My Ravens’ round one analysis for the 2022 is posted here. Now, it’s time to post the offensive line profiles for 2022. In years gone by I posted all of the position profiles in one place. And I ultimately will in 2022 for those readers who prefer that convenience. But because of the volume of material, it might be easier for some readers to have the profiles broken down into several posts.
This post analyzes offensive line prospects – the offensive tackles, guards, and centers – who I believe are draftable by the Ravens, and why. A few others are listed because they have received some scouting acclaim but don’t warrant drafting by the Ravens in my view.
Within each position, players are listed in order of the rough draft round in which I believe they should be selected. Also, notice that there is an embedded table of contents within all of these posts. Using that table will allow you to jump to specific players just by clicking the players’ name.
Ravens Offensive Line Prospects – Tackles
The Ravens have a clear need at offensive tackle. Either they must add someone who can start immediately because Ronnie Stanley can’t go, or they need a swing tackle for depth. Either way, they should be selecting an offensive tackle at some point in the draft.
Evan Neal
Evan Neal is 6’8”, 337 lbs. (as high as 350) from Alabama. Seen by some as the top left tackle in the draft who can also play on the right, Neal is virtually certain to be off the board by the time the Ravens draft. Nevertheless, he is not a completely clean prospect. To no surprise Neal is a very physical and dominant run blocker. In many respects, he is probably a better fit as a mauling right tackle. Neal has strong hands in the run game and is a strong drive blocker, but has some issues with his ability to sustain.
Neal’s massive stature is both a huge plus and a risk. Why do I say that? Because Neal has both balance issues in his pass sets (he has been thrown off-balance by quick-counter rush moves), and lacks ideal lateral mobility given his lack of elite quickness. He winds up overextending. Neal therefore has to beat rushers to the spot and if he doesn’t – and he may have trouble against the elite NFL rushers – he might not fare as well protecting the blind side as warrants a top ten selection.
Neal’s balance and quickness issues impact his ability to anchor, particularly when projecting to the NFL. In my mind there is also a football IQ issue, as Neal has struggled with stunts and scheme recognition. There is upside to Neal’s protection ability – his wingspan combined with his strength should allow him to arc many quick rushers beyond the pocket (much like Orlando Brown). In all, I don’t see him as an ideal left tackle candidate, and he would not be my first choice for the Ravens on the left side. Given the signing of Morgan Moses to man the right side, Neal’s immediate value to the Ravens is as a consideration only if Ronnie Stanley can’t play. Nevertheless, the probability of Neal be available by pick 14 is zero. Round 1.
Ikem Ekwonu
Ikem Ekwonu is 6’4, 310 lbs. from N.C. State. Ekwonu is another top-10 left tackle prospect who reviews as an outstanding run blocker in need of more development in his pass protection sets. He is very nasty in the run game and has tremendous power while operating in space with good balance. Ekwonu is tough as nails and very aggressive. He generates great explosion at the point of attack. But like Evan Neal, his pass protection skills are far from polished, though improved in 2021, particularly when you consider that he is seen as a consensus top-10 pick.
Edwonu shows a very inconsistent base, and his pass sets need much more polish (he oversets). He lunges which can cause him to miss his initial punch. Ekwonu lacks elite agility and as a result his ability to mirror is not top end. Against top talent he struggled staying connected with defenders who made inside moves. And although his lateral movement is very good in the run game, he struggled in pass protect when he was forced to redirect.
Ekwonu would be perfect for the Ravens running attack, as he can play in any scheme. He is violent, aggressive and can dominate. He would also help the Ravens in their struggling screen game. But there’s no doubt he needs further development in pass protection and, even though he improved in 2021, there is still much work to do with his hand placement and footwork. Ekwonu is a highly intelligent player, and if coaching can fix his pass protection issues, he will take to it. But he is not a clean top-tier left tackle in my view. As of now he’s a better fit on the right side or at left guard. For the Ravens, as with Neal, it’s all a function of Stanley’s health. And if Ronnie can’t go, Ekwonu will have NFL growing pains at left tackle. He won’t be there at 14. Round 1.
Charles Cross
Charles Cross is 6’5, 307 lbs. from Mississippi State – In many respects Cross is the flip-side of both Neal and Ekwonu. He is very tooled-up when it comes to pass protection ability. He has a quick initial step allowing him to gain advantage on pass rushers and he can rather easily run them up the arc. At the same time, he is able to anchor stoutly against bull rushers. He has great timing with his hands. If there is a weakness in his pass protection, it’s that he could strengthen up to become a better anchor against bull rushers and those who convert speed to power.
Statistically in 2021, he yielded only two sacks and 14 hurries playing in the SEC. He is clearly ascending rapidly, with strong improvement in 2021 and during the course of the 2021 season. Cross is a very good athlete who is excellent on his feet with top-end mirror capability and very good core strength. His punch and hand placement are strong. He needs technical improvement in his stance and pass set depths, but these issues are what NFL coaching is all about.
Cross is very experienced in pass protection, taking over 700 snaps last year in the pass game on a Mississippi State offense where the run game was only 25% of the offense over each of the last two years. He often lined up in wide splits, where he was very fluid in space and showed excellent lateral mobility in pass blocking. He should be a real asset in the screen game, a game that has been AWOL in the Ravens attack for years.
The corollary here is that Cross is not as developed in his run blocking skills, having operated largely in a base zone scheme so there is much to learn to get Cross integrated into pro concepts. I would call his run blocking a work in progress, but he has the requisite skills to out-leverage defenders. He is not as big as some, lacking ideal bulk and arguably power. Cross is weaker in the run game at the point of attack than both Neal and Ekwonu. Hence, the trade-off. But Cross has a skill set that allows for much more improvement.
For the Ravens it is fairly simple. If they have serious doubts concerning Ronnie Stanley’s 2022 effectiveness, then Cross is the clear choice over Neal and Ekwonu to man the left tackle spot, where blind side protection for Lamar Jackson is the key. Now most observers believe that Cross will be no better than the third offensive tackle off the board on day one. If that’s true, there is a possibility that he could fall to the Ravens at 14, given the unpredictability of this year’s round one. In my view, at this point in time Cross is the best pure pass blocking left tackle in the draft. Round 1.
Trevor Penning
Trevor Penning is 6’7, 325 lbs. from Northern Iowa – Penning was a man among boys at lower level Northern Iowa, where he completely dominated and was never tested. He is an extremely physical, powerful, and nasty player with work to do in pass protection. His traits are outstanding, as he blends power and flexibility with the ability to get low in the run game. He needs to bring more of that bend to his protection skills. At 6’7, sinking those hips and dipping a bit will be essential to ward off NFL bull rushers.
Penning is a great athlete. He blew it all out at the Combine, as he ran in the 96th percentile, graded in the 76th percentile in the 20-yard shuttle, and in the 97th percentile in the 3-cone. He possesses most of the physical traits. The entire issue with Penning is how much further can he develop in pass protect? His extremely long arms should help, and he possesses a good kick-slide and explosion out of his stance.
Penning is gifted with the ability to match speed rushers from the outside. He has the natural strength to anchor and win against bull rushers. However, NFL coaches will have to focus on improving his pass protection technique, especially when it comes to using leverage and getting those pads lower against smaller rushers. He has to improve his on-field discipline. As noted, he must improve his bend, as this is the source of most of his issues. Quick inside moves have given him some trouble as his redirection ability must improve. Penning is smart and a hard worker.
While he had a great Combine, Penning’s performance at the Senior Bowl practices was not as overwhelming, as he struggled sometimes to anchor and gave up ground too frequently snaps. He was too often walked back to the quarterback playing against a higher level of talent. So, he’s not completely there yet as a left tackle pass protector.
With Penning, it’s all about projection. At his size, unsurprisingly, his challenge is his ability to bend and move laterally. I would expect he could struggle initially as he shoots up in level of competition, as he certainly did at the Senior Bowl. But he is so athletically gifted, and his upside is one of being the best tackle in this draft. The projection is whether Penning winds up on the blind side.
Penning is a player who will likely be on the board when the Ravens draft. And, at the risk of repeating myself, having signed Morgan Moses the Ravens should focus on Penning as a left tackle. If Cross, Ekwonu and Neal are all gone by 14 (as I expect they might), Penning at 14 is a bit too high as I don’t think he is not ready to start on the blind side in 2022. For what it’s worth, the Ravens are bringing in Penning for an official visit. I think his talent at this point is towards the lower part of round 1. Round 1.
Bernhard Raimann
Bernard Raimann is 6’6 303 lbs. from Central Michigan – Raimann is an interesting left tackle prospect. He is 24 years old. He transitioned from tight end to left tackle just two years ago and yet already is showing some top-end pass protection skills. Like Penning, he is a tremendous athlete for the position, showing in the 81st percentile in the 40 yard dash, the 92nd percentile in the shuttle, the 89th percentile in the bench press, 99th percentile in the broad jump, and 85th percentile in the 3-cone. Raimann has excellent feet and balance and outstanding explosiveness and flexibility. Yet he doesn’t have an ideal wingspan and his arms are a bit short for the position.
He is not as strong as players like Neal and Okwonu, playing off of a smaller frame, and lacks the physical domination of the other top-graded left tackles. His strength is in pass protection where he brings a strong initial punch that can knock pass rushers out of their lanes. He has good power against the bull rush. Raimann has good functional strength and very good foot quickness; no surprise given his tight-end experience. He has good length and brings a strong anchor with the balance to defend consistently against edge rushers along with good mirroring ability. But if he gets beat to the spot he can struggle against speed on the edge.
Raimann’s power in the run game is vertical and when he gets his leg strength underneath himself, he is tough. But he’s not yet a mauler and needs to improve his core and lower-body power. Hand placement and technique needs work, but Raimann has accomplished a lot in two years. He is clearly a fast learner and easy processor.
Raimann did not perform well at the Senior Bowl as defenders frequently got into his chest, causing him to lose leverage. And he had a hard time regaining that leverage. He also showed too much bend at the waist, causing him to lose balance.
In all, the question is what Raimann will ultimately bring to pass protection when he reaches his potential. My concern is his comparative lack of core and lower body power. Can he add the power that I think he needs to add in order to become elite? That’s the issue. He will likely grade out for most as a late-first round to upper second round pick. Pick 14 is just way too high. Raimann is a left tackle, pure and simple, so the issue for the Ravens, again, is whether they need to replace Stanley. For me, he’s currently a low round two or top of round three talent. Round 2.
Daniel Faalele
Daniel Faalele is 6’8, 384 lbs. from Minnesota. Faalele is one mammoth of a man. He improved considerably in 2021. Although he should be almost impossible to move backwards, at the Senior Bowl he was pushed back on speed-to-power transitions and lost balance several times. He also struggled with oversetting against speed rushers, which figures to be one of his greatest challenges in the NFL. These are fair warning signs.
In season Faalele exhibited a solid ability to mirror and was difficult to get around. Yet he lacks the nastiness that one would hope for. And he is comparatively inexperienced in pass protect, with only 600 drop backs over his two seasons. Faalele needs significant improvement with his hand usage, where he generally lacks a plan. He is gifted with long arms and has massive hands, allowing him to lock onto defenders fairly easily.
Faalele’s challenge is speed rushers as its simply difficult for a man with such a massive frame to move his feet quick enough to push defenders up the arc, as we saw at the Senior Bowl practices. As well, he plays with a high pad level, which is almost unavoidable and will be problematic in the NFL. He is not instinctual and is too mechanical. Perhaps his biggest (no pun) challenge is his balance – body control at 380 pounds is just very difficult when competing against NFL athletes.
Faalele is a true boom or bust candidate who some will believe can be coached up to his tremendous physical gifts. He is not a blind-side protector and should wind up on the right side. He is a very raw talent and it’s hard to see him being an immediate contributor. I think the challenges with Faalele are just too many from the Ravens perspective. He is not a “safe” pick. He’s also likely to get drafted higher than I would be comfortable. It’s all a matter of risk/reward with Faalele, i.e., not over-investing draft capital. I see him as possibly a third round prospect but given the Ravens’ needs, I wouldn’t be interested unless he drops further – which he likely won’t. Round 3.
Abraham Lucas
Abraham Lucas is 6’7, 324 lbs. from Washington State. With a better understanding and implementation of hand usage and skills, Lucas might turn into a respectable NFL tackle. A very experienced pass protector in college, Lucas has a good frame with the right length and size to play on the edge. He has excellent mirroring ability and can move his feet well as illustrated by his 97th percentile shuttle and 90th percentile 3-cone scores. Yet, he has tended to need some help against pure speed on the edge. And I worry that the bevy of moves he will see at the next level might be too much for him.
His biggest challenge is his poor pad level, resulting in leverage problems. And I think this is a problem in the run game for Lucas – being too often too upright, he lacks the necessary drive to be consistently productive in the run game. He needs to improve his anchor and get stronger in his lower body and at the point of attack.
Washington State’s offense was so top-heavy passing that Lucas lacks experience in the run game. To give a sense, he played 2,195 pass snaps but only 571 run snaps in his three years. As a result, Lucas is much closer to starter-ready in pass protection but not close to starter ready as a run blocker. He has shown some nastiness in the run game, but has been a bit of a plodder and a slow puller.
Lucas played only right tackle, and it will be interesting to see if he winds up on the left side given his pass blocking success. He has excellent football IQ and great recognition of pass rushing moves. His balance is good and his lateral footwork in the passing game is good. The question for Lucas is where does he fit? I don’t see him moving successfully to the inside as his run production is just not there. I see a similar problem for him as a right tackle. On the other hand, his lack of straight-line speed and lateral movement jeopardize his potential on the left side. But the tape doesn’t lie, and he was highly productive as a pass protector. Round 3.
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith is 6’5, 324 lbs. from Tulsa. Smith is an unrefined player with significant upside if he takes well to NFL coaching. He has big hands and a wide wingspan. He is a power machine who can also move well. Smith is one of the most dominant power player in the draft. He was the leader in big-time blocks in college last year. Smith has excellent core strength and brings a strong grip. He is a mauling finisher in the run game. Smith is generally NFL ready as a run blocker.
Pass protection is where he needs a lot of refinement to allow his gifts to blossom. He anchors well but needs to significantly improve his technique. In college, he was able to overcome some poor positioning – often taking poor angles in vertical sets – due to his agility. However, in the NFL those quick edge defenders no doubt will take advantage of this opening. For Smith, a lot of his problem is poor footwork and poor hand positioning (sometimes he is punching air). This is compounded by his failure to consistently distribute his weight – footwork must improve with the result that his ability to change direction is compromised.
Smith takes poor angles too often. One is left to wonder how much better he would perform when his technique improves – and this is the key to Smith’s NFL projection. His agility allows him to pull and execute all of the necessary dirty work on the move. He has above grade mirroring ability and has shown an ability to handle inside power moves as well. Smith has the ability to bend and keep his pads at proper levels (though he’s been inconsistent), unlike some of the more highly renowned tackles in this class.
Now Smith is a very young player (just 21) and was not in an elite program by any means. When his technique was sound Smith was dominant. If he has the proper willingness to learn (he has good football IQ) and puts in the hard work (he is known to have a solid work ethic), I believe Smith has the ability to be a successful tackle. At this point, he is not a day one starter on the outside, and I would see him initially on the right side, or more likely as a guard given his prolific run blocking, as his ability to handle speed rushers is problematic. I see Smith as a Round 3 prospect who is likely best suited on the inside. Round 3.
Max Mitchell
Max Mitchell is 6’6, 307 lbs. from Louisiana. Mitchell played at a lower level of competition with only one game against a Power Five team last year (Texas). He played well in that game. Mitchell’s challenge to play tackle in the NFL is his power – or lack thereof. He performed very poorly at the Combine and didn’t show great at the Senior Bowl practices in pass protect. On the other hand, Mitchell as a right tackle was the highest graded pass blocking tackle in college last year by Pro Football Focus.
Mitchell is outstanding in his pass sets, with good depth and balance. Mitchell has very good flexibility and has shown a consistent ability to get leverage. His hand placement is also consistent and good. His technique is already NFL veteran-like. Mitchell moves like a tight end and plays well in space. All of this is why he has fared very well against speed rushers.
Bull rushers will be the challenge for Mitchell in NFL pass protection sets. Mitchell would have some serious upside as a left tackle in the NFL if he can – and must – improve his upper body strength. He struggles not only due to his lack of strength, but also because he sets his feet narrowly raising concerns about his anchoring ability. I question whether he can pull this off given how poorly he tested (and he declined to do the bench press). This is the key to Mitchell’s rating – with added strength and power he could be a surprisingly effective NFL left tackle. Mitchell is clearly a swing-tackle candidate and makes sense for the Ravens from that perspective – only if they think he can power up a bit. Round 4.
Luke Goedeke
Luke Goedeke is 6’5, 310 lbs. from Central Michigan. Goedeke played with Bernhard Raimann at Central Michigan, arguably creating the best tackle combo in college last year. He’s a converted tight end who has transformed his body. He grades out as an excellent and nasty run blocker, exhibiting strength and quickness and a desire to move defenders. Goedeke is a bit short-armed and can get beat to the punch as a result, leading to concerns over his ability to play on the edge. He sometimes finds himself lunging when playing against faster edge defenders.
Goedeke is a hard worker and tape studier and will be taking a big leg up in level of competition (he struggled most against the best competition). Goedeke on occasions shows late hands, and his pad level is frequently too high leaving him exposed to top bull rushers. Once defenders get their hands on him, he struggles.
Goedeke is another prospect who NFL teams will have to believe they can coach-up. This places him in my mind in the 4th round range. His safest projection at this point is to the guard position, and I think left tackle is too far of a stretch for him in the NFL. Like several other tackle candidates, I don’t think he presents as a target for the Ravens given their needs. He also missed one season with a knee injury. Round 4.
Matt Waletzko
Matt Waletzko is 6’8, 312 lbs. from North Dakota. A small school prospect, he has prototypical size for the left tackle spot, with 35 inch arms and an 86 inch wingspan to go with big hands. Attempting to make a big leap in competition, Waletzko had a decent though not dominant week at the Senior Bowl. At North Dakota he demonstrated good power and pop, with an ability to hold his balance in pass protection establishing a wide base. He plays too high right now, with high hands on defenders exposing him to punches and bull rushes. Balance issues also exist in the run game. His pads are consistently too high and combining that with only average lateral foot quickness creates big challenges. His lack of lateral quickness also leads to him failing to get much movement off the snap.
Now some will project Waletzko as a developmental left tackle with upside given his physical traits. But with his flaws and having worked at a lower level of competition, I think the projection might be a bit much. He will not be a day one ready left tackle. At best, I see him as a developmental prospect who the Ravens could take with a round 5 selection but not with the notion that he will play in 2022. It wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t on their board. Round 4-5.
Braxton Jones
Braxton Jones is 6’5, 310 lbs. from Southern Utah State. Jones played exclusively at left tackle and graded out very well last year by Pro Football Focus, albeit against lesser competition. He has a wide base and a long frame. Jones has agile feet and good lateral movement (but he’s not always fluid), with good length and good range in pass protect. With additional strength, Jones could make an impact in the NFL.
Jones is a good athlete who has had fairly good success against speed rushers. He lacks great bend, but he shows good depth in pass sets with the ability to redirect laterally. His football IQ is excellent, and combined with hard work he has the potential to take his game up a notch. He needs to improve his punch. As well, his bend isn’t great forcing him to relying on strength too much in pass protect. At the Senior Bowl, Jones had more than his hands full trying to block Minnesota’s Boye Mafe.
Jones is a reasonably good project at left tackle, with enough athleticism and football IQ to elevate his game with good coaching. He is not a dominant run blocker by any means, disappointingly so given his traits. He just doesn’t get low enough consistently enough, and his drive is not as powerful as it needs to be. But his pass protection traits are intriguing for left tackle or as a swing tackle. As a result, he’s a player who should be on the Ravens board from the fourth round and down. Round 4-5.
Kellen Diesch
Kellen Diesch is 6’7, 299 lbs. from Arizona State. At his height, his lack of bulk raises concerns regarding his anchoring ability (a problem against speed rushers), strength at the point of attack, and power in the NFL (a little concern against elite bull rushers). He needs to add muscle and bulk. These limitations compromise his ability to mirror. His punch is only average. A drive blocker he is not. But he is athletic with good initial quickness and solid fluidity. It’s no surprise he does well pulling and getting to the second level and his footwork is very good. He has natural pass protector skills to the outside (though he has very short arms, which is often a red flag for pass protectors) and is also quick out of his stance. Note that Diesch is a sixth year senior.
I see Diesch at this point as a pass protection specialist on the left side with potential to be a swing tackle. His upside from there is dependent on his ability to add the described traits. Because he’s a specialist, his appeal for me is more limited, though I could see some interest by the Ravens if better all around tackle prospects are off the board come the late fourth round and beyond. Round 5.
Sean Rhyan
Sean Rhyan is 6’5, 321 lbs. from UCLA. Rhyan played right tackle and is a candidate either there or at guard in the NFL. There is no left tackle potential here, which immediately degrades Rhyan as a draft candidate for the Ravens. His arms are too short and he’s just not a natural in pass protection. Accordingly, I take him off the board for the Ravens as I don’t think they will spend draft capital at the guard position this year, even if they ultimately move on from Ben Powers.
Rasheed Walker
Rasheed Walker is 6’6, 313 lbs. from Penn State. Walker is another would-be tackle prospect who really is better suited inside at guard. From the Ravens’ perspective, suffice it to say that Walker demonstrated a general inability to compete against quick pass rushers and grades out as someone who has a great deal of work to do in order to develop an NFL-competitive pass blocking tool kit. As a result, he’s off my Ravens board altogether.
Darrian Kinnard
Darrian Kinnard is 6’5, 322 lbs. from Kentucky. Kinnard played right tackle at Kentucky. In a nutshell, Kinnard needs to completely rework his pass protection techniques. I could go into much more detail with him, but because he’s strictly a right tackle, and arguably should slide inside, I can’t see him as a fit for the Ravens, where Morgan Moses is in command of the right side and a draft prospect will have to be able to, at the least, swing to the blind side. Pass. No Round rating.
Ravens Offensive Line Prospects – Guards
Guard is a very low priority for the Ravens, given that they have five players on their current roster with starter experience. Therefore, I’m looking at guards who either could transition to center, or could be drafted from the fourth round down under the assumption that the Ravens move on, in one fashion or another, from Ben Powers.
Not Reviewed because they will almost certainly be selected by other teams before the fourth round:
Zion Johnson
Kenyon Green
Darian Kinnard
Jamaree Sayler
Marquis Hayes (not a good bender so I don’t see him converting to center)
Sean Rhyan (right tackle who fits best at guard but won’t kick all the way inside to center)
Ed Ingram
Ed Ingram is 6’3, 307 lbs. from LSU. Ingram has exclusively played guard in his career. He was arrested for sexual assault in 2018 and missed the 2018 season though the charges were later dropped. Nevertheless, this is a red flag that must be overcome. As a player, he was voted the top offensive lineman for the American Team at the Senior Bowl, even though Perrion Winfrey blew past him for a big sack. He is a versatile player who can handle any scheme.
Ingram has quick feet and is very explosive. He has a thick build which he combines with good mobility and bend. Ingram has the power to maintain a stout anchor and the power to push defenders in the run game. He generally keeps his pads low. Ingram has enough rotational force to move defenders laterally. He is a good puller. Ingram has stun power in his hands to jolt pass rushers and create leverage, although sometimes he is so aggressive that he gets off balance. He is most in need of improvement is hand work and avoiding lean. Ingram is a very good guard prospect with a good chance to be a future starter, perhaps as early as year one. Round 3-4.
Joshua Ezeudu
Joshua Ezeudu is 6’4, 308 lbs. from North Carolina. Ezeudu has no playing experience at center, having played both tackle positions and left guard in college. Ezeudu has good flexibility and agility given his size. He has strong hands and has been efficient pulling. Ezeudu is long enough to engage NFL tackles. He has handled stunts very well. Ezeudu has been most effective in a zone blocking scheme. He has enough athleticism to be effective. Ezeudu has not maximized his power and needs to get more discipline with his hands. He is not explosive into contact and his core power is not where it needs to be. Ezeudu has upside as a guard with more technical refinement, but seeing him as a viable starting center candidate is a push. Pass as a center, worth guard consideration. Round 4.
Cordell Volson
Cordell Volson is 6’6, 315 lbs. from North Dakota State. Volson was used primarily as a right tackle in college, Volson’s future is at guard. He is strong all across his thick frame and is very aggressive as a run blocker where he displays good hand power, moving well in space. Volson brings excellent grip strength. He has shown a good ability to pull. Pad level needs to be more consistent. As a technician he needs some work. He brings good power at the point of attack and plays mean as a nasty finisher. Volson sets a good anchor against bull rushes. He has committed too many penalties. He played very well – at guard – at the Shrine Bowl. If viewed strictly as a guard, which is where I think he must play, Volson has very good upside in the NFL. Round 4.
Cade Mays
Cade Mays is 6’5, 311 lbs. from Tennessee. Mays played both guard and tackle to an equal extent. He fits best at guard, with the possibility of viewing him as a center. Mays brings good strength, particularly in his lower body, and a broad frame with solid length. He moves his feet well and has powerful hands and an accurate punch. He is physical and nasty and a good athlete. His body control isn’t great, and he sometimes struggles breaking contact and therefore gets stacked; if he misses his first punch he has some trouble. But he has good strength with his grip and can latch on to defenders with the strength to wash players down the line. His long arms will serve him well on the inside.
There is potential here as a center for Mays. He has been an effective lead blocker on screens and moves in space reasonably well. He has good explosion out of his stance. His pad level needs improvement as a run blocker and he should be able to play in multiple schemes. Round 4-5.
Spencer Burford
Spencer Burford is 6’4, 304 lb. from, UTSA. Burford was exclusively a tackle in college for the last two years but a guard for his first two year, some teams will try him at tackle in the NFL but I’m projecting him here as a guard. He brings good athletic ability, showcasing foot quickness and mobility in the run game, even though he remains a bit undeveloped in run technique. He explodes into his blocks on the move. Burford plays a bit too high too often but has good natural bend so this is improvable in order to permit him to reach his potential as a drive blocker. He uses his long arms well in pass protection but needs to improve his punch. Burford could stand to add play strength. Round 5-6.
Logan Bruss
Logan Bruss is 6’5, 309 lbs. from Wisconsin. Bruss played exclusively at right tackle last year but will have to slide inside to guard to play at the next level. He offers a good anchor and brings very large and powerful hands to the table, though his punch is sometimes predictable. Bruss needs to do a better job of keeping his weight under his pads as he is sustaining his blocks. He is just a middling athlete with modest upper body strength. Bruss will get too high when he plays in space. I see Bruss as a depth piece only on the offensive line and not much more. Round 6.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul is 6’4, 323 lbs. from Tulsa. Playing tackle and guard in college, Paul belongs on the inside in the NFL. He lacks foot quickness sufficient lateral agility which is why he has to wind up at guard. He has physical hands and good core strength. Paul is an intelligent player but his athletic limitations suggest career backup potential. Pass.
Andrew Stueber
Andrew Stueber is 6’6, 325 lbs. from, Michigan. Even though some project Stueber to slide to the interior in the NFL, I think Stueber lacks the requisite athleticism to do so with his length being a major problem; he’s a player who I think will have difficulty maintaining his balance on the inside as he fights power-punching interior defensive lineman. As well, his pad level is just too high. Pass.
Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas is 6’5, 308 lbs. from San Diego State. Thomas is another tackle to guard convert. He lacks the type of core strength and power needed to be an impactful guard. Pass.
Nick Zakelj
Nick Zakelj is 6’6, 316 lbs. from Fordham. A left tackle at Fordham, Zakelj’ future is at guard. He didn’t help his chances with a poor three day showing at the Senior Bowl practices where he played at tackle against tougher competition and had difficulty against power players and squaring up. Perrion Winfrey in particular ate him up. Pass.
Others
Chasen Hines, 6’3, 327 lbs. LSU – Pass.
Lecitus Smith, 6’3, 314 lbs. Virginia Tech – Pass.
Justin Shaffer, 6’4, 314 lbs. Georgia – Pass.
Thayer Munford, 6’6, 328 lbs. Ohio State – Pass.
Offensive Line Prospects – Centers
The Ravens may or may not expend draft capital at this position. Center is not a critical need at the level of cornerback, edge rusher, offensive tackle, and defensive line. Yes, the Ravens could add someone at center. And maybe that position is filled post-draft with someone like J.C. Tretter (idle speculation). But center is not a deep position in the draft.
Tyler Linderbaum
Tyler Linderbaum is 6’2, 296 lbs. from Iowa. Linderbaum is not as clean a prospect as some claim. First, he lacks length, with a wingspan of 78”. This becomes an issue in pass protection in the NFL, where I don’t think he will be as effective as he was in college. Second, he lacks size and although he is an outstanding blocker on the move, this lack of size may be a problem in man blocking against top-end nose tackles. And that lack of length could cause him problems against long-armed pass rushers. He does not provide the greatest anchor of all time, though he shows good recovery skill to reset. But what Linderbaum brings, he really brings. He is very quick off the ball and his movement in space is outstanding. As a result, he has excellent range, including in pass protect.
Linderbaum is very cerebral. He is a wrestler by background and it shows. Linderbaum is tenacious with a high football IQ. He was a team captain. His low center of gravity allows him to utilize great balance and leverage. I agree with those who say he is positionally dependent as a center; he will not play guard in the NFL.
From the Ravens’ perspective a few things should be clear. First, Linderbaum is absolutely not worthy of the 14th pick in the draft. He is not the all-time greatest center prospect although he should be a very good pro. PFF might say that he has “an otherworldly resume” but I don’t evaluate him as an otherworldly pro prospect. Linderbaum has his limitations. Second, I just can’t see the Ravens spending a large part of their draft capital on a player who can only play center; that would only be the case if the center position was the “last link” to fill on a Super Bowl roster. That’s not the case with the Ravens going into the draft.
As a pure center, Linderbaum is simply not worthy of a pick near the top of the first round. For that matter, I grade him lower than almost everyone else. If you want him, you likely have to draft him in the bottom of Round 1. Round 2.
Dylan Parham
Dylan Parham is 6’3, 285 lbs. from Memphis. Parham started as a tackle where he was solid and then moved to guard. I agree with those who say he should wind up as a center (though he has never played there) in the NFL, given his size. He is not overpowering and, like Linderbaum, relies on his quickness though he has a good first strike. He has very good body control all the way through contact. Parham is an exceptional athlete, as at the Combine ran in the 97th percentile and broad jumped to the 80th percentile, along with a solid 20-yard shuttle. Because of his quickness, he is able to get into defenders immediately, which is necessary given his slighter weight.
Parham is a natural knee bender with good core strength who maintains his balance in pass protect. He frames rushers very well in pass protect and he easily mirrors. In addition to offering excellent range as a run blocker and having excellent pulling ability, he brings very good technique. He is fluid enough to play in just about any system. Parham could and should add strength to his body to improve his anchoring ability, which is currently more dependent on leverage. He had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl practices where he demonstrated an ability to handle big defensive lineman. Like Linderbaum, Parham does not have ideal length. Parham played nastier in 2021. He occasionally plays too fast but that is fixable.
Now Parham would likely not be a day one starting center given his inexperience. For the Ravens, center is really the only consideration though he obviously offers positional flexibility (unlike Trystan Colon-Castillo). If the Ravens want him, they will probably have to strike no later than the third round, but given that center – in my view – is no more than the fourth most important need – I don’t see them spending capital on a center at that point. I like the player a lot, though. Round 2-3.
Cam Jurgens
Cam Jurgens is 6’3, 303 lbs. from Nebraska. Jurgens is similar to Tyler Linderbaum insofar as what he brings to the table. For one, he is simply an outstanding athlete, with incredible testing numbers (off the charts). He is not a brute power force but is very good on the move. He has excellent range and will run all the way downfield. Jurgens brings outstanding lateral mobility, and he mirrors well against rushers. He is very quick out of his stance and in pass protect is able to immediately get to his set point. His excellent range allows him to cut off pursuit angles. He has good power in his hands. Jurgens brings value only as a center.
Sometimes Jurgens can lean a bit in pass protect, which causes some concern, and, like Linderbaum, there is some question regarding his ability to anchor against NFL studs. However, he generally sinks his hips in pass protect to gain the leverage he needs to defeat bigger defensive linemen.
Jurgens is a player who got much better each season. For the Ravens, the major negative is that Jurgens is strictly a center, at least to this point in his career; he never took a snap anywhere else. Positional flexibility along the offensive line is a key consideration for Ravens’ targets. With his outstanding athleticism and NFL coaching, Jurgens has a very high ceiling. He’s the type of player who could wind up as the starting center. The problem is, he will likely get drafted no later than in the third round, and I just don’t see the Ravens spending their draft capital on center that high in this particular draft. I like the player, however. Round 2-3.
Cole Strange
Cole Strange is 6’5, 307 lbs. from Chattanooga. Coming from small-school Chattanooga, Strange took advantage of his week of practices at the Senior Bowl against big school competition and he played very well. The Ravens spent a lot of time with him there. Strange was almost exclusively a left guard in college, but his body is likely best suited as a center. With that type of positional move there will clearly be a learning curve, and it’s hard to see Strange as a day one starting center.
Strange offers elite explosiveness. He wins a lot at the snap with good leverage. He needs to improve in pass protect, where both his hands and his base are too wide, the latter causing him to lean too much – but this is what NFL coaching is all about. Now Strange will likely fit best in an outside zone scheme where he can exploit his ability to cutoff defenders. The Ravens are scheme-versatile. The concern is Strange needs to add some mass to his lower half. One wonders at this point how well he will hold up in man on man blocking, where he can get pushed around. He also needs to add some pop to his punch.
In all, Strange will be a projection for the Ravens. He falls into that group of centers who offer more mobility than power at this point, and he must add power to hold up. I think there’s a bit of risk with him. Round 3-4.
Luke Fortner
Luke Fortner is 6’4, 307 lbs. from Kentucky. Fortner offers positional flexibility, as he started as a guard and played exclusively at center last year. Fortner plays with a wide base and decent anchoring ability. He must improve his hand placement and timing. Fortner displayed a good ability to work in space. He is a high character player. Fortner is not an overpowering player and could stand to add some bulk and power to his frame. He has more difficulty with rushers who line up over his shoulder, but he has enough lateral quickness to deal with explosive linemen, provided he does it efficiently.
I don’t see Fortner as offering either elite power (certainly not) or elite agility. He is not one I think the Ravens should draft. Round 4.
Zach Tom
Zach Tom is 6’4, 304 lbs. from Wake Forest. Tom spent the last two seasons playing left tackle, after playing his first two seasons at center. He is obviously a positionally versatile player. He is certainly among the most athletic of the interior linemen in this draft class.
Tom is very sudden in his ability to mirror, and earned an outstanding pass block grade from PFF as a left tackle this year. He had some excellent practices at the center position in the Shrine Bowl. Tom is a very intelligent player with terrific instincts who has never missed a game. He plays with excellent technique but could afford to add a bit of nastiness to his game. He is not a mauler in the run game, but he brings excellent hand technique though his pop is only average. Pushing powerful nose tackles may be challenging.
Tom plays with low pads which aids his anchoring ability but he needs to increase his core strength. I think his greatest challenge against NFL interior linemen will be the ability to maintain his anchor and reset when necessary. Like others in this rather modest center class, Tom has flaws and does not project as a complete center unless he can improve that core strength. Round 4.
