DRAFT TRACKER 2023

Broad guard prospect whose physical limitations are balanced by his feel for the job and ability to use his size in his favor. Torrence is not a natural bender. He is forced to engulf and push rather than leverage and drive as a run blocker, but he’s solid at neutralizing the man across from him. He uses his hands well to jab and maintain feel for the rush, but quick interior rushers with well-developed counters could be too much for his limited foot quickness to handle without help. He projects as a future starter for downhill offenses who covet size over athleticism.

Three-year starter who offers versatility, power and athleticism. Playing at a lighter weight should not be a problem if teams want that from him. His girth makes him resistant to opposing power, and he’s light enough on his feet for pass protection duties and run blocks that extend beyond the box. He’s not a consistently nasty finisher and below average hand work has a clear impact on his ability to sustain blocks. Avila is likely to start right away as a Day 2 draft pick and should have a solid NFL career as either a guard or center.

Guard prospect with five years of starting experience that shows itself with consistency and football IQ. Vorhees is a technically sound run blocker with a repeatable process. His range laterally and to the second level will be a little limited, but he’s an even-paced drive blocker, using excellent positioning, leveraged hands and churning legs. He needs to get quicker with inside hands in pass protection and guard against trying to protect his edges with his hands rather than a foot slide. The injury he suffered during his NFL Scouting Combine workout could cause him to fall in the draft, but he has the potential to become a starter when he’s fully healthy.

Guard prospect with a broad base, limited athleticism and an above-average talent for driving opponents out of the run lane. While Zavala can be a step slow getting out of his stance and into positioning as a move blocker, he does have experience in just about every run blocking scheme. He has the pure power to match up with NFL interior defenders as a drive blocker. He plays with heavy hands and a wide base as both a run and pass blocker. Limited reactive agility will lead to him getting beat in protection and by downhill linebackers, but he has the size and ability to eventually become a starter.

Massive, scheme-specific guard prospect with plus power but obvious athletic limitations. Bradford has functional quickness as a pulling guard and can work from one block to the next with adequate timing. He can be effective as a single blocker but really shines on double teams, where he can help clear the pathway. His lack of lateral quickness and reactive athleticism can put him in a bind against one-gapping defensive tackles and sub-package rushers with short-area twitch. Bradford has the potential to become an eventual starter for gap and power teams.

Three-year starter and team captain with experience at both tackle spots. McFadden lacks the height/length to stay at tackle in the NFL, but he has the broad frame and run-blocking acumen to fit as a guard. He’s firm and accurate into blocks using good footwork to drive and turn opponents. He lacks ideal mass and will get dumped by twitchy run defenders at times. His protection experience at tackle is a big plus in his favor, but he still needs to fire his hands with better efficiency and from a tighter track. McFadden is a reliable prospect lacking desired measurables but has the chance to become a good backup with eventual starter potential.

Active, athletic offensive lineman offering room for development at guard or tackle. Daniels is an impactful down blocker with the quickness to handle zone-blocking duties. Firing out and sustaining drive blocks, however, will require much better patience and footwork to keep from whiffing or falling off blocks. Small hands prevent him from latching in as a run blocker or in pass protection, but flurrying hands and a tenacious mirror help him stay in front of rushers. Position versatility and correctable issues could raise Daniels’ draft profile as a middle-rounder with upside.

Three-year starter with good overall size/length and the potential to play multiple spots along the offensive line. Saldiveri is naturally athletic and should fit best as a zone blocker or pulling guard who can get out into space and find work. Hand skill and placement are consistent issues on tape and could prevent him from neutralizing NFL opposition at a functional level. If he proves he can snap the ball and makes a move to center, that should improve his draft stock and give him a better chance as a pro.

With a wide frame that can be challenging to navigate for run defenders, Mafi plays with good core strength, a broad base and well-placed hands to improve his power zone. Move blocking in the ground game and reactive adjustments in pass protection will create difficulties for him due to a lack of foot quickness. He plays with a chippy temperament that coaches will like. Mafi is scheme-dependent, but he has the potential to be a good backup or low-end starter.

Guard prospect who plays with the calm and consistency expected from a three-year starter at Alabama. Ekiyor is shorter than teams might like, but he’s girthy and plays with excellent fundamentals from snap to whistle. He’s an adequate athlete suited for inside zone and gap scheme runs. Footwork and hand placement are helpful but he’s likely to have issues dealing with space-eaters and bull-rushers who can generate pocket push against him. Ultimately, Ekiyor is both smart and sound with how he plays the position and could have staying power as a future starter.

Guard prospect with the build of a long-armed offensive tackle. Despite his traits, Curtis has too many holes in his game to trust he will be ready to step up in competition early on. His struggles in trying to separate and sustain against Illinois’ interior defenders really shined a bright light on the work he needs to do to get stronger and more technically sound. Despite these concerns, Curtis is capable in pocket protection and is likely to be viewed as a Day 3 prospect requiring a plan and coaching to help him develop.

Guard prospect with average size who has the ability to punch above his weight as a run blocker. Broeker is limited as a move blocker but thrives when firing out and running his feet through contact to open lanes. He has very strong hands and consistently works to finish his blocks. His hand usage and inconsistent body control land his pass protection a few notches below his run blocking and those issues will take time to clean up. Broeker is a below-average athlete with above-average play strength and has the talent to become a starting guard in a downhill run scheme.

Former tackle projecting to guard-only prospect with a broad frame, good power and below-average athleticism. Bass’ lack of arm length will be a concern at any O-line position, but he plays with inside hands and decent know-how, so he should be able to work around it. He’s tight-hipped and doesn’t play with great pad level or a wide base but still manages to create some movement with powerful leg drive. He lacks lateral quickness as a zone blocker and loses effectiveness the further he gets away from home base. Bass’ toughness and size will give him a leg up in a battle for a backup role.

Laing lacks ideal length and will need to add more mass to his frame to catch up with some of the other prospects in the draft. He played guard and center at East-West Shrine Bowl practices and looked completely comfortable doing so. He’s a plus athlete who can get to back-side blocks and climb in space to find his targets. He needs to improve his hand placement in pass protection and prove he can level up to NFL competition. Laing appears to have some upside as a dual-position backup.

Manning’s athletic limitations will be frowned upon by some teams, but he’s huge, long and powerful. Even without the knee bend and lateral quickness, he can still do enough for consideration as a backup guard. He will need to play in a downhill scheme full of gap plays and inside zone. His reps could be hit or miss, but his power is obvious when he connects and runs his feet. He lacks range but can swallow bull rushers without much concern. Manning might be a late-round or undrafted consideration, but players with his traits tend to find their way onto rosters.

Move-blocking guard whose athleticism doesn’t guarantee consistent body control or balance in his play. Gaines is highly intelligent with a clear understanding of his duties on every snap. His hand placement can be a little sloppy, which diminishes his block sustain in the run game. While Gaines moves well as a run blocker, he struggles to stay under control and in front of opponents while mirroring. Gaines has the mental makeup coaches will like, but he needs to upgrade his protection technique and improve his core strength. He has backup guard/center potential.

Kirkland is likely to ply his trade as a guard, but he might be able to step in at tackle in a pinch. His barrel-chested, high-cut frame looks out of place at guard. He is unable to generate the leverage or power needed as a downhill blocker but does a decent job on positional blocks on the move. In protection, bull rushers can get under him and drive him into the pocket, but he’s quick with his hands and can get on top of rushers quickly when he needs to. His pass protection background could bolster his chances as a Day 3 pick and future backup.

Filiaga isn’t a great athlete, but he was a capable blocker in Minnesota’s zone running game, which might end up being a natural scheme fit for him at the next level. He doesn’t play with much bend, and that leads to consistent leverage issues. He’s unlikely to drive opponents off the ball as an NFL base blocker. His pass protection is technically sound, but his athletic limitations will create concerns in the pros. Filiaga might go undrafted, but he could eventually make an NFL roster.

Cooper has extremely long arms for his height and he does a nice job of getting the most out of his physical ability. While his short-area athletic testing was average, he appears to be much quicker on tape and has the ability to make blocks on the move, although sustaining them is a problem for him. He’s solid in pass protection and plays with decisiveness that bolsters his consistency against gaming fronts. Cooper’s guard-only designation could hurt his chances, but he has the talent to compete for a spot on a roster.

Sow has played a high number of snaps during his time at Eastern Michigan. Despite the starting experience, he struggles to find proper angles in the running game and respond to blitzes/twists in pass protection. While he could continue to improve and has some physical traits to work with, making a roster will be an uphill climb.

Gibbons is a slightly heavy-footed guard-only prospect with two years of starting experience at Florida State after transferring from Notre Dame. While he doesn’t play with ideal lateral quickness or movement in space, he does a nice job of maximizing his size and strength. His technique is solid in pass protection, but athletic limitations will make it challenging for him to keep sub-package rushers occupied. Gibbons might not be the total package, but he could still find his way onto an NFL roster.

Jensen is a well-schooled, highly experienced guard prospect with a broad frame and above-average toughness. He hasn’t faced much NFL-caliber competition, but he displays some of the same characteristics found in pro guards. He’s below average as an athlete, but good enough for schemes that don’t rely heavily on movement in space for interior blockers. He’s not going to uproot defenders as a drive blocker, but he can work with adequate success on double teams. Jensen’s pass protection is a little more consistent than his run blocking, but athletic rushers will be a challenge for him.

Carvin doesn’t display much displacement power when he’s getting into drive blocks, but he does flash enough movement to work in a variety of blocking schemes. His slide quickness is just average, but he does mind his protection gaps with solid body control. His hands are accurate and quick when he punches. His ability to play all three interior positions could give him a leg up if he’s in a camp battle, but his upside is limited.

Versatile interior offensive line prospect with starting experience at guard, center and tackle. Anderson has the size but is missing the length to play tackle, where he looks most at ease in pass protection. He will likely enter camp as a center/guard prospect with below-average athletic traits as a move blocker and a lack of drive power when firing out. The versatility is a plus, but he will need to shine as either a run blocker or pass protector to make a team.

Guard-only prospect with NFL-caliber measurables but enough inconsistencies to cause concern. Bainivalu’s power is good enough and he’s fairly adept at using his length, but athletic limitations make it difficult for him to recover and block if it isn’t right in front of him. He’s assignment-oriented and plays with adequate technique but could be a long-shot to make a roster.

Kipper has played plenty of football and was well-coached at Oregon State. He has the measurables of an NFL prospect. However, he falls below the mark when getting to his landmarks as a move blocker or adjusting to movement as both a run blocker and pass protector. Kipper’s experience as a right tackle could intrigue teams looking for roster flexibility, but he appears to be a guard-only projection with a below-average ceiling.

Highly experienced guard prospect who is more effective protecting the passer than opening run lanes. Chandler plays too straight-legged and with excessive waist-bending, which means he falls forward and ends up on the ground too often. Chandler will struggle to stay ahead of opponents as a move blocker and doesn’t have the leverage to block with power. In pass protection, he plays with recognition and accurate, quick hands but could struggle to anchor against NFL bull rushers.

Rhodes has five-star physical traits. He flashes power at the point of attack, but he lacks the functional athleticism to play laterally or in space and will struggle to mirror NFL competition.