Tag: Nick Harris

Scouting breakdown: The 11 best interior offensive linemen in the NFL draft

Tackles get the attention, but interior offensive linemen are critical. Who are the 11 best interior line prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft?

Sure, offensive tackles grab the headlines, and prospects that have a chance to be drafted on the edge of the offensive line want to make that stick in the NFL. Because that is going to translate to a bigger contract when it is time for your second deal in the league.

But there are only two tackle spots up front, and three in the interior line. Yes, perhaps guards and centers are devalued a bit come draft time, as well as in free agency, but study Tom Brady sometime and ask yourself this: What bothers him more, pressure off the edge, or pressure in the interior?

Guards and centers matter schematically. So you better have some good ones. Teams looking to address these positions would be wise to keep these eleven players in mind.

1. Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Height: 6’3″ Weight: 307
40-Yard Dash: 5.08 seconds
Bench Press: 28 reps
Vertical Jump: 33 inches
Broad Jump: 9 feet 6 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.91 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.64 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Cesar Ruiz was the top center prospect in the country coming out of IMG Academy, and had no list of suitors. Ruiz joined IMG Academy after starting his high school career in Camden, growing up in a very tough neighborhood. Almost 30 schools gave Ruiz a scholarship offer, including Florida, Auburn and North Carolina, but he chose to play for Michigan.

Ruiz was pressed into action early, starting in Week 10 of his freshman year and finishing the season as the Wolverines’ starting right guard. He was moved to center for the 2018 season and started every game for Michigan that season. He locked down that spot for the Wolverines again last season.

Ruiz’s story is also one of personal tragedy. His father passed away in December of 2007, when Cesar was only eight years old. His father, Cesar Edwin Ruiz, had pulled over to the side of the road to help another driver with a flat tire. A driver then collided with both the elder Ruiz and the stranded motorist, killing Ruiz’s father. It was two years later that Ruiz turned to the sport of football, putting him on a path towards the NFL. As he told the media during the Scouting Combine, everything he does, he does with his father on his mind.

Stat to Know: Ruiz allowed just three sacks on 2,116 snaps while at Michigan.

Strengths: Ruiz is a versatile offensive lineman, given his experience at both guard and center. On film he displays good lateral quickness with fast hands, and he is usually the first to initiate contact in pass protection and starts with the advantage as a result. His athleticism is something to behold, as his impressive 20-yard shuttle (95th percentile) illustrates. He is quick when asked to long pull to the outside, and shows the athleticism, footwork and vision to consistently climb to the second level and take on linebackers.

In pass protection, Ruiz is extremely aware, constantly scanning for loopers or twisters and if uncovered, he is always looking for work. He displays good awareness and recognition of blitzers, whether early or late in the snap, and he is adept at handling/passing off interior stunts and twists. He also maintains control of the situation when a defensive lineman attempts a secondary pass rushing move, and is able to counter those attempts with ease. He also fights hard to maintain his anchor, or reanchor his base, against slanting bull rushers who have a leverage advantage pre-snap.

Ruiz is also a finisher. He will block his assignment until the whistle – or a little longer if he wants to – and loves to get his guy to the turf. Ruiz does a solid job of continuing to chug his feet post-contact, leading to his reputation as a finisher. He also has what you can describe as textbook “secondary” technique. For example on some zone running schemes he uses a rip technique of his own to counter the initial contact from the defender and get himself to the outside.

Weaknesses: Ruiz tends to drop his eyes before contact, which leads to some whiffs either at the point of contact or in space when he is pulling or working to the outside on a zone running design. There are questions about his athleticism, and therefore his ability to fit in a zone-heavy scheme, but on film he displayed to me the athleticism and technique to operate in such an offense.

Conclusion: Ruiz has the experience, athleticism, strength and mental approach to be a stout interior offensive lineman in any NFL system. He uses his hands and feet well, he wants to finish plays on every snap, he is always looking for work and fights to the whistle every chance he gets. Set to turn 21 this summer, the sky could be the limit for this Michigan offensive lineman.

Comparison: Pro Football Focus compared him to Maurkice Pouncey, and that seems apt given what Ruiz offers as a prospect. There are some flaws but he is a very complete player.

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2020 NFL Draft: List of known prospects Jags have contacted post-combine

The prospects from the upcoming draft may be limited in terms of traveling and meetings, however, the NFL has still found creative ways to conduct interviews. Whether it’s through FaceTime or any other video contact apps, they’ve all done their best …

The prospects from the upcoming draft may be limited in terms of traveling and meetings, however, the NFL has still found creative ways to conduct interviews. Whether it’s through FaceTime or any other video contact apps, they’ve all done their best to do their homework on the prospects they could be adding to their teams in a few weeks.

The Jags are amongst the teams who’ve been working hard with interviews despite all of the limitations COVID-19 has caused. Thanks to our comrade of Draft Wire, Justin Melo, we’ve been able to stay in the loop with some of the prospects the Jags have shown interest in after the NFL Scouting Combine. Here are some of the names he’s confirmed who the Jags have contacted:

  • A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State
  • Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
  • Kenny Willekes, DL, Michigan State
  • Nick Harris, Center, Washington
  • Darrion Daniels, DL, Nebraska
  • Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
  • James Smith-Williams, EDGE, North Carolina State
  • Alohi Gilman, Safety, Notre Dame

One of our guests on the “Bleav in the Jags Podcast,” Jordan Reid, also reported that the Jags had a FaceTime interview with Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

In terms of Combine interviews, we reported back in February that the Jags interviewed Miami’s DeeJay Dallas, Florida State’s Cam Akers, Georgia’s Solomon Kindley, and Louisiana States Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Kindley, a Jacksonville native recently sat down with Action News Jax as he’s training locally to prepare for the NFL season. In our latest mock, we slotted Kindley to the Jags in the second round.

 

Chargers have pre-draft meeting with Washington OL Nick Harris

The Los Angeles Chargers could be looking to add interior offensive line depth in the mid rounds.

The retooling of the Chargers offensive line began with the acquisitions of guard Trai Turner and tackle Bryan Bulaga. However, the positional group is still not completely shored up.

The left tackle spot is the biggest need, but there are still questions that lie with interior part of the offensive line. To fix it, Los Angeles has their eyes on one that they possibly believe could help the unit from the upcoming draft.

According to Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, L.A. is scheduled to have a pre-draft FaceTime meeting with former Washington center Nick Harris.

Harris started 42 of 54 games at center (24), left guard (15) and right guard (3) for the Huskies. He was named twice to the First-Team All-Pac-12 team and honorable mention once.

Even though he is undersized, the 6-foot and 302 pound Harris is a polished player, using his quickness, physicality and fundamentally sound approach in both pass protection and the run blocking department.

For the Chargers, Harris is capable of playing all three interior offensive line positions. Known for his athletic ability, he would be ideal for the new offensive scheme that will likely be incorporated starting next season.

Harris projects as third or fourth-round selection.

2020 NFL Draft: Examining Giants’ third-round possibilities

Using multiple mock draft simulators, Giants Wire breaks down a few interesting third-round possibilities for the New York Giants.

The New York Giants traded their 2020 third-round pick as part of the package used to obtain New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams last October.

That pick turned out to be the 68th overall selection later this month, or the fourth pick in the third round. The Giants did recoup a third rounder when they were awarded a compensatory selection by the league for losing Landon Collins in free agency last March. That pick is No. 99 overall.

So, who could the Giants potentially get with that pick? Let’s take a quick look.

Using The Draft Network’s latest rankings on their simulator, here’s who we selected in the first two rounds and a few players that might pique Dave Gettleman’s interest at No. 99.

Round 1, Pick 4: Isaiah Simmons, linebacker, Clemson

Round 2, Pick 36: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

Round 3, Pick 99….

There are three candidates on the board that stuck out to me. First was UConn offensive tackle Matthew Peart, a 6-foot-7, 310-pounder who has been climbing up draft boards of late.

Second, is another tackle, LSU’s Saahdiq Charles (6’4″, 295) who is quick and versatile.

Then, there is one of the most intriguing players in the draft in Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool, who at 6-foot-4 and 238 pound ran a 4.42 40 at the NFL Combine.

My pick: Claypool. There’s a lot of upside with him and the Giants need a bigger receiver to compliment their group of predominantly smaller players.

Using Fanspeak.com’s mock simulator, here is how we fared when picking for the Giants.

Round 1, Pick 4: Simmons. He was also the highest rated on their board.

Round 2, Pick 36: Xavier McKinney, safety, Alabama

Round 3, Pick 99….here are the three top candidates that would fit the Giants the best.

Nick Harris, center, Washington: The Giants are in the market for a young center and Harris (6’1″, 302) is a tough guy who fits what the Joe Judge Giants are aiming to be: hard-working and team-oriented.

Zack Moss, running back, Utah: A running back? Yes, the Giants would like to augment their backfield even though it looks solid with Saquon Barkley and Dion Lewis. Moss is a compact runner that can run between the tackles and can also be a factor in the passing game.

Malik Harrison, linebacker, Ohio State: The Giants are long on linebackers at the moment, especially if they land Simmons, so Harrison would be a severe luxury. But he’s a productive player from a top program who might be too good a prospect here to pass on.

My pick: Harris. The offensive line needs to get down and dirty and Harris playing in between Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler gives me some comfort they are headed in the right direction.

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Will the Seahawks select a Washington Husky in 3rd straight year?

After taking Will Dissly in 2018 and Ben Burr-Kirven in 2019, will the Seattle Seahawks select someone from UW again in the 2020 NFL draft?

For a long time, the Seattle Seahawks did not select players from nearby University of Washington in the NFL draft.

Then, a few years into the Chris Petersen era out on Montlake, the Huskies started churning out quality NFL talent – and Pete Carroll and his squad got in on the action.

The Seahawks have been thrilled with the performance of Will Dissly, a 2018 fourth round pick who began his career at UW at defensive end but transitioned to tight end for his final few years.

Dissly was joined by another teammate, linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven, who the Seahawks nabbed in the fifth round in 2019.

While BBK was a reserve linebacker and core special teamer last season, the Seahawks view him as a key piece for the future and have been very happy with their two recent UW draft picks.

The question now is if Seattle will target anyone else from UW for the 2020 draft. While there are plenty of talented players from Washington expected to go in the first few rounds, the two most notable players (tight end Hunter Bryant and quarterback Jacob Eason) don’t play positions of need for the Seahawks, leaving them with fewer options to choose from.

However, there are still three players the Seahawks could pursue, including a pair of offensive linemen and a defensive back that all could be good fits for Carroll and company.

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2020 NFL draft: Nick Harris scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Washington offensive line prospect Nick Harris

Nick Harris | OL | Washington

Elevator Pitch

A polished and determined interior offensive line prospect who brings athleticism and coordination to the table, Harris has the potential to step in and be a solid starter at the next level. Despite his deficiencies, he has plenty of tools in his game to warrant looks late on Day 2 of the draft.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 302

College Bio Page

Strengths

If Harris were even two inches and 10 pounds of muscle heavier, there’s a solid chance we’d be looking at him as a possible first-round pick.

Harris brings impressive athleticism to the center position. He has good lateral quickness, as he can move around well in pass protection and execute down blocks with efficiency. He climbs to the second level well when called upon to do so, and he is able to maintain good coordination and body control when moving to block linebackers or defensive backs. His overall fluidity allows him to rotate his hips and adjust his frame to square up to defenders.

Centers are known for being some of the smartest players on the football field, and that rings true with Harris. He does a good job of adjusting his set points and figuring out which sets to use on a given play. He communicates well with his teammates to slide protection or make other adjustments at the line of scrimmage. When asked to block on a zone play, he is able to clear out his zone effectively and understand what his assignment is on said play. His intelligence translates to his technique too, as he plays with great leverage in his pads and sinks into contact well to get his weight underneath him. He plays with a high motor and also possesses impressive determination and grip strength when he locks up with a defender.

Weaknesses

The big issue with Harris as a prospect has to do with a lack of an NFL build. He’s short for an offensive lineman and doesn’t have significant muscle weight in his frame. His lack of length limits his range as a blocker a bit, and he could stand to pack on a few more pounds of muscle and strengthen his core a bit. That lack of bulk shows up on tape sometimes, as his anchor strength can be improved in order to get better against powerful interior defenders at the next level. While he weighed in at over 300 pounds at the Combine, he played at well under that mark in his collegiate career.

Harris’ hand placement has shown some promise, but there are times where he ends up misplacing his strikes and failing to maintain proper leverage in that regard. He has an occasional tendency to hold onto defenders when the play doesn’t go according to plan, which will need to be cleaned up a bit at the next level.

Projection: Day 2

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Seahawks Wire’s post-combine mock has team selecting EDGE

Everyone else is doing a mock draft, so why not us? Here is a look at what the Seattle Seahawks could do in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, are unpredictable when it comes to the NFL draft.

General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have a unique way of evaluating talent, and the team’s desire to trade down and collect more draft picks has benefited them quite a bit in the past – and is entirely on the table again in 2020.

With the combine over and Pro Day season in full-swing, I decided to take a shot on my first official mock draft of the season. Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator – which does not account for comp picks – I selected five players who I think could be realistic targets for the Seahawks this year, starting with a potential first round pass rusher.

Round 1, Pick No. 27: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

There are a whole lot of people who have been mocked to the Seahawks in the first round, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

While this class is not nearly as deep at defensive end as the 2019 class was, Baun is one of many EDGE defenders who could find his way to Seattle at No. 27 overall.

Baun is projected as a better fit in 3-4 defensive sets, but his versatility all along the defensive line will appeal to coach Pete Carroll, and his twitchiness and explosiveness will make him a strong pass rusher in due time.

He still has some development to do, which could give Seattle pause, but there is a reason he has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews. If he’s around at No. 27 overall, it will be hard for Seattle to pass him up.

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Meet Nick Harris, Washington’s anchor on the offensive line

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Washington offensive line prospect Nick Harris

Experience, intelligence, athleticism. These are all traits that make a successful offensive line prospect, and things that all 32 NFL teams are looking for in this year’s draft.

They’ll find them all in Washington’s Nick Harris.

A battle-tested blocker with experience at every interior offensive line position, Harris recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his ability to play multiple spots, the leadership ability of Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.

JM: You’re an experienced starting center, and you really were the leader of that Washington offensive line. How does that experience serve you well going forward?

NH: Experience is never a bad thing and I have a lot of it. We played against some of the best defenses in the nation and I’ve played against some of the best interior defensive linemen in the nation. It certainly gives me an edge to compete at the next level. I embraced a leadership role at Washington. That will go a long way for me as well. I have the experience teams are looking for at the next level.

JM: Speaking of those linemen, who are some of the best interior defensive linemen you’ve squared off with?

NH: The first people that come to mind are the guys that we’ve had at Washington throughout my time there. We’ve been blessed with so many quality defensive linemen. Guys like Vita Vea, Greg Gaines, Elijah Qualls and Shane Bowman. All of those guys have serious NFL talent and I had to go up against them every single day. Regarding our opponents, you had guys like Leki Fotu from Utah. I played against Derrick Brown from Auburn during my junior year. The defensive tackles at USC are so solid. We had to play against a lot of talented guys that will definitely be playing on Sunday’s.

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

JM: What do you enjoy about playing center?

NH: I mostly just enjoy being in the middle of it all. It fits my personality. I’m an outgoing guy. I’m an excellent communicator. I’m not afraid to talk to anyone. I love the responsibility that comes with playing the position. I love being able to use my football I.Q. as a trait. You definitely have to have a high football I.Q. to play the position. I love the game of football and I have a great understanding of things. I love using that to my advantage as a center.

JM: You spent most of your time at center over the past few years, but you’ve played some left and right guard, as well. Do you think it makes the most sense for your pro team to keep you at center at the next level?

NH: I would say so, yes. I’m capable of playing anywhere inside though. I played my first two years at Washington at left and right guard, just like you said. There’s no telling how much better I would have gotten at guard if I had stayed there. I love playing on the interior. I’ll play anywhere that my team needs me to play for sure.

JM: Is there a scheme that you prefer or maybe that you’re more comfortable in?

NH: I would like to play in an offense that uses my play style to my advantage. I enjoy blocking on the second level. I love using my athleticism to create an advantage for myself. I enjoy the different wide zone concepts, a lot of downfield stuff. That definitely suits me best. With that said, we did a little bit of everything at Washington. I played in a multiple offense. We did everything. I’m definitely capable of playing in any kind of offense.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

JM: You were also at the Senior Bowl. Who were some of the best pass rushers you saw down there?

NH: I mostly went up against the interior defensive linemen down there. I thought that Davon Hamilton from Ohio State was a good defensive tackle. He’s a strong guy with powerful hands. Jason Strowbridge from North Carolina was pretty good, too. He was quick and he had really good hands. All of the guys down there were solid, but those two stuck out to me the most.

JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?

NH: My personal favorite way, I mean every offensive linemen loves to dominate. I actually enjoy the mental aspect of it more. I like winning the psychological battle in the trenches. That’s something I take pride in. I like chirping them, I like getting chippy. I think that takes a toll on a defensive linemen throughout the game. Everybody says that I’m a little undersized. I don’t believe I am but that’s what they say. You gotta use anything you can to gain the upper hand.

JM: Do you have a preferred pass set, and do you vary that throughout the course of a game?

NH: Yeah, I personally like pass setting different players differently. It’s important that I keep them on their toes. I don’t want them to get used to how I’m pass setting. That’s how you become predictable. If I’m up against a quicker guy, I like to set right on the ball, a quick little set. That allows me to stop their rush rather quickly. I would say the same for the bull rush guys just so they don’t get momentum right off the snap. I like switching it up though. You have to throw them off throughout the game.

Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

JM: What can you tell me about Jacob Eason the man, the leader, and the quarterback?

NH: He came on so strong for us this year. He definitely took on a leadership role. A lot of people don’t think that he did that but I can tell you firsthand that he did. We relied on him a lot this year. As the quarterback in our offense, he was obviously the face of our offense. Somebody had to grow into that role following the departure of Jake Browning and Jacob definitely did that. The talent is there, man. He loves football and he loves being around the guys. He was a hell of a leader for us. I enjoyed watching him grow over these past two years. The ceiling is incredibly high for him at the next level because he loves football.

JM: What kind of impact is Nick Harris going to make at the next level?

NH: I’m gonna bring a different energy to a team, an energy that people can feed off of. I’m definitely gonna embrace a leadership role. People feed off of that. I’m just gonna bring a competitive edge to the locker room. I want people to see it. I wanna compete with my teammates day in, day out. Those are the things I’m gonna bring with me to the next level.

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2020 NFL Combine winners: Offensive linemen

Examining and identifying the top on-field offensive linemen performances from the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine continued their on-field drills on Friday night, this time featuring offensive linemen and running backs. As always, the workouts begin with the 40-yard-dash, and when they shifted into position drills, we got to see a handful of new drills.

The Detroit Lions were surely keeping a close eye on the offensive linemen tonight as they could be in the market for a starter at guard, as well as a future starter at offensive tackle. Let’s take a look at those who earned positive marks today.

Tristan Wirfs, LT/RT, Iowa

6-5, 320, 10-y/s: 1.69, 40-y/d: 4.85, Vertical 36.5″, Broad 10-1

There is plenty of debate over who the top offensive lineman in this class is, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Wirfs was on top of the Lions board at the position.

Wirfs’ elite athleticism was on full display tonight, where he looked silky smooth in on-field drills, and set records in the measurable tasks. His 4.85 40-yard dash was the fastest among all offensive linemen this year and sixth fastest since 2003. His 36.5″ vertical jump was the highest at the position since 2003 and his 10-1 broad jump was tied for the furthest by an offensive lineman since 2003.

He dominated.

Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan

6-3, 307, 10-y/s: 1.77

Ruiz and LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry are in a fierce battle for the top spot among the interior offensive linemen, and while both showed out tonight, I gave the edge to Ruiz based on his fluidity and movement skills. Ruiz was under control in every single drill and he executed each with precision and power. His ability to play center and guard could put him in play for the Lions at pick No. 35 at the top of the second round.

Austin Jackson, LT, USC

6-5, 322, 10-y/s: 1.73

Jackson is a young (only 20-years-old) and developing prospect, and while he likely won’t be grouped in the same tier as the top four offensive tackles in this class, his upside is obvious and was highlighted at tonight’s Combine. A high-character pure left tackle, Jackson’s ability to take over a starting role a year from now will be very appealing to a team like the Lions.

Ezra Cleveland, LT, Boise State

6-6, 311, 10-y/s: 1.73, Bench 30 reps

Cleveland is a developmental offensive tackle who is probably a year away from earning a starting role in the NFL, making him a player who will draw interest from the Lions. At the Combine, Cleveland showed off his balance, ability to play with his head up, and moved laterally with ease.

Nick Harris, IOL, Washington

6-1, 302, 10-y/s: 1.76

Harris’ athleticism stands out when you watch him play and the Combine was no different. He was smooth, balanced, kept his center of gravity low, and moved laterally with ease. Harris will check a lot of boxes for the Lions — he spent a week with them at the senior bowl and will hit their athletic requirements — but he is likely headed for a Joe Dahl-like role, where it will take him time before he is ready to compete for a starting job.

Notes:

  • Mekhi Becton (6-7.5, 364, Louisville) started the show off with a bang, gliding to a 1.77 10-yard-split, but he pulled up after the first on-field drill or he would’ve been higher up this list
  • Jedrick Willis (6-4, 312, Alabama) put his power on full display in a kick-slide right tackle drill, where Willis punched through the bag, knocking the coaches head violently back

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Offensive line

The Lions Wire staff has identified which offensive linemen Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the offensive linemen won’t take the field until Friday, February 28th.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends previews.

Offensive line traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the offensive line are:

  • Balance through the player’s hips
  • Knee bend, bending at the waist is a red flag
  • Kick slide: Is it smooth? Do they cross their feet when shuffling?
  • Mental processing: Do they react/respond to coaching or are they guessing and trying to anticipate? Do they follow directions?

Mekhi Becton, Louisville

Suggested by: Max Gerber and Bryce Rossler

Becton has been one of the biggest “risers” throughout the draft process, working his way up to be considered among the top offensive linemen in this class. He is a massive human being (est. 6-7, 365 pounds) but is surprisingly light on his feet. He has three year’s starting experience and looks comfortable playing at right or left tackle (he’s played both). If he gets a hold of a defender it’s over, but intelligent EDGE rushers will use his overaggressiveness against him.

Austin Jackson, USC

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

An upside left tackle, who if he returned to college would have been in the top-of-the-first-round conversation. He needs to be more consistent in his technique — especially in the run game — but he has NFL traits and his upside is going to get him drafted, likely early on Day 2. He’s athletic enough to play guard, but for teams willing to give him a season to develop, he could be a longtime starter at left tackle with proper coaching.

Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

Cushenberry will battle Michigan’s Ceasar Ruiz for the title of top interior offensive line spot in this year’s class. Cushenberry’s game is drenched in power and he will be able to handle his own against NFL nose tackles. LSU scheme asks its center to be able to work on their own, which should help him if a team wants to switch him from his natural position over to guard. His experience playing in the middle should afford him the opportunity to play on both left and right guard.

Matt Hennessy, Temple

Suggested by: Matt Urben

A technique technician from the middle, Hennessy uses his intelligence and hand placement to put himself in the correct position to execute his assignment. He will get knocked for his struggles against power, but his balance and movement skills will help him find success at all three interior offensive line spots, especially in a zone-blocking scheme — which the Lions lean on more often than not.

Ben Bredeson, Michigan

Suggested by: Scott Warheit

A 51 game starter at left guard for the Wolverines, Bredeson was a rare 2-time team captain in Ann Arbor. For a team looking for experience and leadership, he will be near the top of their list. He loves to compete, showing a mean streak and toughness when squaring up against power rushers. He is well-balanced as a blocker but isn’t as athletic as some of the other interior offensive linemen in this class, which will limit his scheme flexibility.

Jonah Jackson, Ohio State

Suggested by: Zack Moran and Sonja Greenfield

Between his time at Maryland and Ohio State, Jackson started five games at center, 11 at right guard, and 13 at left guard, giving him multi-positional appeal. He is significantly more polished as a pass protector, handling one-on-ones and switches easily, but his lack of impact as a run blocker could cause him to start his career as a position flexible reserve.

Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin

Suggested by: Ty Finch and Derek Okrie

Yet another experienced Big Ten interior offensive lineman, Biadasz is highly intelligent and technique sound, which makes him more NFL ready than other linemen who will be drafted around the same time. He plays with good balance overall, but can overextend at times, and will struggle with elite power and speed rushers.

Matt Peart, UConn

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

A swing tackle who could potentially push inside in a pinch, Peart played right tackle on the Lions coached North squad at the Senior Bowl. Strength is an issue but he has the frame to add muscle, and showed lots of promise as a run blocker this past season. Peart would fit in the Lions scheme in a very similar way to Tyrell Crosby, and like Crosby, he could spot start early in his career and potentially develop into a starter.