Tag: Grey Zabel

Versatile offensive linemen Packers could target in 2025 NFL Draft

The Packers love versatile offensive linemen. Who could Brian Gutekunst target in the 2025 draft?

The Green Bay Packers selected three offensive linemen during the 2024 NFL Draft, a year after taking none during the 2023 draft. Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted 14 offensive linemen and has selected at least one in every draft except for the 2023 class.

Gutekunst’s draft history suggests that he’ll draft at least one offensive lineman in the 2025 draft and it’s a safe bet the prospect will offer position versatility.

Here are some potential targets in the 2025 draft class:

Xavier Truss, OL, Georgia

Georgia’s starting right tackle has started games at left tackle and both guard spots during his time in Athens. Truss has logged 1,022 snaps at right tackle, 854 at left guard, 334 at right guard and 204 snaps at left tackle. Truss paves the way as a run blocker and has good range.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State University

Zabel has started 11 games at left tackle for the Bison this season. Prior to this season, the South Dakota native started 17 games at right tackle, four at left guard and three at right guard. Zabel is agile out in space and hits his landmarks. Zabel has taken snaps at all five positions along the offensive line during his time in Fargo and he could showcase his skill set at all five positions during Senior Bowl week.

Jonah Monheim, OL, USC

Monheim has started 10 games at center for the Trojans this season. Before kicking inside, Monheim started 18 games at right tackle, 12 at left tackle, and four at right guard. Monheim has heightened awareness in protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Monheim has given up zero sacks this season.

Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State

Wehr started his collegiate career at Bozeman as a defensive lineman before making the switch to the offensive line in 2022. During his first season on the offensive side of the ball, Wehr started seven games at left tackle. The following season he started 11 games at right tackle and one game at right guard. This season he’s started all 11 games at right guard. Since making the move to the offensive line in 2022, Wehr has given up zero sacks and just eight pressures.

Easton Kilty, OL, Kansas State

A North Dakota transfer, Kilty has started 10 games at left tackle during his first season at Kansas State. During his time at North Dakota, Kilty started games at left tackle, right guard and right tackle. Kilty is quick-footed and has given up one sack and five pressures this season.

Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

Mbow has 16 starts at right tackle and 14 at right guard under his belt. The Purdue product has quick feet and the lateral quickness to protect the corner. With his athleticism, Mbow has good range as a run blocker.

Connor Colby, OL, Iowa

Colby has started 23 straight games at right guard for the Hawkeyes. Before that stretch, Colby started seven games at left guard, six at right tackle and 11 at right guard. With 45 career starts under his belt, Colby is one of the most seasoned offensive linemen in the 2025 draft class. Colby is agile in space and rarely misses his marks.

Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State

Gray is Oregon State’s all-time leader in starts (54). Gray started 44 games at left tackle before kicking inside to left guard this season. Gray plays with good knee bend and has a well-put-together frame.

Is the Vikings longterm answer at guard playing in the Senior Bowl?

Could the team look to the offseason for help? For Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the answer may be found at the Senior Bowl. 

The Minnesota Vikings have started to experiment with offensive line pairings in recent weeks following Dalton Risner’s return. The team had been using Ed Ingram through the start of the season, but his inconsistent play led them to a change. 

However, Risner also struggles at the right guard spot. Could the team look to the offseason for help? For Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the answer may be found at the Senior Bowl. 

Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy does a great job creating a roster full of NFL talent. The players then face off against each other during practices in front of all 32 NFL teams, and that is where the Vikings front office can find its answer. 

There is one player specifically who could be the answer in Grey Zabel out of North Dakota State. 

Zabel has received national attention since the Summer, and his 2024 season has kept those coals hot. He is sound technically as a run-and-pass blocker but also athletic enough to play either guard or tackle at the next level. Having something with his skill set could be a fun chess piece for the Vikings upfront. 

If it isn’t Zabel, there are other offensive linemen going to the event, but the soon-to-be-former Bison is getting the edge early on as a good fit.