Pass-Blocking Left Tackles in Recent Draft History

I started to write this as a response to comments at the end of the "Finding a Left Tackle" Fan Post.  Specifically, I wanted to investigate Bill Polian's much-discussed admission that scouting offensive linemen may be his biggest weakness as a talent evaluator, and how this relates to the the lack of a true franchise left tackle at the moment.  After the jump, I've listed the current NFL pass-blocking left tackles who would potentially be an improvement over Charlie Johnson at the position (list is informed by Scouts, Inc.'s ratings before 2009 season), where in the draft each was chosen, and who the Colts selected in the relevant picks of the same year.  Take a look, and see if you feel the same way I do--namely, that though Polian has misfired in a few places, he hasn't had much room for error considering where the Colts' draft picks have fallen in the past decade.

1997
Orlando Pace--1st rd., pick 1(overall 1)
Walter Jones--1st rd., 6(6)
(Colts take Tarik Glenn at 13th pick in Round 1)

1998
(Colts take Peyton Manning and Jerome Pathon at beginning of first two rounds)
Flozell Adams--2nd rd., 8(38)

2000
Chris Samuels--1st rd., 3(3)
(Colts take Rob Morris at pick 28 of 1st round)
Chad Clifton--2nd rd., 13(44)

2001
Jeff Backus--1st rd., 18(18)
(Colts take Reggie Wayne at pick 30 of first round)
Matt Light--2nd rd., 17(48)

2002
Bryant McKinnie--1st rd., 7(7)
(Colts take Dwight Freeney at pick 11 of first round)

2003
Jordan Gross--1st rd., 8(8)
(Colts take Dallas Clark with 24th pick of first round; select Mike Doss, Donald Strickland, Steve Sciullo, and Robert Mathis in rounds 2 through 5)
David Diehl--5th rd., 25(160)

2004
(Colts draft Bob Sanders, Ben Hartsock, Gilbert Gardner, Kendyll Pope, Jason David, Jake Scott, Von Hutchins, Jim Sorgi, and David Kimball)
Jason Peters--signed with Buffalo as undrafted free agent tight end

2005
Jammal Brown--1st rd., 13(13)
(Colts select Marlin Jackson at pick 29 of first round)
Michael Roos--2nd rd., 9(41)

2006
D'Brickashaw Ferguson--1st rd., 4(4)
(Colts take Joseph Addai at pick 30 of first round)
Marcus McNeill--2nd rd., 18(50)
(Colts take Tim Jennings, Freddie Keiaho, Michael Toudouze, Charlie Johnson, Antoine Bethea, and T. J. Rushing in Rounds 2 - 7)
Donald Penn--undrafted free agent signed with Vikings

2007
Joe Thomas--1st rd., 3(3)
Joe Staley--1st rd., 28(28)
(Colts take Anthony Gonzalez at pick 32 of first round)

2008
Jake Long--1st rd., 1(1)
Ryan Clady--1st rd., 12(12)
Chris Williams--1st rd., 14(14)
Sam Baker--1st rd., 21(21)
Duane Brown--1st rd., 26(26)
(Colts' 1st round pick traded away for Tony Ugoh pick in second round of 2007; Colts select Mike Pollak, Philip Wheeler, and Jacob Tamme in Rounds 2 - 4)
Jared Gaither--2007 supplemental draft, 5th round bid

2009
Michael Oher--1st rd., 23(23)
(Colts take Donald Brown at pick 27 of first round; select Fili Moala with pick 24 in Round 2)
Sebastian Vollmer--2nd rd., 26(58)

20/20 hindsight says the Colts could have drafted Michael Roos or Marcus McNeill to back up Tarik Glenn instead of Marlin Jackson or Joseph Addai, respectively, in 2005 and 2006.  Perhaps the Colts would be in a better situation today with Roos instead of Jackson, or McNeill instead of Addai, but that's not at all a sure thing, considering Jackson, Addai, and Tarik Glenn all contributed to the 2006-07 Super Bowl run.  There are also sleepers Donald Penn, Jared Gaither, and Sebastian Vollmer, all of whom would be preferable to Pollak, Wheeler, or Tamme. 

Regardless, the margin for error is incredibly slim trying to find a left tackle after the first round, something we should consider in discussing whether the Colts should have an interest in trading up to get Bryan Bulaga, Charles Brown, or any other LT prospect who could potentially be available in the middle of the first round.

UPDATE:  I just wanted to note that I left off guys like Max Starks and whoever plays LT for the Bengals because of perceived deficiencies as pass-blockers.  In comparison, Charlie Johnson still seems a better option.  I've also added Fili Moala to the 2009 draft.  He was indeed selected before Sebastian Vollmer, who could be the Patriots' starting LT in the near future.