Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
One of the final questions NFL general managers have for Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long is whether he is better suited to play left tackle or right tackle at the pro level.
Any team that takes Long in the top five next week will be forced to play him on the left side because of the immense amount of money involved in the contract. Long is projected to go as high as the No. 1 overall pick to the Miami Dolphins.
"Jake Long is a lock to be a Pro Bowler at right tackle,'' said Browns general manager Phil Savage. "As a left tackle, I think that's the question people are going to ask at that part of the board.''
The Browns asked themselves the same question last year in regards to former Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas. In the end, their scouting staff was convinced Thomas was more of a left tackle than right tackle and selected him No. 3 overall.
Long has drawn comparisons to Thomas because they were standout left tackles at Big Ten programs. Both players also were viewed among the safest picks in their respective drafts.
"You know what you're getting in Jake Long,'' Savage said. "He's going to be your 10-plus year starter. He's durable and he's going to line up pretty much every Sunday and give you good play.''
