Conventional NFL draft wisdom suggests that you don't draft centers in the first round, but Florida's Maurkice Pouncey could be the exception.
One of the latest tools that teams use is the 10-year chart.
They'll go back 10 years and try to put a value on a position based on success or failure of players over that period.
"As an example, on this 10-year chart it tells you that over the past 10 years that there have been 13 guards drafted in the first round," said Gil Brandt, an analyst for NFL.com and former Dallas Cowboys personnel executive. "So if you're trying to make a decision between ... a guard, and some other player, at a different position, in all probability you're better off going to the other position because you find out that there's some very, very good guards and centers that were drafted in the second and third and fourth round."
From 2000-09 only five centers were drafted in the first round, and none was selected higher than the 21st pick.
Last year, Cleveland selected Alex Mack 21st overall, and Buffalo selected Eric Wood with the 28th pick.
In 2006, the New York Jets selected Nick Mangold with the 29th pick. In 2005, Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th pick. In 2003, Cleveland selected Jeff Faine with the 21st pick.
The group of five has just two Pro Bowl trips, both belonging to Mangold.
Pouncey, who also played some right guard at Florida, could set a new path for the next 10 years.
In several mock drafts, he has been linked to the Denver Broncos who pick 11th, Pittsburgh (18th) and the Falcons (19th).
Pouncey entered the draft after his junior season, in part, so that his brother, Mike, could takeover for him at center for the Gators.
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