2021 NFL Draft center rankings: Three-way race for top spot

The 2021 NFL Draft class has a strong group of center prospects, including three players who could be day one starters. Creed Humphrey, Josh Myers and Landon Dickerson are all potential immediate impact players who could come in and provide stability to the middle of any NFL offensive line.

Unfortunately, the class is not overly deep as only eight players earn draftable grades. A sleeper to watch in this group though is Drew Dalman who despite being undersized could develop into an NFL starter in the right system.

1. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
6-foot-5, 314 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round

Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey has been one of the best linemen in the Big 12 the past few seasons being named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2020 and Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2019. He has been extremely productive in pass protection as well as he didn’t give up a single sack over the previous two seasons. One more positive thing about Humphrey’s background is that he was a standout wrestler in high school.

The biggest strength in Humphrey’s game is his high football intelligence. He has made all the line calls for Oklahoma the last couple of seasons, and is one of the reasons the Sooners offense has been so explosive the last couple of seasons. He also shows impressive strength, as he can control the defender at the point of attack. One more positive with him is that he is a perfectionist when it comes to technique.

One limitation with Humphrey is he is only an average athlete. This lack of athletic ability could limit the types of schemes he can play in the NFL. He also has shown some inconsistency during his career at Oklahoma. Overall, he carries a high third-round draft grade and has the potential to be a starting center.

2. Josh Myers, Ohio State
6-foot-5, 312 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round

Josh Myers came to Ohio State as a highly regarded recruit as he was rated the top prospect in the state of Ohio. While he did not see much action in 2018, he earned a starting role in 2019 and was named secod-team All-Big Ten. This past season, Myers had another strong year and was named first-team All-Big Ten.

As a prospect, Myers has a good combination of strength and athletic ability. As a run blocker, he shows the strength to handle his defender and can easily get to the second level. His athletic ability shows up in pass protection as well as he does a nice job mirroring his opponent and can match up against athletic defensive tackles. One other positive with Myers is his overall character,  he is definitely the type of person you want in your locker room.

One area Myers needs to improve on is his recognition in pass protection. His limited playing time at center is still evident in this area. At times he is slow to recognize stunts and can be a little slow to pick up his blocking assignment. If given time, this is something he can pick up. One other concern is that he shows only average quickness off the ball, but he is definitely proficient in this area. A team like the Miami Dolphins could snag Myers in the third round of the draft.

3. Landon Dickerson, Alabama
6-foot-6, 325 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round

If it were not for injuries, Landon Dickerson would have a much higher draft grade. Unfortunately, though Dickerson has seen four of his five seasons end early due to injury. This long injury history will make it very hard for a team to take him before the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft.

When in the lineup though Dickerson has been outstanding. He won the Rimington award in 2020 and was named to the All-SEC second team in 2019. As a prospect, he is a strong run blocker who tends to win with his impressive strength. He also is a very smart player who should have no trouble picking up an NFL offense. One other positive with him is his versatility as he has played every position on the offensive line in college and should be able to play either guard or center in the NFL.

4. Drake Jackson, Kentucky
6-foot-2, 290 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round

One of the more athletic centers in the 2021 NFL Draft is Kentucky’s, Drake Johnson. Johnson shows a nice burst off the ball and can easily get to the second level. He is a strong run blocker which is one of the reasons he was named First-Team All-SEC in 2019 and to the second team this past season. He also shows nice hand placement as a blocker which will help him significantly in the NFL.

While Jackson is one of the more athletic centers in this draft class, he is also one of the lightest players coming in at only 290 pounds. This lack of bulk hurts him when it comes to overall strength since he will not overpower many people. However, his good pad level and how well he uses his hands helps him in this area. Another issue with him is he just viewed as a center prospect by most teams and not someone who can play both guard and center.

5. Drew Dalman, Stanford
6-foot-3, 300 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round

This past season Stanford center Drew Dalman was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the Pac-12 by Pro Football Focus, and he was also named to the All-Pac 12 first team by both the AP and coaches. He is a smart prospect who plays with great technique and overall footwork. The reason why his draft grade is so low is that he is undersized and can be pushed around at times.

6. Trey Hill, Georgia
6-foot-4, 330 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round

Georgia’s Trey Hill has seen action for the Bulldogs at both center and guard over the past couple of seasons. As a prospect, he shows good power and has the size to hold up on the interior offensive line. Unfortunately, he is an average athlete who at times has trouble staying on his blocks. Another concern is he has battled knee issues during his college career which could cause him to fall down the draft board.

7. Michal Menet, Penn State
6-foot-4, 306 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round

Penn State’s Michal Menet has been a solid starter over his college career having started 34 games during his career. While Menet could make an NFL team as a backup his upside appears limited. One of the reasons for this is his limited athletic ability which can cause him to get beat by quick defensive tackles. He also doesn’t have the power to offset this lack of agility and is hurt by his questionable footwork.

8. Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh
6-foo3, 305 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Seventh round

This past season Jimmy Morrissey won the Burlsworth Trophy which goes to the most outstanding player in college football who began his career as a walk-on. He won this award partly due to the fact he has gone two full seasons without giving up a sack. When looking at his pro potential his upside is limited due to his physical traits, but the team that drafts him should be getting a quality hard-working backup center.

Players with free-agent grades

9. D’antne Demery, FIU
10. Harry Crider, Indiana