Welcome to draft season! This is the seventh of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 23-25). Here are Eddie Brown’s top 10 interior offensive linemen:
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1. Cesar Ruiz (Jr., Michigan, 6-foot-3, 307 pounds)
Ruiz was the consensus No. 1 center in the 2017 recruiting cycle. He’s a three-year starter who is equally sound in pass protection or as a run-blocker. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
2. Lloyd Cushenberry III (Jr., LSU, 6-3, 312)
Team captain who has All-Pro potential at guard or center. Cushenberry dominated during Senior Bowl week. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
3. Tyler Biadasz (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-4, 314)
Durability (hip and shoulder issues) concerns overshadow an otherwise elite prospect. Biadasz is a technician who was awarded Wisconsin’s first Rimington Trophy (top center in the nation) in 2019. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
4. Ben Bredeson (Sr., Michigan, 6-5, 315)
One of the few two-time team captains in Michigan history. Bredeson makes up for average athleticism with power, instincts and intelligence. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
5. John Simpson (Sr., Clemson, 6-4, 321)
Clemson hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted in the first 90 picks since 1979. Simpson has a shot. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
6. Matt Hennessy (Jr., Temple, 6-4, 307)
Hennessy is an athletic technician who has only allowed one sack the last three years. He’s genuinely the hardest worker in the room. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
7. Robert Hunt (Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-5, 323)
A four-year starter (at right tackle and left guard) who has the ability to overwhelm defenders in the run game. He’ll be 24 years old before he takes an NFL snap. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
8. Shane Lemieux (Sr., Oregon, 6-4, 310)
Lemieux started all 52 games the last four seasons for the Ducks. Projected: 3rd or 4th round
9. Jonah Jackson (Sr., Ohio St., 6-3, 306)
Versatile experience with college starts at all three interior positions of the offensive line. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
10. Solomon Kindley (Jr., Georgia, 6-3, 337)
Moves well for a 340-pounder and dominates when healthy. Durability is a concern (dealt with a left foot issue for most of his junior season). Projected: 3rd to 5th round
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BONUS. Logan Stenberg (Sr., Kentucky, 6-6, 317)
Stenberg was the powerful anchor of an offensive line that helped the Wildcats average 278.8 rushing yards per game in 2019 (fourth-best in college football). His overaggressive nature attracted 14 penalties in 2019 (second-most at the FBS level). Projected: 3rd to 5th round
BONUS. Damien Lewis (Sr., LSU, 6-2, 327)
Lewis lacks high-end athleticism, but he’s a fierce competitor and physical finisher in the run game. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
BONUS. Jon Runyan (Sr., Michigan, 6-4, 306)
Two-year starter at left tackle with NFL genes (father was a 14-year pro). Runyan is a technician with a nasty streak in the run game who projects better inside. Projected: 5th to 7th round
BONUS. Netane Muti (Jr., Fresno St., 6-3, 315)
Muti features World’s Strongest Man-type power and top-50 ability, but his durability is a fluorescent red flag. He’s suffered injuries to both achilles and a Lisfranc foot injury that required surgery in October of 2019. He’s only played in five games the past two seasons. Projected: 4th to 7th round
BONUS. Jack Driscoll (Sr., Auburn, 6-5, 306)
You’re not going to outsmart Driscoll and he’s already shown he can handle a jump in competition. He transferred to Auburn after earning his degree and playing three seasons with UMass. He played both tackle positions and left guard in college, but size makes him better suited for the interior. Projected: 4th to 7th round
BONUS. Darryl Williams (Sr., Mississippi St., 6-2, 304)
Versatility is a plus (double-digit starts at center and left guard). Williams is a powerful, aggressive blocker who was nicknamed the “Big General.” Projected: 3rd to 5th round
BONUS. Nick Harris (Sr., Washington, 6-1, 302)
Harris is undersized, but he features an alpha attitude and was chosen first team All-Pac 12 the past two seasons. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
BONUS. Keith Ismael (Jr., San Diego St., 6-3, 309)
Ismael is an aggressive bully in the run game at center or guard who wins with quickness, toughness and intelligence. Projected: 4th to 7th round
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