Tag: Zach Frazier

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, West Virginia OL Zach Frazier

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is West Virginia offensive lineman Zach Frazier.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Do the Green Bay Packers think Zach Tom’s best position is at center? After putting together a good season at right tackle, would the Packers consider kicking Tom inside to center and leaving a hole at right tackle? 

Until that switch happens, let’s operate under the assumption that Tom will be the team’s starting right tackle for the foreseeable future.

With Josh Myers entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Packers will likely look to add a center in the upcoming draft. Even if they view Tom as a long-term answer at center, the Packers need to bolster the depth on the interior of the offensive line. 

A potential target is Zach Frazier. The West Virginia interior offensive linemen checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit with an impressive prep wrestling career, Frazier started eight games at left guard and one game at center during his first season at West Virginia. He followed that up by starting 37 games at center before suffering a broken leg in his final collegiate game. 

“Frazier was the engine of the West Virginia offense and the heartbeat of what the Mountaineers were able to accomplish upfront,” Keenan Cummings, the managing editor for WVSports.com, said. “The in-state native started all but one game during his career in Morgantown and spent his first season as a guard before shifting over to center. He displayed some significant growth over his career developing not only with his snaps but his recognition despite never playing there before in his career. Frazier is more of a lead-by-example type of player but over his career became more than comfortable addressing his teammates. The offensive line was a massive strength for West Virginia in 2023 leading power five teams in rushing and permitting just 10 sacks all year. Frazier was a major part of that success on many different levels.”

Frazier is a powerful run blocker. He explodes out of his stance to quickly get on top of defenders and shows no restrictions on the move. The former wrestler has strong hands and is able to latch onto his targets and control them like a ventriloquist dummy.

“Frazier has a stout frame and the former wrestler plays with great power and leverage,” Cummings said. “He plays with a high motor and is relentless in his blocking with a lot of strength. He also is very smart and understands the game as well as his role up front. One play that sums up the toughness, effort and smarts that Frazier brings to the table was in the season finale against Baylor, Frazier quite literally pushed Hudson Clement for a first down to stop the clock before getting rolled up on and sustaining a significant injury. Instead of allowing a ten-second runoff, Frazier quite literally crawled on all fours to the sideline before pulling himself up and hopping off the field. West Virginia would score on that final possession and win that game.”

Frazier is a technician in pass protection. Everything works in unison. He plays with good knee bend and doesn’t allow anybody to out-leverage him. Frazier is able to overcome his lack of length with his quick feet and instincts to close off any rushing lanes. This past season, Frazier gave up zero sacks and just six pressures. 

“Frazier doesn’t have the longest arms but makes up for it with his plus instincts and smarts,” Cummings said. “He is able to put himself in good position and has the athleticism to handle the role. Frazier didn’t allow a sack all season in 2023.”

Fit with the Packers

Given his history of playing guard, Frazier will be an even more attractive target for the Packers as they need to bolster the depth on the interior of the offensive line. 

In the short term, he could challenge Josh Myers for starting reps at center and also provide competition at right guard for Sean Rhyan. In the long term, Frazier could be the anchor of Green Bay’s offensive line during the Jordan Love era. 

“Frazier is not only a very impressive football player, he is perhaps even more so off the field,” Cummings said. “Frazier has a four-year body of work that is as good as any center in this draft and off the field is a strong representative for any organization. You won’t find any people in Morgantown who have anything negative to say about Frazier and replacing him is going to be no easy task for West Virginia.”

A leader on and off the field. Tough as nails. Highly intelligent. Versatile. Frazier checks a lot of boxes and with the Packers potentially looking for their future starting center, he could be a target with the 41st pick.

Packers draft prospects to know: West Virginia IOL Zach Frazier

With the Packers needing both depth and competition along the interior offensive line, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier could be a Day 2 option.

Bolstering the interior offensive line depth is one of the biggest needs that the Packers have entering the 2024 NFL Draft, and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier could be a Day 2 option for them.

Frazier, a Senior Bowl invitee, measures in at 6-3, 313 pounds and posted a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 7.67. This is slightly below the 8.0 mark that has often been a line in the sand for many of Brian Gutekunst’s draft picks. In 2022, Sean Rhyan, a Day 2 pick, posted a RAS of 8.17–which is at least in the neighborhood of where Frazier is.

Josh Myers, who was recovering from an injury during the pre-draft process, didn’t record a RAS, but for some context, he measured in at 6-5 and weighed 310 pounds, with 32-inch arms. Frazier’s arms are 32.25 inches.

On the field, Frazier is a very experienced player with over 3,200 career snaps. In 2020, he played 542 snaps at left guard but has been at center for the last three years.

The 2023 season was Frazier’s best, allowing no sacks and only six pressures, ranking 13th in pass-blocking efficiency. Between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Frazier surrendered on average only two sacks and 12 pressures during that span.

Frazier has also graded out very well as a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics, including ranking 15th in that category last season, and has experience in a zone-blocking scheme.

His 2023 season ended a bit prematurely when Frazier suffered a fractured fibula in a November game against Baylor. As of early March, he was “almost fully recovered.”

For more on Frazier’s game, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com wrote this in his pre-draft report:

“Frazier is a very physical center with average size and length. In the pass game, he is quick out of his stance, plays with a wide, firm base and immediately anchors. He has the lateral quickness to redirect and mirror while playing with excellent eyes/awareness. He will occasionally get overaggressive, duck his head and put himself in a tough spot, but he’s athletic enough to recover. In the run game, he locks on with strong hands, rolls his hips and uproots defenders. He is quick to the second level and adjusts well in space. He is a bulldog, collecting one knockdown after another to finish plays. Frazier was a four-time state wrestling champion in high school and he carries that tenacity over to the football field. He will be a Day 1 starter and tempo setter for the team that drafts him.”

At a minimum, adding Frazier to the Packers roster will provide some needed competition for Josh Myers at center or at least a backup option if Myers were to get injured. Even if Frazier doesn’t start Day 1 for the Packers, he could be a long-term answer at the position, with 2024 being the final year of Myers’ rookie deal.

With Frazier having past experience at guard, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Packers give him some reps at right guard as well. For one, we know how important versatility along the offensive line is to the Packers, but I imagine that Matt LaFleur also wants some added competition for Sean Rhyan as well.

As good as the offensive tackle class is in the draft, there are far fewer immediate impact options along the interior.

Frazier is Jeremiah’s 37th ranked prospect overall and the third interior offensive lineman on his big board, behind Duke’s Graham Barton and Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson.

What position will the Steelers select in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL draft?

Cast your vote and tell us what position the Steelers will target in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

In just a few weeks, the 2024 NFL draft kicks off in Detroit and we will get to finally see what direction the Pittsburgh Steelers will go in the first round. Betting odds say the Steelers top option is offensive line but don’t specify which position.

Just looking over the roster, it is pretty simple to rank center, offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver are the big needs in some order. Having said that, when it comes to the Steelers this offseason, expect the unexpected.

We would love to see the Steelers target one of the four first-round guys who can come in and play center from day one. The drop-off from Jackson Powers-Johnson, Troy Fautanu, Graham Barton and Zach Frazier is so significant we implore the front office to draft one of them.

Having said that, there are a pair of cornerbacks and a few wide receivers we really like and there should be multiple offensive tackle options as well.

Cast your vote and tell us what position you predict the Steelers will take in the first round.

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Chargers trade back with Vikings in Field Yates’ latest 2-round mock draft

The Chargers go all offense.

The Chargers may trade back to receive more draft capital to retool their roster. That’s the case in ESPN’s Field Yates’ latest mock draft, as he sees Los Angeles trading with the Vikings, who come up to No. 5 to get their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy.

As for the Bolts, they acquire the 11th and 23rd selections from Minnesota. With their first pick, they select Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham.

Following the projected move down, the Chargers can now get to work building this roster how new coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz envision it — which I expect will be through the trenches. Though the Chargers have Trey Pipkins III under contract for another two seasons, Latham would represent a short- and long-term upgrade. And he has the positional versatility to play guard if Los Angeles wanted to keep Pipkins on the field. Latham’s overwhelming strength is a perfect fit for a team that will want to wear opponents out with its physicality.

The Chargers want to run the ball more efficiently, which Latham could aid in that department.

Hulking at 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, Latham is a force in pass protection and the run game with a great combination of size, strength, physicality and agility, projecting as a starter from Day 1.

Latham would likely replace Trey Pipkins at right tackle, but he possesses the versatility to play guard.

Later in the first round, Los Angeles takes Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

There is a plausible scenario in which the Chargers stand pat at No. 5 and take the best wide receiver available. After releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen, they have to reshape their wide receiver room. But here Los Angeles can stockpile picks and still take advantage of a deep receiver class, landing a buttery smooth route runner in Mitchell. He has excellent size, great speed and reliable hands, with just one drop in his lone season at Texas (he transferred from Georgia). He also averaged 15.4 yards per catch last season and would be a good fit with quarterback Justin Herbert.

After the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the wide receiver room is rather thin, so it’s imperative that they address that early on.

With a 4.34 40-yard dash, Mitchell is a speedy wideout with great size and ball skills. He could step in and immediately be a threat at all three levels of the field.

In the second round, the Bolts select West Virginia center Zach Frazier.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that Jim Harbaugh wants to build up his offensive line aggressively this offseason. Frazier is super tough and exactly the type of guy Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz would covet. He did not allow any sacks over 328 pass-block plays in 2023.

The Chargers signed Bradley Bozeman, but they won’t shy away from selecting the long-term fix at the position, especially since Jim Harbaugh wants to build through the trenches.

One of the top centers in this year’s class, Frazier is a pro-ready player with the athletic ability, anchor strength, highly impressive awareness and toughness. He started 47 games for the Mountaineers, so he possesses plenty of experience playing the position.

Could 2024 draft prospect Zach Frazier be Panthers’ ‘long-term answer’ at center?

He wouldn’t be a sexy pick, but West Virginia C Zach Frazier might make a ton of sense for the Panthers.

Not since the days of Ryan Kalil have the Carolina Panthers been absolutely locked in at the center position. But that could change, starting with one decision coming up in a few weeks’ time.

As we inch ever closer to the annual announcing of names, ESPN draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid recently ran down each team’s three greatest needs. With help of Panthers beat reporter David Newton, they landed on the outside linebacker, wide receiver and center positions for Carolina.

And if they’re looking to finally solidify that last area, Reid suggests they could nab West Virginia’s Zach Frazier with one of their first two picks. He writes:

Frazier allowed only three sacks in 1,277 pass-blocking snaps over the past three seasons, and he could be a long-term answer in Carolina.

Thanks to their trade of two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns, the Panthers will have a second second-rounder (39th overall) to pair with the draft’s 33rd selection. Either of those could conceivably be used on Frazier, who enters the league as a 2023 first-team All-Big 12 member.

Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3, 313-pound hog molly, that campaign ended on a broken leg he sustained at the end of November. Frazier was not cleared to play in February’s Senior Bowl and limited himself to on-field drills at the scouting combine.

While he may be ready to go by the start of his first NFL season, Frazier could be a developmental investment of sorts for the Panthers—who seem intent on starting Austin Corbett at center in 2024.

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2024 NFL draft: C Zach Frazier identified as target for Steelers

The Steelers could target a center in the first round.

At this point, the plans for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2024 NFL draft are coming into focus. Despite several free agent additions, wide receiver still remains a significant need, but far and away the top roster need for Pittsburgh is a starting center.

The Steelers didn’t add any veteran depth in free agency after releasing Mason Cole which means if the Steelers want a guy who can come in and start right away, it’s either draft one early or work a deal for a veteran.

The Draft Network offered up their three best fits for former West Virginia center Zach Frazier, and one of the teams they identified as a fit was Pittsburgh. Here’s what they had to say about Frazier and his fit with the Steelers:

The Steelers have made sweeping changes to the offense this summer. They added Russell Wilson at quarterback and parted ways with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and wide receiver Diontae Johnson. They also cut former starting tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. With Arthur Smith hired as offensive coordinator, general manager Omar Khan needs to add a center that’s capable of overseeing the new install. Frazier is that kind of player.

We love Frazier as a prospect and have only Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson ahead of him on our center rankings. The only question with Frazier is whether or not the Steelers would use the No. 20 overall pick on him if Jackson-Powers is off the board or whether they would prefer Frazier over Powers-Johnson. It’s highly unlikely Frazier lasts until the Steelers second-round pick, so look for a center as the choice in the first round.

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Detroit Lions Podcast: Bish and Brown on Lions first week of free agency

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bish and Brown on Lions first week of free agency, draft prospect fits and more

On another episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast with Bish and Brown, the guys are back to talk about the Lions first week of free agency! Join Russ and Scott as they are talking about the players the Lions signed and traded for during the start of free agency. Here’s some of the things the guys discussed:

  • Lions sign Marcus Davenport, Amik Robertson and traded for Carlton Davis!
  • Player Fit at Pick 29 of the 2024 NFL Draft: Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
  • Prospect of the Week | Powered by Restore!

Minnesota Vikings take unorthodox QB in latest Draft Wire mock

Minnesota takes an interesting avenue to address the QB position in recent mock draft

Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy released his mock draft ahead of the legal tampering period that signals the start of NFL free agency. With this mock draft, there were no trades, leaving teams to reach for some premier positions, including the Minnesota Vikings.

At pick number 11, the Vikings found themselves without a quarterback after the top four quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye & J.J. McCarthy) were taken off the board. So, according to Popejoy, they decide to take Oregon’s Bo Nix to address the position. Whether Kirk is back in the fray or not, taking Nix within the top 15 should not be an avenue Minnesota pursues.

There was not a defensive player picked within the first ten picks. Minnesota could have their pick of a defensive playmaker, whether at edge or cornerback, to add to Brian Flores’ arsenal. That is a much more advantageous bet than Nix at this point.

In the second round, at pick 42, the Vikings select West Virginia’s Zach Frazier. Offensive line depth is a concern and Frazier is a great run blocker who can add instant value to the offensive front.

However, two picks later, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. goes off the board to Las Vegas. Penix and Nix seem to be on the same tier for most, with one going at 11 and the other going at 44, picking Nix that high feels like a massive reach.

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Texas WRs currently co-favorites for Panthers’ 33rd overall pick

Will the Panthers hook in a Texas WR with their first pick of the 2024 draft?

The Carolina Panthers might be looking deep in the heart of Texas with this year’s 33rd overall pick.

BetCarolina.com released a fresh set of odds for the team’s first selection of the 2024 NFL draft. Sharing the top spot are University of Texas wideouts Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, who were also two of the brightest stars of the scouting combine.

Analyst Steve Bittenbender wrties:

It would likely be an upset if the Panthers did not pick a receiver when they kick off the second round of the NFL Draft. Who that receiver will be is more uncertain, although Xavier Worthy might have just secured a first-round draft slot after his record-setting 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. If Adonai Mitchell is still available, he’ll likely be the favorite, with Ladd McConkey a potential fallback pick.

Worthy came away with, perhaps, the biggest win of the weekend—posting a record-breaking 40-yard dash of 4.21 seconds. Mitchell wasn’t far behind, clocking his at a blazing 4.34 seconds.

Their complete odds for the 33rd pick are as follows:

  • Mitchell/Worthy: +600 (14.3-percent chance)
  • McConkey: +900 (10 percent)
  • West Virginia C Zach Frazier: +900 (10 percent)
  • Oregon WR Troy Franklin: +1200 (7.7 percent)
  • Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk: +1200 (7.7 percent)
  • Other: +175 (36.4 percent)

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2024 NFL Draft’s deepest positions are needs for the Lions

2024 NFL Draft’s deepest positions are needs for the Lions and GM Brad Holmes

The Detroit Lions have one of the more complete rosters but that doesn’t mean they don’t have needs. Joey Chestnut has to eat dinner after winning a hot dog eating competition, the same way the Lions need to continue to add quality players to their roster.

The positions that Brad Holmes and his staff are expected to be addressing are the interior offensive line, primarily center, as they expect to be without Frank Ragnow as he teeters on his future. The other is cornerback as the Lions pass defense this year was painful to watch at times.

Good news is coming from Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy as he claims the most talented position pools in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The name Quinyon Mitchell should sound familiar to Lions fans if they have been following national media mock drafts. He has been a popular name to be mocked to the Lions at the end of round one. Some analysts however don’t see him lasting that long as they have Mitchell as the top corner in the draft class. The cornerback group will have some names taken by the Lions in April’s draft, the question is only how soon.

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As for the interior offensive line and center positions, there was a new name attached to the Lions this week.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Medi mocked the West Virginia center to the Lions in his second mock draft of the cycle. Jeremiah stated “…this feels like Dan Campbell’s type of player. Frazier, a state-champion wrestler in high school, could step right in at guard and eventually move to center.”

Tons of talent being linked to the Lions, nothing out of the ordinary, but this time around it’s at the back end of the first round. Brad Holmes has this roster close, with the right picks in April they could be picking last in 2025.