Very seldomly does anyone pay attention to the center. With the exception of Jeff Saturday (Colts) and Kevin Mawae (Titans), the position has had a very low profile since the advent of the game. However, with the current fad of appreciating offensive lines for what they bring to game (which is a LOT), the center is starting to get much more attention. That said, you should expect to hear the name Alex Mack a LOT in the next ten years or so. He is one of the most decorated centers of all time, having received awards for his scholar-athlete status and excellent play, and being nominated for a great deal more awards. Of course, he's also been granted the prestigious honor of being a Home Field All-American, the aspiration of every football player. When was the last time a center went in the first round? I couldn't say without checking, and I don't really feel like it, but it's been a good few years, at least. And here is the rest of it. As far as I can remember, the last center taken in the first round was Nick Mangold to the New York Jets at number 29. That could change with Alex Mack's declaration for the 2009 draft. Many consider him the best lineman in the 2009 draft period, though there's some might stiff competition from the likes of Michael Oher (HomeField All-American) and Andre Smith (future Home Field All-American), to name a few.
So where will Alex Mack end up? It's always hard to tell with an interior lineman, but basically take any team with line troubles and assess their center. Though the Cardinals line has improved over the years, they could certainly take an upgrade like Alex Mack, and he would likely be ready to go in Week 1. You could do worse, guys.
