Rankings and analysis for the top offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft

Some of the players in this final tier of offensive lineman for the 2020 NFL Draft do have some promise and could contribute at some point in the future, but generally they do not excite me as prospects and shouldn’t be considered until the late rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, if thye are drafted at all.

38. Yasir Durant, Missouri

Yasir Durant is a big and physical tackle prospect with heavy hands and heavy feet. Those two work against each other at times in pass protection against speed rushers, often not having the lateral agility to defend against inside and counter moves. But with a strong base to absorb power rushes and those strong hands,

Durant can control defenders in both pass protection and in the run game if he plays his cards right. He won’t be overly effective as a lateral mover, but is a force when rolling downhill in the run game. Durant has many things that he can improve on, but the potential is there to become at least a lower-level starting tackle in the NFL.

39. Gage Cervenka, Clemson

Gage Cervenka is a very raw offensive guard prospect who played defensive tackle until 2016. He is very strong and powerful and likely would have been towards the top of the charts in the bench press if he had been invited to the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine.

He moves well but his powerful anchor and impactful blocking in the run game are where he really hangs his hat. As a pass blocker, a team will have to hope he will improve with time, as he struggles with technique and effectiveness against some simple moves.

He makes some eye-popping blocks here and there, exhibiting great potential that a team will likely take a chance on, but he will likely not be seeing an NFL field real early in his NFL career.

40. Darryl Williams, Mississippi State

With experience starting at both guard and center at Mississippi State, Darryl Williams’ floor is a versatile depth option at the next level. He’s a mostly unspectacular prospect with no one thing jumping out at me, but he is fairly solid across the board.

He is effective as a pass protector, using strong hands and a solid base to keep defenders at bay. He was not used much as a mover in the run game, and likely will not excel doing so at the next level. He isn’t an overly effective driver blocker, but he engages quickly and has the power and lean to turn opponents slightly to open running lanes.

After playing center in 2019, I think Williams will move back to guard if he wants a shot at starting in the NFL coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft. His snaps could be a little inconsistent at times and he has the ability to be a pass blocking, gap scheme guard at the next level, with valuable versatile experience that could come in handy as a depth option early in his career.

41. Charlie Heck, North Carolina

The son of an NFL offensive line coach, Charlie Heck is mostly a fundamentally sound tackle prospect. He has a good frame for an NFL tackle and good enough length to use to his advantage. Sometimes his height isn’t necessarily an advantage, occasionally standing up too straight and allowing defenders to get into his body.

Overall, Heck has good footwork and strong hands, using his length to keep defenders away in pass protection. He is an effective run blocker most of the time, but lacks the lower body drive to make really impactful blocks in the run game.

Heck is a mostly unspectacular prospect, but has good bloodlines and good direction at home. A team should admire his size and football IQ, making him a late-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a viable swing-tackle option at the next level.

42. Jack Driscoll, Auburn

Jack Driscoll is an athletic right tackle who lacks optimal length for a tackle but lacks the strength to bounce inside. He is a very good mover (5.02 40) and is very effective as a puller and out in space on screens.

He is okay as a pass blocker with some ability to stay in front of speed rushers. But when it comes to stopping power rushers, he’s a bit helpless. He’s not technically sound enough to overcome his physical limitations leading to some wild inconsistencies.

That lack of strength would likely prevent him from being an effective guard, but if he can add that strength to his athleticism he could be a viable guard option with some tackle capability as part of the 2020 NFL Draft class.

43. Justin Herron, Wake Forest

Justin Herron isn’t a very flashy prospect, but he has been consistent across the board in his time at Wake Forest. He was a team captain in 2019 and has played both right and left tackle for the Demon Deacons.

He is a good run blocker with above-average athleticism. He has good drive and solid hands in the run game to stand his ground. In pass protection, Herron is sound for the most part. He can handle most bull rushes and has quick enough feet to guard against speed rushers.

Herron could improve in many areas, but he has a relatively high floor for a prospect in this range. I think he could be a very solid swing tackle/sixth lineman at the next level out of the 2020 NFL Draft, with the ability to hold his own at multiple positions, but not really having the upside to be an NFL starter.

44. Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island

Kyle Murphy was very versatile at Rhode Island, starting at guard, center and tackle at one point. After finding a home at left tackle, Murphy showed some promise with his length, power and athleticism.

In pass sets at left tackle, Murphy could use some refinement. His feet look okay, but he is often hit during his slide and loses all balance and control. He also would get too wide at times, leaving himself open for some easy inside moves.

On the bright side, Murphy showed the athleticism to recover quickly and ride the defender away from the quarterback. Despite his glimpses of athleticism, Murphy didn’t seem to be utilized all that often as a mover in the run game, mostly just coming in and placing down blocks to set the edge for more outside runs.

Murphy doesn’t seem to be much of a drive blocker in the run game, mostly just hand fighting and working to stalemate between him and the defender. He doesn’t quite have the size and technique to thrive as a tackle and doesn’t have the power or moving ability to make a big difference inside, leaving his fit a bit of a question.

With some time and a lot of development, I could see Murphy becoming a serviceable right tackle or a guard in a zone run scheme down the road. For now, his versatile background should be beneficial, providing a depth option in the 2020 NFL Draft who can play all five positions.

45. Colton McKivitz, West Virginia

Colton McKivitz is a manhandling tackle prospect who is more aggressive than refined, for sure. He definitely has a high level of nastiness about him. He is very strong and tough as nails, often beating his opponents with sheer will and might.

Now he’s not just a wild man out there. He has enough technique to get by, maybe even at the next level. His slide is very slow in pass protection and can look silly if he’s unable to engage his defender. He just looks a bit awkward when sliding his feet back in protection and is much better when he can just go and attack what’s in front of him.

In the run game, he is a decent mover, especially when it’s downhill as a lead blocker or getting to the second level. He doesn’t have a lot of natural drive with his lower body, but his repeated shoving and pushing with his upper body usually does the trick.

Colton McKivitz certainly could improve many things, technically, about his game to enhance his level of play. Given some physical limitations, I’m still not sure that makes him a starting tackle in the NFL, even on the right side where he is a better fit. At worst, he is a tenacious swing tackle/sixth lineman with the grit and toughness to fill in at any position across the board out of the 2020 NFL Draft.

46. Jake Hanson, Oregon

Jake Hanson has been the Oregon center his entire career and is a great mover. As a run blocker, he is effective as a mover, pulling, getting out in space and down the field. He turns his body well when engaging his block to open lanes for the ball carrier.

He’s not much of a drive blocker, excelling in space or on double teams and down blocks in the trenches. In pass protection, he uses his length to his advantage. Even against stronger power rushers, Hanson can use his strong hands and long arms to at least fend them off long enough. He has quick enough feet to stay in front of speed rushes, but does struggle at times to sustain his blocks against more powerful rushes for more than a second or two.

Jake Hanson isn’t a spectacular center prospect, but he is pretty solid across the board. He may not have the ceiling to be a bonafide starter in the NFL, but he could be a very serviceable replacement option at the next level out of the 2020 NFL Draft.

47. Sean Pollard, Clemson

With starting experience at tackle, guard and center at one of the most prestigious schools in the football world, I guess you can say Clemson lineman Sean Pollard has some valuable experience and versatility in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Pollard landed at center this past season for the Tigers. In the run game, he is very good at directing his defender and opening running lanes to one side or the other. He moves very well from his center position, often getting out into space to block on the screens that Clemson loves to run. Pollard is excellent when he can be the aggressor and move downhill, but doesn’t have the core strength or balance to withstand blows from powerful defensive linemen. He can get knocked back rather easily, using that 6-foot-5 frame against him if defenders are able to get into his body.

He has the frame of a tackle, but the same faults got to him there as well. Overall, Sean Pollard has some valuable traits that should lead to him getting a real shot to make an NFL roster. There are things that he must improve on, including some things that he may just not be able to physically, but his versatility may be very valuable as a depth option across the line at the next level.

48. Solomon Kindley, Georgia

Solomon Kindley is a tenacious guard who makes some eye-popping blocks in the run game, but is far too inconsistent at this point to be successful at the next level. Kindley plays with grit and nastiness. And that’s about it.

When playing against inferior competition, Kindley can look very impressive, but when things don’t line up in his favor he can easily be taken advantage of. He plays with far too much lean and eagerness, allowing technical defensive lineman to take advantage of him. He’s effective when able to go right at a stable target and has impressive drive with his hands engaged, but getting to that point is the problem.

As a pass blocker, Kindley isn’t a good catcher with blitzes and powerful rushes easily knocking him back. And with heavy feet he doesn’t have the lateral agility to stay in front of quicker rushers.

Kindley is a project that has some potential with his size and physicality but will need quite some time to develop the fundamentals needed to play in the NFL. But given his size and pedigree, Kindley will likely be selected fairly early in the 2020 NFL Draft.

49. Keith Ismael, San Diego State

Starting at both guard positions as well as center for the Aztecs, Keith Ismael has desired versatility for someone who will likely start their professional career as a reserve out of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Playing center in 2019, Ismael proved to be very instinctual in pass protection. He was good at recognizing and picking up blitzes and stunts and exhibited sound footwork as a pass blocker.

In the run game, Ismael is better suited as more of a mover than a people mover in a zone run scheme. He has enough power to make some impactful blocks and enough anchor to hold his own against stronger defensive lineman in pass protection, but is more scrappy than powerful.

Ismael could have a future at either center or guard in the NFL if he continues to improve, and his experience at all three positions may give him a leg up on the competition in terms of making a roster as a rookie.

50. Zach Shackelford, Texas

As the starting center for the Texas Longhorns, Zack Shackelford exhibits some desirable traits to build on despite his lack of play strength. Shackelford showed that he is an effective mover who can get out in space.

He has strong hands and decent length that he can use to his advantage in pass protection before defenders get into his body and exploit his lack of functional weight and core strength and 6-foot-4 and just over 300 lbs. He uses those hands and his length well in the run game as well, engaging quickly and grabbing the upper hand on his opponent. Once engaged he shows some powerful legs, driving defenders back.

Overall, Shackelford has some qualities to build on that might get him a shot at a roster, but his ceiling doesn’t appear to be all too high, most likely a career back-up option in the NFL, likely as an udrafted free agent out of the 2020 NFL Draft class.