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- Curtis McClendon – Chattanooga
McClendon is a massive offensive guard at 6’7” and 340 pounds. He is a run game mover, powerful and is tough to displace. McClendon got a lot of reps in college and his experience helps his draft stock. He is quick out of his stance but a bit top heavy and has slow feet. He does not get to the second level much and has some pass protection issues that need to be resolved. He will do best as a right guard rather than on the left side.
Player Comparison: DJ Fluker
Projection: 4th – 6th Round
Best Fits: Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago (Wild Card – New York Giants)
- Jake Andrews – Troy
Andrews is an experienced plug and play prospect with the ability to play center or guard. He has a shorter, stout build with above average athleticism. Off the snap Andrews is quick and moves with urgency, plus generates power at the point of attack. He does a great job of driving his legs and generating some push as a run blocker. Andrews also has quick and active hands. He would be considered fairly average as a pass protector and when lined up against bigger defensive tackles, he sometimes struggles.
Player Comparison: Chris Reed
Projection: 4th – 6th Round
Best Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Houston, New York Giants (Wild Card – Cincinnati)
- Steve Avila – TCU
Avila played center at TCU but the 6’4” and 334 pound lineman should be moving to guard in the NFL. He is strong, aggressive and engages quickly with defensive linemen. Avila is hard to displace and also anchors well against power rushers. He does struggle against speed due to lower body stiffness and slow lateral movements. Avila is not the quickest on blitz pickup either. He will fit best in a power run scheme.
Player Comparison: Justin Shaffer
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: San Francisco, Denver, Seattle (Wild Card – Washington)
- Henry Bainivalu – Washington
Bainivalu is a big, sturdy guard with surprisingly nimble feet. Not only does he have good body control but also a high IQ. Bainivalu wins a lot of reps in space and mirrors his defenders with ease. Sometimes when he does get moving the wrong direction initially then he struggles to recover. If he had a mean and nasty demeanor then he could take his game to a whole new level. Right now he projects as a developmental guard with starting value in a pass heavy system.
Player Comparison: Andrus Peat
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans (Wild Card – New York Giants)
- Joe Tippman – Wisconsin
Tippman is another large prospect with a strong base. He is one of the best centers in this class and was fairly reliable at Wisconsin. Tippman is a natural run blocker and can handle being lined up against large nose tackles. In the run game he does a great job of attacking the second level and clearing the linebackers out of the way. Tippman’s awareness is excellent but his mechanics are still developing. He also needs to play behind his pads a bit more and generate more leverage. Tippman could start early in his career.
Player Comparison: Josh Myers
Projection: 2nd – 4th Round
Best Fits: Buffalo, San Francisco, New York Giants (Wild Card – Houston)
- Jarrett Patterson – Notre Dame
Patterson is a guard with plenty of playing experience in college. He does have some experience at center which adds to his versatility. Patterson has a strong lower half and is an excellent run blocker. He instantly comes off the snap of the ball with aggression, works to get his hands inside the pads of the defender and drives his legs. He not only has the necessary physicality but also some good balance and is a natural knee bender – which allows him to get leverage. Patterson is an average athlete who does not get to the second level that well. Early on he will likely be a plug and play lineman that could sneak into the starting lineup quickly.
Player Comparison: Cole Strange
Projection: 4th – 5th Round
Best Fits: Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago (Wild Card – Los Angeles Rams)
- Alex Forsyth – Oregon
Forsyth was a center at Oregon but does have some guard experience. He is quick from the snap of the football and also has some quick feet. Forsyth mirrors defenders well and picks up stunts without many issues. He is a fairly agile lineman with good leverage and a high football IQ. Overall he is a pretty consistent player that translates best as a center. Forsyth lacks explosive power and does need to improve his balance.
Player Comparison: Luke Fortner
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: Houston, Seattle, Las Vegas (Wild Card – Washington)
- Nick Broeker – Ole Miss
Broeker is a rather quick guard who absolutely serves best as a pass protector. He gets out of his stance fast and stays in front of his defender. Broeker dictates pass rush attempts and on run plays he pulls quickly, plus seals off backside blocks. He is not dominant in the run game and loses leverage more than some other prospects. Broeker does need to get stronger but in a pass heavy scheme at left guard, he could excel.
Player Comparison: Joe Thuney
Projection: 4th – 6th Round
Best Fits: Chicago, Jacksonville, Miami (Wild Card – Cincinnati)
- O’Cyrus Torrence – Florida
Torrence is one of the heaviest offensive linemen in the class at 350 pounds. He is long, possesses natural strength and generates tons of movement in the run game. He has a great mentality and plays through the whistle each play. Due to his size and strength, Torrence is difficult to bull rush and slows down defenders rushing the passer. Torrence is a slow mover with limited range and lacks agility. Ideally, Torrence is a right guard in a run-heavy scheme.
Player Comparison: Mike Onwenu
Projection: 2nd – 3rd Round
Best Fits: Tennessee, Indianapolis, San Francisco (Wild Card – Dallas)
- Cody Mauch – North Dakota State
Mauch is a fan favorite/viral offensive lineman. Some list him in the offensive tackle group because he can play all five offensive line positions. I view him as more of a guard with the ability to bump outside if needed. Mauch is a mauler with speed as a former walk-on tight end. In the run game he does excellent at getting to the second level and is also an excellent puller/lead blocker. Mauch has light feet coupled with balance and top tier toughness. He is still developing his functional power and needs to keep working on his technique. He is not polished but a high quality prospect.
Player Comparison: Ezra Cleveland
Projection: 2nd – 3rd Round
Best Fits: Minnesota, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers (Wild Card – Detroit)
- Luke Wypler – Ohio State
Wypler is a highly talented, smaller center. He has a shorter/stout frame which probably assists him with squaring up to defenders, maintaining leverage and also mirroring easily. He has elite lateral quickness and fantastic awareness. Wypler’s athleticism helps make up for his lack of size. He might not be the strongest or most physical, but he will get the job done. Wypler will continue the long line of Buckeyes starting at center in the NFL.
Player Comparison: Creed Humphrey
Projection: 2nd – 3rd Round
Best Fits: Washington, Denver, Arizona (Wild Card – Carolina)
- Olusegun Oluwatimi – Michigan
Oluwatimi is a true center with intelligence and the ability to release and get to the second level. He maintains excellent leverage while being physically tough and alert at all times. Oluwatimi picks up blitzers like a seasoned veteran plus adds value as a puller/lead blocker. He has average lower body strength which makes him less dominant in the run game than some other prospects. Oluwatimi will be starting right away and may end up being just as good in the NFL as he was in college.
Player Comparison: Billy Price
Projection: 3rd – 4th Round
Best Fits: Houston, Las Vegas, Seattle (Wild Card – Arizona)
- Nick Saldiveri – Old Dominion
Most are sleeping on Saldiveri because there may be a lack of knowledge on him as a smaller school player. He has a lot of college snaps under his belt and could be a steal in this draft. Saldiveri is a top tier pass blocker and always stays in control. His weight distribution is very even and he also displays some quick, reactive feet. Saldiveri manages to rarely get overpowered. He has the versatility to play guard or tackle, but I feel he could instantly be a Pro Bowl level guard. He is a bit inconsistent in the run game and could get to the second level a bit better.
Player Comparison: Brandon Scherff
Projection: 3rd – 4th Round
Best Fits: Buffalo, Los Angeles Rams, Washington (Wild Card – New York Jets)
Watch as Cole unveils the top 3 – highlights included!
