Draft Preview: Guards and Centers

March 15, 2025

by Alex Zeese

Washington has their starting Center, and because of that, I will spend more of this post focusing on Guard prospects. This seems a good time to look at the guard position as well. A range of factors will affect the team’s draft strategy regarding their offensive line, such as the late draft slot in the 1st round, and the news that they have traded for a Pro Bowl left tackle. The guard position seems like a likely position of focus in the 1st two rounds.

When it comes to saying which draft prospects are going to end up an interior lineman in the NFL it can be a bit tricky. As we have discussed on the podcast, many offensive tackles will end up kicking inside to guard. Since we covered most of the tackles already, I tried as best I could to focus on players who were listed as Guards or Centers in the combine or on major NFL draft websites.

Tier 1: Late 1st round early 2nd round prospects

There are really 3 inside linemen who are listed as late 1st round or early 2nd round prospects, meaning that they could be there at pick 29 and it’s not a reach.

Tyler Booker, LG, Alabama 6’5″ / 352 lbs
I think that people look at Booker’s size and just get excited, and who can blame them. A 350 lb guard has the potential to cause a lot of problems for most defenses.  He is good at using that size too, pushing guys around one on one. He isn’t a fast guard, but you don’t draft a guy at 350+ for speed. Don’t expect him to get 50 yards down field  on a zone run. He’s going to be a good one on one power blocker type.

Gray Zabel, OG/C, N. Dakota St. 6’6” / 312 lbs
Zabel was the left tackle at North Dakota and is projected in many places as an all purposes lineman. If he were drafted in DC, the team could move him to guard in the NFL he looks very athletic, which leads me to think he would be a solid run blocker in zone run schemes, and can get to the 2nd level.

Donovan Jackson LG Ohio State, 6’4″ / 320 lbs
Playing at a bigtime program always is good, as it means you can trust he’s seen some NFL caliber competition.  From what I have seen watching him, everything looks to be a positive; he has good footwork, he’s good as a pass blocker, looks like he could be a decent run blocker. I like his pass blocking most of all. His highlights show an ability to track well and pick up defenders when facing blitzes and stunts.

Tier 2: Day 2/3 prospects
There are a handful of later round prospects that I liked after watching some of their highlights. I won’t be surprised if in 2-3 seasons several of these guys would end up as starters in the NFL.

Jackson Slater, LG, Sacramento State, 6’3” / 311 lbs

Predicted to go later in the draft. I really like Slater. However by playing at Sacramento, he could just be a big fish in a small pond. At that level he looked to have good mobility and strength. I think he would be the kind of guy who could develop into a solid starter.

Jonah Monheim, C/G, USC, 6’4” / 302

He plays quick. That’s the first thing I noticed, and with Washington needing someone to fill a spot on the OL, but not 100% clear if they are looking for a LG/RG or RT, he could cover multiple spots. One thing I really liked is that he looked very good in the screen game, something Washington loves. On a screen, he seems to know exactly who he wants to hit first to open up the holes for the runner.

Tate Ratledge, RG, Georgia 6’6″ / 315

Gets a decent push one on one in the run game, solid pass blocker overall, but a bit upright. Probably needs to work on hand work & overall technique.

Miles Frazier, RG, LSU, 6’5″ / 325 

I liked Frazier’s side to side movement when pass blocking and his ability to pick up pass rushers.

Seth McLaughlin C, Ohio State, 6’4” / 304

Has an ankle injury. He seems like a sound pass blocker, he transferred from Alabama to Ohio State. While he’s a center, I thought I’d mention him given that he probably will go fairly high in the draft.

Tier 3: Some other late round picks or possible un-drafted players:

There are plenty of other players to watch in the interior offensive line broup, and I’ll be honest and say that I simply didn’t have time to find highlights of every one of these guys. I was able to find video of online for some of them, but I didn’t necessarily like what I saw. Most I’ve seen listed as 4th round or later picks.

Caleb Rogers G Texas Tech, 6’5” / 312 lbs
Clay Webb C Jacksonville State 6’3” / 290 lbs
Conor Colby G Iowa 6’6” / 310 lbs
Cooper May, C, Tennessee, 6’3″ / 295
Drew Kendall C Boston College 6’4” / 299 lbs
Dylan Fairchild, LG, Georgia, 6’5″ / 318 lbs
Eli Cox, C, Kentuckey, 6’4″ / 306
Garrett Dillinger, LG, LSU 6’5″ / 322
Jake Majors, C, Texas 6’3” / 306
Jared Wilson, C, Georgia, 6’3″ / 310
Javontez Spraggins, RG, Tennessee, 6’3” / 325 lbs
Joe Huber G Wisconsin 6’5” / 310 lbs
Josh Gray G, Oregon St. 6’4” / 310 lbs
Maurice Smith, C, Florida St. 6’3″ / 298
Mose Vavao, C, Fresno St, 6’3” / 317
Ryan Lunthicum C, Clemson, 6’3″ / 305
Torricelli Simpkins C South Carolina 6’5” / 308 lbs
Xavier Truss, LG, Georgia, 6’7” / 320 lbs
Zeke Correll, NC State C, 6’3” / 307