Offensive Line 2023 Draft Preview

March 8, 2023

by David Earl

Heading Into The Draft

I won’t bore you with the topic of just how bad Washington’s offensive line was this past season – you can reread many articles here at The Hog Sty, like this one. Today, let’s focus on the draft and what the position offers for Washington. This column will cover the entire offensive line, broken into two groups, the first being the Interior (centers and guards) and then the Offensive Tackles. The complete breakdown of these players and all their measurables can be found on the NFL site, but one area to focus on is the 20-yard shuttle. This measures short-yardage quickness and agility plus the speed at which each prospect is capable of changing direction.

Interior Offensive Line Prospects

While O’Cyrus Torrence may be the best guard in this draft, his projected 1st round grade may be too high at pick 16, especially with the depth in this draft on the interior. I realistically see an offensive tackle as the only option for the line at pick 16 unless they go defensive back or if a quarterback they love falls. That said, look for someone like TCU’s Steve Avila who is a versatile player having the ability to play center or guard. His 20-yard shuttle score of 4.74 seconds combined with his size and 5.21 second 40-yard time give him a strong athletic profile as a projected 3rd-round pick. Another name to remember is Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg as a late-round selection to develop as Chase Roullier‘s eventual replacement. He’s a quick-footed center with a good athletic profile but does need work on his technique. My personal favorite here is North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch who is projected as a late 2nd-round pick. With his 4.55-second shuttle time and recording one of the best 40 times in the combine workouts of 5.08 seconds, this mauler has the complete package to transition into the guard position. Undersized as an offensive tackle, Cody Mauch’s power and overall technique make him as almost a sure-fire talent as you can get in my opinion.

Player	Height	Weight	40 Yard Dash	Broad Jump	20 Yard Shuttle	Next Gen Stat Score
O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida	6’5″	335	5.31	8′ 5″	4.81	81
Prospect Grade 6.42: Starter within 2 years	O’Cyrus uses his hands very well independently in pass pro, reads/reacts quickly, and is very light on his feet. Will struggle against athletic rushers and can overextend at times leaving him vulnerable to power rushers.
John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minn	6’4″	320	5.35	8′ 8″	4.56	84
Prospect Grade 6.41: Starter within 2 years	True anchor for the offensive line making proper calls and adjustments at the line, has great lateral quickness, and is a great finisher. His arm reach is below average and can get caught overextending against athletic rushers.
Cody Mauch, OT/OG, NDS	6’6″	303	5.08	9′	4.55	82
Prospect Grade 6.36: Eventually become a plus starter	Probably best suited for interior play at the next level as his footwork is too inconsistent against edge rushers and his overall hand technique can become a liability. His loose hips and overall down-blocking power plays well against interior rushers.
Joe Tippmann, OC, Wisconsin	6’5″	320	4.9	NA	NA	87
Prospect Grade 6.36: Eventually become a plus starter	High awareness at the line presnap to make calls and adjustments, has a strong lower body anchor, and high athletic grade for pull blocks. Can get caught off-balance at times, can get complacent with his pad level, and does lack in leverage thus losing control within his blocks.
Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC	6’6″	320	NA	8′ 9″	NA	77
Prospect Grade 6.31: Eventually become a plus starter	A 5-year starter, Andrew takes good angles after the snap making the right adjustments, has a consistent framework in pass sets and his handwork on outside rushes is quick and smooth. Doesn’t always punch into his blocks leaving him vulnerable to a power rush at times and can get too handsy at times.
Luke Wypler, OC, OSU	6’3″	300	5.14	8’10”	4.53	79
Prospect Grade 6.20: Be an average starter	Good quick steps into the gaps, has an athletic profile to pull down the line, and climbs to the second level very well. Has a below-average reach which leads to struggles against power rushers and an inconsistent base can lead him to be driven back into the pocket.
Steve Avila, OC, TCU	6’3″	334	5.21	8′ 2″	4.74	80
Prospect Grade 6.30: Eventually become a plus starter	Versatile player who can play both center and guard. A strong frame that absorbs contact well, smooth hips, and good lateral movement. While he gets fooled at times when defenders stunt, at times will play too upright and inconsistent hand placement.
Emil Ekiyor Jr., OG, Alabama	6’2″	324	5.25	NA	NA	74
Prospect Grade 6.23: Be an average starter	Keeps a low profile in his run blocks, disciplined hand placement with a string first impact punch, and creates good angles to win blocks. Struggles at times in space and his overall length can become a liability.
Jarrett Patterson, OG, ND	6’5″	307	5.33	8’10”	4.73	70
Prospect Grade 6.00: Can be an average backup with starter traits with development	Good hand placement and timing off the snap a key attribute that keeps engaged after contact, and reaches the second level effectively. His feet coordination is off from his hand movement and doesn’t recover well off twists and stunts.
Olusegun Oluwatimi, OC, Mich.	6’3″	310	5.38	9′ 2″	NA	76
Prospect Grade 6.19: Will be a good backup and could develop into a solid starter	The overall technique is sound, has solid core strength, and works exceptionally well in pass pro. Does show some limited range as a run blocker and his lateral movement lacks consistency on the edge.
Ricky Stromberg, OC, Arkansas	6’3″	310	5.26	9′ 3″	NA	77
Prospect Grade 6.18: Can be an average backup with starter traits with development	Excellent awareness at the line presnap, very strong and quick in the second level, strong lateral movement, and head always on a swivel to react to rushers. Can get caught upright when engaged in blocking and footwork needs improvement to cut off gaps.
Braeden Daniels, OG, Utah	6’3″	300	4.99	9′ 1″	4.6	73
Prospect Grade 6.14: Can be an average backup with starter traits with development	Has excellent leverage in down blocks, lateral movement, and instincts keep him usually in a great position, and works into the second level well. Lacks proper footwork post-snap when engaged and his lack of size results in some struggles in run blocking.

Offensive Tackle Prospects

This draft is not particularly deep at the premium tackle position so teams are either going to get a starting-caliber player early or find a developmental player who may ultimately move inside. Since many of these prospects didn’t run the shuttle drill, this chart incorporates the 10-yard split. This drill demonstrates prospects short area burst and movement which is vital for any offensive tackle in the NFL, especially against these highly athletic edge rushers. Any of the top 3 tackles here would be a great choice in the first round, but the most intriguing player here is Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron. An experienced swing tackle who could also transition inside as a guard, he attacks the second level of the defense aggressively and utilizes his frame very well. If Washington elects to not draft an offensive lineman in the first round and misses out on Cody Mauch, Matthew Bergeron could make a lot of sense in the 3rd round. Matthew is nearly a plug-and-play guard having the upside to develop into a starting right tackle in the NFL.

Player	Height	Weight	40 Yard Dash	Broad Jump	10-Yard Split	Next Gen Stat Score
Peter Skoronski, OT, NW	6’4″	294	5.16	9′ 7″	1.75	89
Prospect Grade 6.73: Year 1 immediate starter	Explosive lateral movement, sound hand technique when engaging, maintains a strong base throughout his blocks, and has a powerful stable base. Can be predictable at times in pass sets and is not as quick in attacking the second level.
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia	6’4″	315	4.97	9′	1.74	85
Prospect Grade 6.44: Starter within 2 years	His athleticism and quick hands are ideal when facing top-end edge rushers. Makes consistent adjustments throughout the play and has very smooth hips in transitions. Needs to utilize his play strength more consistently and can lose his form at times arching his frame in pass pro.
Paris Johnson Jr., OT, OSU	6’6″	315	NA	9′ 2″	NA	82
Prospect Grade 6.39: Eventually plus starter	Versatile player logging significant time at guard and tackle. Has consistently coordinated feet, especially when moving laterally, and is very fluid within his blocks. Does not utilize his full strength in first contact, has inconsistent upper body control, and tends to lean forward too much making him vulnerable to spin moves.
Dawand Jones, OT, OSU	6’8″	360	5.35	NA	1.92	75
Prospect Grade 6.32: Eventually be a plus starter	Overall strength combined with his wing span makes DaWand an imposing figure at tackle. Has solid movement and drives feet through blocks effectively. A base that is a bit too narrow combined with a top-heavy frame limits his lateral movement. Doesn’t possess the athleticism score to be a top-end left tackle.
Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse	6’5″	322	NA	8′ 7″	NA	75
Prospect Grade 6.39: Eventually be a plus starter	Experienced swing tackle who imposes his will on opposing defenders. Maintains a strong technically sound base throughout his blocks and very good lateral movement. Needs work on hand technique in pass pro and can get his hands too high on initial contact.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tenn	6’5″	335	5.01	9′ 6″	1.81	84
Prospect Grade 6.34: Eventually be a plus starter	Carries his big frame well while using his length and solid footwork to match up well against edge rushers. Doesn’t utilize his hands as well as you like in first contact not always engaging first. A little stiff after the snap and struggles against defenders’ spin moves.
Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma	6’5″	309	4.98	8′ 9″	1.77	82
Prospect Grade 6.27: Eventually be an average starter	An instinctive run blocker who climbs the second level well. Doesn’t shy away from first contact off the snap and keeps defenders engaged well throughout his blocks. His footwork needs improvement and the coordination with his feet and hands are inconsistent. Lacks strong lateral movement and struggles against speed rushers.