The SEC was in line to make history Thursday night … until the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns opted to unload the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively. As a result, Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss no longer is projected to go first overall when the NFL draft commences Thursday-Saturday in Chicago.

Tunsil would have been the first SEC offensive lineman taken No. 1 overall.

Instead, it appears the Rebels’ alum won’t even tie Auburn’s Greg Robinson (No. 2, 2014), Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel (No. 2, 2013) and center Bob Jones of Tennessee (No. 2, 1968) as the highest-drafted linemen in the conference’s history.

Here is some of the buzz being generated about the crop of SEC offensive linemen as we head into Thursday night’s first round.

RIGHTFUL NO. 1?

LT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss: The April 24 trade that sent the Tennessee Titans’ No. 1 overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams almost certainly cost Tunsil money. Up to that point, the Ole Miss left tackle was the consensus top pick in just about everyone’s mock draft.

A proven pass-protector who allowed only five pressures as a junior last season, Tunsil is now unlikely to go in the first two picks to neither the quarterback-starved Rams nor the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2 overall.

Last year’s first two picks were also quarterbacks (Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota), who netted deals worth in the neighborhood of $40 million. That amount dropped to about $37.5 million to last year’s No. 3 pick and roughly $35 million to the No. 5 overall choice Brandon Scherff, the first offensive lineman taken.

Tunsil, 6-5, 310 pounds, remains the top prospect on most teams’ board.

MR. NASTY

C Ryan Kelly, Alabama: Kelly has a nasty streak about him that NFL teams who pass on the Alabama center should soon find out about the hard way. The No. 1-rated center in the draft didn’t allow a sack the past two seasons and only surrendered 13 pressures over that same span —while facing the best the defensive lines the SEC has to throw at opponents, mind you.

At 6-4, 311 pounds, Kelly is as smart as he his talented and could slide over to a guard slot, if the need should arise. The senior projects to go in the first round, with the Seattle Seahawks at No. 26 an intriguing possibility.

THE WING SPAN

OT Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M: Ifedi has the body (6-6, 324-pounds) and immense wingspan of an NFL lineman. The Texas A&M tackle, however, will likely need to adjust to life on the professional level and work on improving his change-of-direction abilities and hand placement.

His size makes Ifedi a potential first-round selection, but he’ll likely fall to the second round, perhaps to a franchise such as the New England Patriots, who could afford to groom the Aggies lineman, who decided not to return to College Station for his senior campaign.

MISTER RESILIENT

LT Shon Coleman, Auburn: At 24 years old, Coleman is among the elder statesmen when it comes to offensive line prospects. That said, the Auburn tackle is also one of the more refined pass blockers coming out of the SEC, with a 97.4 passing blocking efficiency.

Coleman can be knocked around some, but the biggest hindrance to him going higher could be his recent MCL surgery. Coleman has proved resilient in the past, however, recovering from his bout as a freshman with acute lymphocyte leukemia — hence the advanced age.

EARLY BIRD

OT Jerald Hawkins, LSU: Hawkins, who left after his junior season, is among the tallest and lightest of the offensive tackles in the draft. At 6-6, 305 pounds, Hawkins likely swings to a guard role in the NFL. Hawkins is a physical player who is comfortable in passing situations. Whether the move to come out early pans out will depend largely on improving his hands and adding strength to his frame.

DECEPTIVE STRENGTH AND SPEED

OG Connor McGovern, Missouri: Pro Football Focus ranks McGovern as the most-athletic guard available, ahead of touted Kansas State guard Cody Whitehair. As a result, several mock drafts project the Missouri senior as potential third- or fourth-round talent.

McGovern has impressed this spring with a confluence of strength (33 reps) and speed (4.65 short shuttle). He’s spent time at guard and tackle, but likely fits the mold as the former in the NFL.

THE CLOCK-PUNCHER

OG Vadal Alexander, LSU: Alexander has been training for this moment since he was 7 years old and training for three hours a day at his Buford, Ga., home. The LSU guard is among the hardest workers and most durable with a team high 810 snaps as a senior. A second-team All-American, Alexander has plenty of starting experience at left guard and right tackle, but likely settles into a home at the tackle slot in the NFL.

CONSISTENCY IS THY NAME

C Evan Boehm, Missouri: Boehm is the epitome of consistency, which could make him the second SEC center drafted. Since being named a Freshman All-American, the Missouri alum started a program-record 52 consecutive games (40 at center, 12 left guard). The Tigers captain has received looks from several NFL squads, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who have also taken a close look at Boehm’s teammate, OG Connor McGovern.

TOUGH GUY

OT John Theus, Georgia: Theus never missed a game in college, starting 45 of them. The Georgia left tackle was hampered by a shoulder injury during his senior year, which didn’t seem to prevent him from earning All-SEC first-team accolades. At 6-6, 313 pounds, Theus needs to work on his quickness, but he projects as high as No. 60 to the New England Patriots, but likely falls to somewhere around round six to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NON-SEC PLAYERS TO WORRY ABOUT

  1. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
  2. Jack Conklin, Michigan State
  3. Taylor Decker, Ohio State
  4. Cody Whitehair, Kansas State

THREE BIGGEST QUESTIONS

  1. Will Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil slip past San Diego at No. 3 overall?
  2. Will Alabama C Ryan Kelly or Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M also go in the first round?
  3. Will declaring for the draft early backfire for SEC tackles such as Auburn’s Shon Coleman and Avery Young, LSU’s Jerald Hawkins and/or Arkansas guard Denver Kirkland?

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2017

  1. Ethan Pocic, LSU
  2. Dan Skipper, Arkansas
  3. Greg Pyke Georgia