2020 Draft Board: Interior Offensive Lineman

**Note: changes have been made since the draft happened. I spent May and June adjusting my process by setting strict parameters and adding all combine participants from 2008-2017. Those two improvements caused major changes to my factors and table, which means some players that were on my draft board have been removed, some players that were removed from my draft board have been put back on it, and some players have seen a drastic shift in the round grades they were originally given.

Continuing my Draft Board, next we look at the Offensive Guards and Centers. In case you didn’t read the Offensive Tackle Draft Board here’s a summary of how this went down: I wasn’t planning on tackling the Offensive Lineman at first, because basic statistics aren’t tracked for them. But I decided to give it a shot. To determine which players from 2008-2017 were successful I based it off of their average number of games played, number of seasons spent in the NFL versus the number of seasons they could have played, how many times they made the Pro Bowl and how many times they were selected First Team All-Pro. And then I used strictly their Combine results to look for a correlation between successful O-Lineman and those who were unsuccessful. I was surprised, but I did manage to find a couple of things, so keep reading.

Players Removed:

I was able to eliminate 4 Interior Offensive Lineman for various reasons. As you can see they all have an "E" next to their names, which means they all received my “Empty” label, if you are wondering what that label means check the Draft Boards for the QBs, RBs or WRs. They are:

Ben Bredeson (E)

John Molchon (E)

Justin Herron (E)

Trystan Colon-Castillo (E)

The Table

After I eliminated players, I created a table to determine the Draft Round I would attach to each remaining player. I used their combine results to determine the chances of them being drafted in the first three rounds by setting a low extreme and high extreme for each stat. If they had more low extremes than their draft grade fell, more high extremes and it rose.

My Center Draft Board

My Top 5:

1) Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)

Analysis: If I did a combined Interior O-Lineman list, Ruiz would top it. Great athleticism, good strength, solid size, and he was the focal point on one of the better Offensive Lines in college football. If I was the GM of a team in need of a Center, Ruiz would be high on my list of targets (all positions considered) at the end of the first round.

2) Matt Hennessy (Temple)

Analysis: Hennessy would remain #2 on my combined list as he grades out similar to Ruiz, though his competition isn’t considered as tough as the Big Ten. I’d think about him as a late first round pick, but I’d take him into consideration more as an early-mid second round pick.

3) Darryl Williams (Mississippi State)

Analysis: Versatility! Williams can play Guard or Center, so his position may come down to which spot the team that drafts him needs more help at. His Combine performance didn’t bump up or drop his draft stock, but his results suggest a day two pick is in his future. I think his versatility will affirm that thought.

4) Nick Harris (Washington)

Analysis: I liked Harris’ performance during positional drills at the Combine, some may worry about his height (6’1”), but I don’t see it being a problem. The bigger concern in my opinion is that his height is coupled with his lower Bench Press result of 20 reps, but even that’s not all that bad. Someone is going to get a solid starter in Harris.

5) Lloyd Cushenberry (LSU)

Analysis: He unfortunately was not able to finish his combine tests, which leaves me with little to go off of except his forty (5.27) and bench press (25) results. The bigger thing that sticks out for me is the same thing that led me to ranking Damien Lewis as the #4 Guard, he was a starter on a very good Offensive Line that helped pave the way for Joe Burrow’s incredible season.

Sleeper: Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin)

Analysis: This position is light on prospects. But when in doubt at an Offensive Line position pick a Wisconsin product. If you read the Offensive Tackle article you saw that I mentioned a side project I did among the O-Lineman to determine if any school produced better Offensive Lineman than most. While Wisconsin’s success rate isn’t the best (about 56%), they did top the list for highest number of successful Offensive Lineman. Biadasz had a really good career as a Badger, paving the way for Jonathan Taylor’s incredible career. His athleticism was the center of criticism heading to the Combine, and since he didn’t perform in any of the tests that question has and will go unanswered. Leaving us with his performance on the field by itself, and that’s why he’s a Sleeper.

My Guard Draft Board

My Top 5:

1) Jack Driscoll (Auburn)

Analysis: Good size, good athleticism, good starting experience. There’s not much else to say about Driscoll, there’s not much else he needs in order to claim a top five spot at this position.

2) Danny Pinter (Ball State)

Analysis: His forty (4.91) was unmatched among the interior Lineman in this draft, and his 20 Yard Shuttle and 3 Cone Drill both ranked top 3 among the interior Lineman. He also benched 225 pounds, 24 times, which shows me he doesn’t exchange strength for athleticism. The fact that he’s viewed as a prospect with the ability to play Guard or Center only raises his value.

3) Simon Stepaniak (Indiana)

Analysis: Had he done more tests at the Combine he could have moved himself up this list. His 37 reps on the bench were stellar, but not knowing what else he brings to the table athletically prevents me from ranking him higher, it also prevents me from dropping him lower, so win-win?

4) Damien Lewis (LSU)

Analysis: Prior to this exercise he was my #1 Guard; he doesn’t lose much ground though. His forty wasn’t all that impressive (5.24), but it didn’t hurt him, plus his Vertical (30”) and Broad Jump (108”) showed that he does have athleticism. It helps that he played on one of the better Offensive Lines last season. Whether that’s a result of Joe Brady calling the shots or if Brady’s offense succeeded because of the Line, only time will tell.

5) Jon Runyan (Michigan)

Analysis: The bloodline is there, but how about his performance at the Combine?! He ran his forty in 5.02, put up one of the faster 20-yard shuttles (4.62) at the position and showed decent explosiveness with his jumps (yes that does matter for O-Lineman too). He started at Tackle for a Big Ten school and while his athletic traits don’t really translate to Tackle as a pro, I do think he’s going to be a really good Guard.

Sleeper: Cameron Clark (Charlotte)

Analysis: He beats out Muti, not because he has an athletic trait that sets him apart, but because he doesn’t have one that draws him down. Solid size (6’4”, 308 pounds, 34.12” arms), decent athleticism (5.29 forty, 25” Vertical, 101” Broad Jump), nothing spectacular, but there really isn’t anything spectacular about this Guard class. Side note, I’ve also enjoyed the talent that Charlotte has put out in the last couple years.