretty darn good after not getting recruited by them coming out of high school. He caught 203 yards worth of passes from the tailback position. He's got great hands. He runs routes. He made a couple stutter moves on the linebacker at Iowa that were just awesome. Then he comes to The Senior Bowl and he played really well, did everything well.

'My one nitpick with him would be given his size at 225, 230 pounds, I'd like him to be more consistently physical instead of just kind of bracing for contact. I'd like to see him embrace contact. I'd like to see him be more physical and finish. But I think at this point I've got a third-round grade on him, and he could go even higher.”

Along with Scherff and Davis, Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal and defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat earned combine invitations. Johnson, Iowa State tight end E.J. Bibbs, Linn-Mar native and Stanford defensive tackle David Parry and Arkansas tight end (and former Iowa City High quarterback) A.J. Derby also were invited.

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