2023 NFL DRAFT: Position Breakdown: OFFENSIVE LINE

 

2023 OFFENSIVE LINE PROSPECTS

This year’s crop of offensive lineman provides a great variety of skill set and value to teams in need. There may not be a can’t miss superstar like Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden or Joe Thomas. There is a possibility that up to 20 linemen may be drafted in the first 3 rounds.

2023 OFFENSIVE LINE PROSPECTS

Peter Skoronski-G/RT-Northwestern 
6'4"/313/32.25 arm length/30 reps
NFL Comparison: Steve Hutchinson/Zack Martin
PFF Grade: 89.5
Accolades: 2022 All American, All Big Ten
Starts: 33 (every game of his career) all at Left Tackle  
Ideal Role: Starting Guard or Right Tackle with All Pro Potential

Skrononski has the traits to be an All Pro at guard. However his lack of length may limit him if he has to play tackle.

Paris Johnson-OT-Ohio St 
6'6"/313/36.13/29 reps
NFL Comp: Ronnie Stanley/D’Brickashaw Ferguson
PFF Grade: 83.1
Accolades: All Big Ten
Starts: 25 (13 at Left Tackle and 12 at Right Guard)
Ideal Role: Starting Left Tackle in a Zone scheme

Johnson has the physical traits one looks for in a franchise tackle. He was a five-star prospect that more than met the high expectations at Ohio St. He has elite length plus a great blend of athletic ability and power.

 

Broderick Jones-OT-Georgia
6'5"/311/32.75
NFL Comp: Jack Conklin/DJ Humphries
PFF Grade: 83.1
Accolades: All SEC
Starts: 15 all at Left Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Left or Right Tackle

Jones is the best all-around athlete in this class. There aren’t many players his size that can run a sub 5 forty and broad jump 30 inches. He’s still very young and should get even better at the pro level.

 

O'Cyrus Torrence-G-Florida 
6'5"/330/33.88/23 reps
NFL Comp: Carl Nicks/Kelechi Osemele
PFF Grade: 88.1
Accolades: 2022 All American, All SEC
Starts: 46, all at Florida were at Right Guard
Ideal Role: Starting Guard in a power run scheme

Torrence is a monster in the run game that can also protect the quarterback. He reminds me of Nicks and Osemele who were both physical guards and elite in the run game.

 

Darnell Wright-OT-Tennessee
6'5"/333/82.38
NFL Comp: Ja'Wuan James/Vlad Ducasse
PFF Grade: 71.4
Accolades: All SEC
Starts: 42, 27 at Right Tackle, 13 at Left Tackle, 2 at Right Guard
Ideal Role: Starting Right Tackle or Guard  

Wright was a four year starter yet is still only 21 years old. He is similar to another former Tennessee lineman Ja’Wuan James. Like James and Ducasse he should be a very good right tackle.  

Anton Harrison-OT-Oklahoma     
6'4"/315/34.13
NFL Comp: Jawaan Taylor/Dion Dawkins
PFF Grade: 72.6 in 22 /86.5 in 21
Accolades: All Big 12
Starts: 24 starts; 23 at Left Tackle, 1 at Right Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Tackle in Zone scheme

Harrison may be the best pass blocking tackle prospect in the draft. He is still a little raw and not as physical as some of the other tackles though.

 

Dawand Jones-RT-Ohio St 
6'8"/374/36.38
NFL Comp: Trent Brown/Marcus McNeil  
PFF Grade: 82.1
Accolades: Big Ten Honorable Mention
Starts: 14 at Right Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Guard or Right Tackle

Just a mountain of a human being that fits perfect as a right tackle. He is a pretty safe prospect that knows how to use his elite length as he did not give up a single sack in 2022.

 

John Michael Schmitz-C/G-Minnesota
6'4"/301/32.63/26 reps
NFL Comp: Ted Karras/Mason Cole
PFF Grade: 92.3
Accolades: 2022 All American, All Big Ten
Starts: 33 at Center
Ideal Role: Starting Center

Schmitz is the best center prospect in the class. He was the highest graded center according to Pro Football Focus. He has a great blend of power and technique.

 

Steve Avila-G-TCU
6'4"/332/33.0/28 reps
NFL Comp: Brandon Brooks/Larry Warford
PFF Grade: 77.1
Accolades: 2022 All American, All Big Ten
Starts: 35 (17 at center, 15 at LG, 2 at RT and 1 at RG).
Ideal Role: Starting Guard in a power gap scheme

Avila is just a notch below Torrence but fits as a powerful blocker at guard. He is simply a bully that plays with a nasty streak.

 

Cody Mauch-G/RT-North Dakota St 
6’5”/302/32.38/29 reps
NFL Comparison: Josh Sitton/Kevin Dotson  
PFF Grade: 90.8
Accolades: 8
Starts: 39, 37 at LT and 2 at RT
Ideal Role: Starting Guard or Right Tackle in a Zone Scheme

Mauch not only looks like Sitton but plays like him as well. He was a left tackle in college but will need to slide inside at the NFL level. He could be a very good starter for a long time.

Joe Tippmann-C/G-Wisconsin 
6'6"/303/32.75
NFL Comp: Graham Glasgow/Ethan Pocic
PFF Grade: 78.4
Accolades: Big Ten Honorable Mention
Starts: 22 at Center
Ideal Role: Starting Center

Tippman is not as experienced at Schmitz but is a better athlete and has more size. Wisconsin lineman are usually ready to play in the league from the get go.

 

Matthew Bergeron-OT-Syracuse      
6'5"/318/33.75
NFL Comp: Jordan Mills/Cam Erving  
PFF Grade: 75.2
Accolades: 2^nd Team All ACC
Starts: 39, 31 at Left Tackle and 8 at Right Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Tackle in a Zone scheme

Bergeron is a very experienced player that also provides great versatility. The Canadian prospect from Montreal improved every season at Syracuse.

 

Luke Wypler-C/G-Ohio St 
6'3"/303/31.63/29 reps
NFL Comp: Matt Paradis/Billy Price
PFF Grade: 82.4
Accolades: Big Ten Honorable Mention
Starts: 26 at Center
Ideal Role: Starting Center in a Zone scheme

Wypler is the next good center prospect from Ohio St. He was the 3^rd best center in the Big Ten, yet would have been the best in any other conference. Even as a junior he was seen as a leader on a team filled with pros.

 

Blake Freeland-OT-BYU 
6'7"/302/33.88/37 inch vertical (Combine Record)
NFL Comp: Jared Veldheer/Alex Barron
PFF Grade: 91.1
Accolades: 3^rd Team All American
Starts: 41, 26 at Left Tackle, 15 at Right Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Tackle in a Zone scheme

Freeland is a freak athlete that has the opportunity to become a solid starter in the NFL.

Jaelyn Duncan-OT-Maryland
6'6"/306/33.0
NFL Comp: Ricky Wagner/Cornelius Lucas
PFF Grade: 61.7
Accolades: Big Ten Honorable Mention
Starts: 39 all but one at Left Tackle
Ideal Role: Swing Tackle

Duncan has the physical traits but struggles in pass protection. If he finds the right scheme he could start at right tackle but is probably seen as a high quality backup.

Andrew Vorhees-RT/G-USC  
6'6"/310/38 reps
NFL Comp: Zach Piller/Ted Larsen
PFF Grade: 81.9
Accolades: All Pac-12
Starts: 37, 25 at Right Guard, 8 at Left Guard and 4 at Left Tackle
Ideal Role: Starting Guard with Swing Tackle versatility

Vorhees is a true locker room guy that will not allow physical limitations to hurt him. He was injured at the combine and couldn’t run yet still showed his massive power by putting up 38 reps on the bench press.

 

Olu Oluwatimi-C-Michigan
6'3"/309
NFL Comp: Rodney Hudson/AQ Shipley
PFF Grade: 80.4
Accolades: Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy, All American
Starts: 45 at Center
Ideal Role: Depth Center

Oluwatimi took home both awards for the best offensive lineman in college football. He has some limitations but he is a very skilled and technical player that can make a roster.

HONORABLE MENTION BY POSITION 

Center History	HT	WT	ARM	PFF Grade
Jarrett Patterson-C/G-Notre Dame	6'5"	306	31.38	70.5
Richard Stromberg-C/G-Arkansas	6'3"	306	33.25	82.4
Alex Forsyth-C/G-Oregon	6'4"	294	33.00	71.9
Juice Scruggs-C/G-Penn St	6'3"	301	33.25	71.5
Jake Andrews-C/G-Troy	6'3"	305	32.88	71.3
Brett Neilon-C/G-USC	6'5"	304	31.13	90.2
Jerome Carvin-G/C-Tennessee	6'4"	308	33.38	54.3
Alan Ali-C/G-TCU	6'4"	300	32.88	65.9
Trevor Downing-C/G-Iowa St	6'5"	304	34.50	55.2
Zone Swing	HT	WT	ARM	PFF Grade
Tyler Steen-OT-Alabama	6'6''	321	32.75	69.6
Nick Saldiveri-G/RT-Old Dominion	6'6''	318	33.25	72.2
Wanya Morris-RT-Oklahoma	6'5''	307	35.13	76.6
McClendon Curtis-RT/G-UT Chatt	6'6''	324	35.00	83.3
Trevor Reid-OT-Louisville	6'4"	297	34.50	60.9
Richard Gouraige-OT-Florida	6'5''	306	34.00	70.8
Jordan McFadden-G/RT-Clemson	6'2"	303	34.00	72.9
Connor Galvin-RT/G-Baylor	6'7"	293	32.38	77.7
John Ojukwu-RT-Boise St	6'6''	309	34.00	75.1
Earl Bostick Jr.-OT-Kansas	6'6''	309	34.13	59.9
Versatile Swing	HT	WT	ARM	PFF Grade
Carter Warren-OT-Pittsburgh	6'6"	311	35.38	66.4
Warren McClendon-RT-Georgia	6'4"	306	34.50	71.2
Ryan Hayes-RT/G-Michigan	6'6''	298	32.50	76.3
Jaxson Kirkland-G/RT-Washington	6'7"	321	33.50	75.1
Asim Richards-RT/G-UNC	6'4"	309	34.00	64.4
Dalton Wagner-RT-Arkansas	6'8"	320	34.38	80.5
Mala Aumavae Laulu-RT-Oregon	6'6''	317	34.50	77.1
Kadeem Telfort-OT-UAB	6'7"	319	35.88	75.2
Luke Haggard-G-Indiana	6'6''	297	33.13	67.2
Guard Only	HT	WT	ARM	PFF Grade
Emil Ekiyor-RG-Alabama	6'3"	314	33.88	73.3
Chandler Zavala-G-NC St	6'5"	325	33.00	76.1
Anthony Bradford-RG-LSU	6'4"	332	33.50	65.2
Nick Broeker-LG-Ole Miss	6'4"	305	32.50	65.2
Braeden Daniels-G/OT-Utah	6'4''	296	33.00	72.2
Sidy Sow-G-Eastern Michigan	6'5"	323	33.63	77.1
Atonio Mafi-LG-UCLA	6'3"	338	32.63	83.2
Henry Bainivalu-G-Washington	6'6''	306	34.00	70.1
Tashawn Manning-RG-UK	6'3"	327	34.50	69.7
TJ Bass-LG-Oregon	6'4"	317	32.38	78.2
Mark Evans II-G-ARK Pine Bluff	6'3"	303	32.38	62.9
Jon Gaines II-RG-UCLA	6'4"	303	33.63	77.8
Spencer Anderson-G-Maryland	6'4"	305	32.75	62.5
Jovaughn Gwyn-G-S. Carolina	6'2"	297	31.75	68.1
Caleb Chandler-G-Louisville	6'5"	325	31.75	60.4
Joey Fisher-OL-Sheperd	6'4"	292	34.00
Brent Laing-OL-Minn-Duluth	6'4"	304	32.38	NA

Teams with Multiple Needs:

LOS ANGELES RAMS: Right Tackle Rob Havenstein is an Elite starter but the rest of the line struggled in 2022. The Rams dealt with injuries and poor play. Joseph Noteboom was unable to replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle and Brian Allen was unable to match his outstanding 2021 season as he dealt with an injury. The entire unit gave up 59 sacks and they did not add any impact players in free agency. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks seem to have their bookends of the future in Charles Cross and Abram Lucas. The pair were drafted in 2022 and both showed flashes as rookies. Now it is time for Seattle to upgrade the interior of the line.

TENNESSEE TITANS: Once a strength of the team, the Titans are going through a changing of the guard along the line. Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones were cap casualties and Nate Davis signed with the Bears. They will

ARIZONA CARDINALS: Right Tackle Kelvin Beachum was good in 2022 but he will be 34 this season. Justin Pugh turns 33 and has battled injuries the past few seasons. The Cardinals need help on both the outside and interior.

NEW YORK GIANTS: The Giants are set at tackle for the future. Andrew Thomas had breakout year in 2022 earning All Pro honors. Evan Neal had some struggles as a rookie but looks to be the right tackle of the future. The Giants must improve on the interior and should draft a guard or center early on.

Teams with Specific Need:

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Starting Left Tackle

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Starting Right Tackle

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Starting Right Tackle

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Starting Right Tackle

CHICAGO BEARS: Starting Center

HOUSTON TEXANS: Starting Center