2013 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

It's that time of year again ... Christmas! Well, Christmas month to the NFL Draft dweebs like myself. We're going to bring you the best prospect coverage we can leading up to the 2013 NFL Draft, and this year I'll be taking over the prospect profiles from Ed.

I'm going to start with the biggest name prospects because, quite frankly, I don't think there is too much more we can learn about them during Senior Bowl Week, the NFL Combine, or their Pro Days. I'm also going to profile even players who project to be drafted in the top 10 because I'm a dreamer.

We start our Prospect Profile series with Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckle. Joeckle is a terrific offensive line prospect on the same talent wave length as Joe Thomas, Jake Long, Trent Williams and players of that ilk who have been selected in the top five of the draft in the last decade.

[Complete SB Nation Draft Coverage]

Pros

When you're an offensive linemen who is getting early consideration for the number one overall pick there are a lot more positives than negatives. Joeckel is the 2012 Outland Trophy winner (awarded to the nation's top offensive linemen). He's listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds. Joeckel has a lot of starting experience, starting since his freshman year. Joeckel is a very good athlete with long arms who is a top pass protector in the NFL. Joeckel plays about as fundamentally sound as you'll ever see a college prospect, avoiding the pitfalls of playing too high and reaching at defensive linemen. He has the mobility to be an effective blocker out in space. Joeckel has continued to limit sacks despite blocking for three mobile quarterbacks (who can run into sacks as often as they run out of them).

[Big Blue View 2013 NFL Draft Big Board]

Cons

Joeckel is a good run blocker, but he is not a mauler, road grader run blocker. He will be effective in the NFL, but he's not Jason Peters in this regard yet. He will benefit from working on an NFL weight lifting regiment. There's not really too much to dislike about Joeckel.

[Follow Big Blue View on Twitter | 'Like' Big Blue View on Facebook.]

Does He Fit With The New York Giants?

He fits with every team. He's a terrific offensive tackle prospect. The issue is will he be available when the Giants pick, and right now that does not look likely.

Prospect Video

Here's a video of Joeckel vs LSU's stout defense. Joeckel is the left tackle.

Be sure to follow @jmpasq on twitter who uploads many of the videos you find on YouTube. And as a bonus he's also a big New York Giants, Yankees, and Knicks fan.

Big Board Rankings (as of Jan. 10, 2012)

Mocking The Draft: 2nd overall

CBS Sports: 1st overall

National Football Post: 2nd overall

Big Blue View: 1st overall

Final Thoughts

I love Joeckel and there is a good chance Giants fans will get to see him play plenty. The issue is that he could be playing the next 10 years lining up against Jason Pierre Paul as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants really need to improve their offensive line, and the offensive line class looked like it was shaping up to be pretty terrific with Joeckel, Jake Matthews, and Taylor Lewan. However, Lewan is returning to school, and Matthews considering the same. Joeckel is the only elite tackle prospect, which is not great news for Giants fans.

-- Follow me on twitter @NFLmocks