2013 NFL mock draft: Three tackles in the top four?

Rankings for the top offensive tackles in the 2013 NFL Draft haven't really changed over the last few months. Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Central Michigan's Eric Fisher are still considered the clear-cut top two tackles, and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson is still just behind them.

What has changed is where two of the top tackles are expected to be picked in the first round. Joeckel has been penciled in as the No. 1 overall pick for some time now, but if you go back to February, Fisher was far from a lock to be a top-five pick and Johnson was typically somewhere in the teens in mock drafts. In that regard, things have changed quite a bit.

As we near the first round on Thursday, many people now have Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson all going in the top four in 2013 NFL mock drafts. The hope for the Detroit Lions has been that Fisher will fall to the fifth overall pick, but now many analysts don't even think Detroit will have a shot at Johnson. Todd McShay, Dane Brugler and Evan Silva are just some of the people who think three tackles will go in the top four.

The big issue here for the Lions is that the Jacksonville Jaguars are now believed to be targeting a tackle. The Philadelphia Eagles were perceived as the biggest threat to take the second-best tackle, but the buzz is that we'll see Joeckel and Fisher go one and two.

Feeling is OTs Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher will be first two players picked Thursday night. Then Oakland's turn...

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 23, 2013

I've had Dion Jordan going to JAX for a long time. However, I've talked to several GM's/Personnel Directors that expect JAX to take an OT

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 21, 2013

Mike Mayock said he expects #Chiefs to take Joeckel, #Jaguars to take Fisher, and #Raiders to pick either Sharrif Floyd OR Lane Johnson.

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 23, 2013

At this point, I think it's safe to say that it would be a massive upset if the Lions get Fisher with the fifth overall pick. There is some talk that he could be the No. 1 overall pick, so I don't expect him to end up in Detroit unless they trade up for him. We may have to simply start hoping that Johnson will fall to No. 5 to give the Lions a legitimate option at offensive tackle. If he goes in the top four as well, the Lions will have to turn their attention to positions like defensive end, offensive guard and cornerback unless they find a way to trade down.